Acolytate Mass

The Venerable English College celebrated a special Acolytate Mass on Sunday 16 November.

 During the Mass, Barnabas Mercer (Arundel and Brighton) was instituted as an Acolyte in the Church as part of his ongoing priestly formation.

 The college community, together with Barnabas’s family and friends, gathered to celebrate the occasion in the college chapel.

 Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States, presided at the Mass and gave the Homily.

Barnabas has been a seminarian at the VEC since 2022. He is currently undertaking his Pastoral Theology Year and is due to commence a placement in the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton shortly.

 Acolyte, along with Lector, are ministries in the Church which have traditionally been conferred on candidates for Holy Orders. Being an Acolyte will assist Barnabas as he prepares to take up his placement later this year.

 Please pray for Barnabas as his formation continues.

 Ad multos annos!