Mass in Celebration of Peter Nemcek Institution to the Ministry of the Acolyte Wednesday, February 19 th, 2014 10:30 AM Mass St. Charles Roman Catholic Church
M i n i s t r y o f t h e A c o l y t e There are two steps that are going to happen on my journey towards the sacrament of Holy Orders. I will be instituted to the ministry of the Acolyte by our Archbishop and receive the Rite of Candidacy. Before a man can be ordained a priest or a deacon he has to receive two ministries and a candidacy. These two ministries are important for a man aspiring to sacred orders because they allow the candidate through the intimate contact with the word and the altar to understand and reflect on the double aspect of priestly office (Paul VI). As you might recall, I was instituted to the ministry of lector in October during the priest study days. Today I will be instituted to the ministry of the acolyte. This ministry is connected to the table of the most holy Eucharist and the ministries that flow out of it such as bringing communion to the sick. It s also a call to deepen my love for God s people and to understand the deep spiritual meaning of what I do. I thank you for your continual support as I journey towards priesthood and ask for your prayers as I am called to minister to the people of God in this new way. - Peter Nemcek Closing Hymn: Mary of Nazareth God sent the angel Gabriel to see Mary of Galilee. She was chosen as the favored one, God s gift for all to see. Now Gabriel said to Mary Let the Spirit come to you. You will conceive the Son of God - Cause there s nothing God can t do. (2 Times) Mary said YES! Oh YES! I will, I will have this son. I will do what God wants me to, may God s will be done. (Repeat chorus and back to verse 1 at top) In performing your ministry bear in mind that, as you share the one bread with your brothers and sisters, so you form one body with them. Show a sincere love for Christ s Mystical Body, God s holy people, and especially for the weak and the sick. Be obedient to the commandment which the Lord gave to his apostles at the Last Supper: Love one another as I also have loved you. - From the Institution of Acolytes
Communion Hymn: Pescador de Hombres/Lord, You Have Come Lord, you have come to the seashore, Neither searching for the rich nor the wise. Desiring only, that I should follow. O Lord, with your eyes set up-on me gently smiling, you have spoken my name; All I long for I have found by the water, at your side, I will seek other shores. Lord, see my goods my possessions; In my boat you find no power, no wealth. Will you accept, then, my nets and labour? Lord, take my hands and direct them. Help me spend myself in seeking the lost. Returning love for the love you gave me. Lord, as I drift on the waters, Be the resting place of my restless heart. My life s companion, my friend and refuge. Main celebrant and homilist: Corporate Chair/School Pastor Master of Ceremonies Most Reverend Archbishop Richard Gagnon Msgr. Maurice Comeault Mr. Anselm Regatli Choir: Grades 3-5 and Grades 6-8 Choir Director: Pianist/Organist: Violinists: French Horns: Altar Servers: Read By: Grade 7 student S e r v i c e Mrs. Kathy Lalonde Mr. Michael Cutler SCCS Violin Ambassadors Daniel Cowan and Lynn Hutchison B. Kulbacki, E. Peacock, J. Gilbraith, K. Sigurdson, Q. Lyon, Z. Houlahan I n t r o d u c t i o n We welcome His Grace, Archbishop Gagnon. We will be celebrating this Mass together with His Grace and four of our school Pastors. And welcome to our guest clergy. Today during the Mass, we will witness the institution of Peter as an acolyte one of the first rituals leading towards his ordination to the priesthood. The theme for this Mass is the same as that of our school goal for this year: Be Christ-like in our leadership. Let us pray today, especially for our church leaders, the clergy, for Peter and for each one of us to be Christ-like in our leadership.
