ST. MEINRAD — Sixteen priesthood students from Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology received the ministry of acolyte on Feb. 13 in the Seminary’s St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel. Archbishop Charles Thompson of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis installed the acolytes.

The seminarians receiving the ministry were Gregory S. Caldwell, Diocese of Burlington, Vermont; Michael P. Clawson, John Geis and Matthew R. Perronie, Archdiocese of Indianapolis; Benjamin R. Horn, Diocese of Lexington, Kentucky; Dustin S. Hungerford, Archdiocese of Louisville; Dongju (Andrew) Kim and Sejin (Joseph) Nam, Diocese of Busan, South Korea; Willy Kyagulanyi, Glenmary Home Missioners; Mark S. Miller, Diocese of Crookston, Minnesota; Chukwunonso C. Ohanaka and Brent M. Thayer, Diocese of Nashville, Tennessee; Zachary D. Samples, Diocese of Springfield, Illinois; Nathaniel Szidik, OSB, and Kolbe Wolniakowski, OSB, Saint Meinrad Archabbey; and Roarke J. Traynor, Diocese of Manchester, New Hampshire.

An acolyte assists a deacon or priest primarily in the celebration of Mass. He attends to the needs of the altar and may distribute Communion as an auxiliary minister. He also may be entrusted with the public veneration of the Blessed Sacrament, but does not give the Benediction, which is reserved for a priest or deacon.