The Rite of Institution of Reader and Acolyte was celebrated at St. Augustine Church in Covington April 5 for the 22 men studying for the permanent diaconate in the class of 2008.

The rite was celebrated for the first time by Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory since his installation as archbishop of Atlanta.

Deacon Loris Sinanian, director of deacon formation, presented the class to Archbishop Gregory for the rite. The men have completed one year of aspirancy and are currently in their second of four years of formation.

The archbishop exhorted the men with these words, “Tonight, you are being designated servants and caretakers of the Lord’s Word and Sacrament. You are being commissioned to feed the hungers of your brothers and sisters—the hungers that we all have for the Word and the Bread of Life.”

Each of the men, who represent 17 parishes, came forward to Archbishop Gregory and received the Book of Sacred Scripture to designate them readers, and a chalice, containing wine to be consecrated during the Liturgy of the Eucharist, designating them acolytes.

They were reminded that “the Word of God is a double-edged sword … the Word of God (that) is the Voice of God spoken in every age, to every culture and every person.”

With their institution as reader and acolyte, they “are to feed the hearts of God’s people through the proclaiming of His Word and to share the Bread of Life which nourishes the hungers that we all have for Christ Himself.”

St. Augustine Church was filled to capacity for this special evening for the men, which represented an important step in their journey of service to the Lord, according to Deacon Sinanian.

The concluding rite rang out with the words, “Rejoice and be glad! Blessed are you, holy are you! Rejoice and be glad! Yours is the Kingdom of God!”

Deacon Sinanian reminded everyone that the archdiocese and the community is indeed blessed by the continuing service being provided to the church and the people of God by the deacons of the Archdiocese of Atlanta and that they are further blessed by having 86 men in formation.

Father John Howren, pastor of St. Augustine Church, thanked Archbishop Gregory for coming to St. Augustine for this special evening that concluded with a reception hosted by the parish.

In alphabetical order the candidates and their parishes are:

Antonius Anugerah, Our Lady of the Assumption, Atlanta; Ken Bishop, St. Brendan, Cumming; Terry Blind, Holy Trinity, Peachtree City; Jose Campos, St. Andrew, Roswell; Paul Doppel, St. Oliver Plunkett, Snellville; Bobby Jennings, St. Ann, Marietta; Jerry Kazin, St. Benedict, Duluth; Daniel Lange, St. Helena, Clayton; Art Lerma, St. Thomas Aquinas, Alpharetta; Dale Lister, St. Catherine Laboure, Commerce; Tom Metzger, St. Augustine, Covington.

And Larry Mosher, St. Catherine of Siena, Kennesaw; Ed Patterson, Our Lady of the Assumption, Atlanta; Greg Pecore, St. Philip Benizi, Jonesboro; John Peterson, St. Lawrence, Lawrenceville; Stephen Ponichtera, St. Catherine of Siena, Kennesaw; John Puetz, St. Benedict, Duluth; Ed Rademacher, St. Monica, Duluth; Tom Ryan, St. Catherine of Siena, Kennesaw; David Sandlin, St. Ann, Marietta; Steve Swope, St. George, Newnan; and Richard Thibodeau, St. Michael, Gainesville.