Seminarian of diocese installed into the ministry of Acolyte

Columbus, OH - On Sunday, Nov. 16, 2003, Paul D. Timmerman, a seminarian of the Diocese of New Ulm and a student at Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, OH, was installed into the ministry of Acolyte. The Most Reverend Roger J. Foys, Bishop of Covington, presided over the installation of 11 seminarians into the ministry of Lector and 10 into the ministry of Acolyte at the Pontifical College Josephinum. An acolyte assists the deacon and priest during liturgical assemblies and may also distribute holy communion as an auxiliary minister when situations demand. The acolyte may also instruct the faithful in the performance of liturgical functions.

Paul is the son of Dennis and Shirley Timmerman of Boyd, MN. His home parish is the Church of St. Leo, St. Leo, MN. Paul is currently in Theology 2 at Pontifical College Josephinum, Columbus, OH.

Founded in 1888 by a German immigrant priest, Msgr. Joseph Jessing, the Pontifical College Josephinum was granted pontifical status in 1892 by Pope Leo XIII, thus becoming, and remaining, the only pontifical seminary in the Western Hemisphere. Originally established as an orphanage in 1874 by Msgr. Jessing, today the Josephinum educates seminarians from the United States, Asia, Africa and Europe. Alumni serve the universal Church in 22 countries and 48 states. The Josephinum is comprised of a four-year College of Liberal Arts and a four-year graduate School of Theology. The Josephinum prepares priests for U.S. dioceses that do not have their own seminaries, missionary areas of the United States, regions of the U.S. with growing Hispanic communities, and dioceses around the world in need of help with the education of their seminarian.