Pictured from the Diocese of New Ulm, front row (l-r), Fr. Tanner Thooft, assistant director of Vocations, Fr. Brendan Rolling, director of Vocations, seminarian Brent Sundve, and Bishop Chad W. Zielinski. Back row, seminarians Matthew Wood and David Rabaey.

SAINT PAUL - Thirteen different dioceses and religious orders throughout the Upper Midwest and beyond are celebrating the installation as lectors of a combined 21 men in formation at The Saint Paul Seminary this year.

In seminary formation, lectors proclaim Scripture readings, recite the Psalms, lead general intercessions in the absence of a deacon and guide the singing and active participation of the faithful during the liturgy. Installation as a lector serves as a stepping stone toward the role of acolyte, transitional deacon, and ultimately, priest.

Becoming a lector doesn’t necessarily indicate a commitment to the priesthood, but it is a significant milestone on the path toward ordination.

On Feb. 12 in the seminary’s St. Mary’s Chapel, Bishop Chad Zielinski of the Diocese of New Ulm installed the following 17 seminarians as lectors:

Tobias Ellis, St. Cloud
Br. Didacus Gottsacker, Franciscan Brothers of Peace
Guillermo Gutiérrez, Boise
Josiah Hanson, Rapid City
Matthew Harris, Sioux Falls
Scott Kahler, St. Cloud
Caleb Kosch, Omaha
Gregory Meyer, Hartford
Andrew Mullaney, Sioux Falls
Dominic Nguyen, Des Moines
Mark Nosbush, St. Cloud
Brother José Ignacio Rodriguez, Pro Ecclesia Sancta
Blane Schriock, Rapid City
Brother Evan Steeves, Pro Ecclesia Sancta
Brent Sundve, New Ulm
Ian Willnerd, Boise
Lawrence Wirries, Crookston

Bishop Robert Barron will celebrate the installation of these three seminarians Saturday, March 16 in their home diocese of Winona-Rochester:

Alexander Peters
Gabriel Rysavy
John Michael Vrchota

Paul Zach, a seminarian from the Diocese of Fargo, will be installed there in August 2024. Details will be announced at a later date.