E u c h a r i s t i c C e l e b r a t i o n Theme: Be Christ-like in our Leadership Opening Hymn: They ll Know We Are Christians (Please note: song lyrics are located at the back of the program) READING: read by Grade 3 student (James 1.19-27): Be doers of the Word, not just hearers. PSALM: read by Grade 6 students RESPONSORIAL PSALM: The just shall live on your holy mountain, O Lord. Those who walk blamelessly, And do what is right, And speak the truth from their heart, Who do not slander with their tongue. R: The just shall live on your holy mountain O Lord. Those who do no evil to their friends, Nor take up a reproach against their neighbours; In whose eyes the wicked are despised, But who honour those who fear the Lord. R: The just shall live on your holy mountain O Lord. Those who stand by their oath even to their hurt; Those who do not lend money at interest, And do not take a bribe against the innocent. Those who do these things shall never be moved. R: The just shall live on your holy mountain O Lord. Communion Hymn: Eat This Bread Eat this Bread, drink this Cup. Come to Me and never be hungry. Eat this Bread, drink this Cup. Trust in Me and you will not thirst. I am the Bread of Life, the true Bread sent from the Father. Your ancestors ate manna in the desert, but this is the Bread come down from heaven. Eat My flesh and drink My blood, and I will raise you up on the last day. Anyone who eats this Bread will live forever. If you believe and eat this bread, you will have eternal life. GOSPEL: The Story of the Blind Man whose sight was restored. Gospel: Mark 8: 22-26
S o n g L y r i c s Opening Hymn: They ll Know We Are Christians We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord, We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord, And we pray that all unity may one day be restored. And they ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love, Yes, they ll know we are Christians by our love. We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand, We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand, And together we ll spread the news that God is in our land. We will work with each other, we will work side by side, We will work with each other, we will work side by side, And we ll guard each human s dignity and save human s pride. All praise to the Father, from whom all things come, And all praise to Christ Jesus, his only Son, And all praise to the Spirit, who makes us one. Institution of Acolytes CALLING OF THE CANDIDATE DATE: Msgr. Comeault calls Peter by name and Peter goes before the Bishop. HOMILY: Most Reverend Archbishop Richard Gagnon INVITATION TO PRAYER: (All Stand) Brothers and sisters, let us pray to the Lord for those chosen by him to serve in the ministry of acolyte. Let us ask him to fill them with his blessing and strengthen them for faithful service in his Church. (All pray in silence for a brief period) PRAYER: Most Reverend Archbishop Richard Gagnon God of mercy, through your only Son, you entrusted the bread of life to your Church. Bless our brother, who has been chosen for the ministry of acolyte. Grant that he may be faithful in his service of your altar and in giving to others the bread of life; may he grow always in faith and love, and so build up your Church. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. INSTITUTION: Peter goes to the Bishop who gives him a vessel with the bread or wine to be consecrated, saying: Take this vessel with bread (wine) for the celebration of the Eucharist. Make your life worthy of your service at the table of the Lord and of his Church. Amen
Intentions: Read by Grade 6 students Our response is: Lord, hear our prayer. For the Olympic athletes and everyone traveling to Sochi, Russia for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games, we pray to the Lord. For those who are sick and homeless during this cold winter weather, we pray to the Lord. For soldiers and civilians all over the world contending with war and conflict, we pray to the Lord. For the staff, students and families of St. Charles who teach us and keep us safe, we pray to the Lord. For Peter and all seminarians, that they may be successful in their journey to priesthood, we pray to the Lord. For our families, friends, grandparents and those who cannot be here for supporting our education and faith, we pray to the Lord. For vocations to the religious life, we pray to the Lord. For the Archbishop and the clergy, we pray to the Lord. Offertory: Read by Grade 4 student Carried by Grade 8 student: We bring an Alb to represent the journey Peter is beginning today. (This Alb is a gift from the students of St. Charles Catholic School.) Carried by Grade 5, KL, KR, Grade 1Z students: We now take up the bread, water and wine. They will be changed into Jesus, the Son of our loving and forgiving Father. Communion Hymns: Eat this Bread Pescador de Hombres/Lord, You Have Come Dedication Song - I See the Love of God Closing Hymn: Mary of Nazareth Thank you for joining us in prayer on this special occasion. Immediately following the Mass, everyone is cordially invited to a reception in the Church basement. - Dr. Anne Penny, Principal M y S t o r y My name is Peter Nemcek and I ve finished three years of seminary formation at St. Joseph seminary in Edmonton and since September 2013 I am on an internship year at Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish. I was born and raised in Trnava, Slovakia in a Catholic environment and attended St. Angela Merici Catholic Elementary and High school in my hometown. I have one younger brother and sister. With my brother we began altar serving when I was twelve and through this ministry I got to know many priests and seminarians. I came to Winnipeg in September 2005 and finished Grade 12 at Kildonan East Collegiate. After finishing a science degree at the University of Manitoba in 2009 I worked for a year as Research Technician at the University of Manitoba. After some discernment I took a leap of faith and was accepted by the Archdiocese of Winnipeg to begin my formation to priesthood at St. Joseph Seminary in September 2010.