On January 11, Cardinal Fabio Baggio, C.S., Undersecretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, conferred the Ministry of Lector on Gabe Fanning, from the Diocese of Rapid City, and 31 other seminarians, in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception at the Pontifical North American College, Vatican City State. 

Addressing the new lectors in his homily, Cardinal Baggio encouraged the seminarians to proclaim the Word of God with faithfulness and joy. He went on to say, “The bishop places the Book of the Gospels in the hands of the newly ordained deacons, by saying, “Receive the Gospel of Christ whose herald you have become. Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach. So too, those who are installed to the ministry of Lector are to become heralds of God’s Word, believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach.” Following the homily Cardinal Baggio placed the Holy Scriptures in the hands of each candidate and said, “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 seminarians, currently in their first year of theological formation for the priesthood, will have three additional years of theological, spiritual, and pastoral formation before being ordained to the priesthood in their home dioceses.