Seven men took one step closer to the permanent diaconate
Feb. 13 when they were installed as lectors at the Cathedral
of St. Thomas More in Arlington.
Each man knelt in front of Bishop Paul S. Loverde and placed
their hands on the Bible. The bishop then instructed them to
“take this book of holy Scripture and be faithful in handing
on the word of God, so that it may grow strong in the hearts
of His people.”
The seven men installed as lectors included: Philip Anderson,
Felipe “Ping” Averia, Malcolm D’Souza, Kenneth Galvin,
Anthony Hall, Anthony Renzette and Peter Reyda.
“For you, it must be an internal receiving of God’s word,”
the bishop said in his homily. “Take the word into yourself.
Allow the word to enter you and take root in you so the word
becomes part of your very self.
“Like the Blessed Mother,” the bishop said, “you must allow
the word to take flesh in you and make you His home.”
He told the candidates that God’s word must become fruitful
in them so that it transforms their minds and hearts into
being fruitful disciples.
Bishop Loverde instructed the men to study the Scriptures on
a daily basis and to meditate on them constantly. “But you
must do more than study,” he said. “You must pray over the
word so it becomes the dynamic of your inner life.
“You are being commissioned to bring the good news to God’s
people,” he said.
During this Jubilee Year of Mercy, “God’s mercy isn’t limited
to a year, but far beyond it. His mercy endures forever.”
The bishop told them to be the voice of God’s mercy as they
begin their new duties as lectors.
“Bring the message of salvation,” the bishop said.
