Acolytes were encouraged to heed the words of St Paul’s letter to Timothy by Archbishop Costelloe at the bi-Annual Institution Mass on September 30.
More than 500 people were present for the occasion at St Mary’s Cathedral, which saw 97 new acolytes instituted to the service of acolyte.
The 97 newly instituted will join some 1000 acolytes in giving service to the Church in Perth, serving at the altar, preparing sacred vessels and serving as an extraordinary ministers to distribute the Eucharist.
In his homily for the occasion, Archbishop Costelloe recalled the words of St Pauls letter to Timothy.
“Paul tells us, ‘we can learn the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.’ In this way, he goes on to say, a ‘man who is dedicated to God becomes fully equipped and ready for any good work,” the Archbishop said.
The Archbishop went on to say that the ministry of the acolytes will bring great joy, but that there will be times when it also brings challenges and disappointments.
“After all you are being formally commissioned for service in the Church: you will, in a way that hasn’t been true in quite the same way before, become men of the Church, more closely identified with a Church which is at the same time profoundly holy, a work of God, but also marked very deeply by the frailty of its members,” he said.
Director of Liturgy for the Archdiocese of Perth Sr Kerry Willison said the work of the new acolytes is of great value to the Church in Perth.
“The gift of these men is their commitment,” Sr Kerry said.
“While these men have been instituted for service at the altar, some of them are single, some of them are family men, with a wife and children – we can’t lose sight of that – they are men in the world who have offered themselves to serve the Church,” she said.
“This is part of their vocation, and puts into practise for them the teaching of Pope Francis, who has called each one of us to be of service to Christ.”
The Archbishop also reminded the new acolytes that a Christian, more than anything else, is someone who seeks to know, love and serve Christ more completely.
“As acolytes, as ministers in God’s Church, you take on the daunting task of modelling for God’s people what a real Christian, a real disciple, looks like.
“As you prepare to step forward for your formal installation as acolytes the Lord asks the same question of you as he asked of Simon Peter, “Do you love me?”
“As you search your heart for your answer now, my prayer for each of you is that, as each day goes by, you will be able to say, with more and more passion and conviction, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.”
As part of their formation, the men took part in four seminars over a month including a lecture on Eucharistic spirituality with Archbishop Costelloe.
Acolytes from across the Archdiocese will soon take part in a day of reflection. For more information contact Sr Kerry Willison on 08 9207 3350 or email centre@perthcatholic.org.au.