Diocesan seminarian receives Ministry of Lector in Rome

Anthony Vera, a seminarian of the Diocese of Sioux City, was one of 34 seminarians studying at the Pontifical North American College in Rome to receive the Ministry of Lector.

Archbishop John J. Kennedy, secretary of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, conferred the Ministry of Lector on Jan. 12 in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception at PNAC.

Addressing the new lectors in his homily, Archbishop Kennedy encouraged them to proclaim the Word of God with faithfulness and joy.

“By the faithfulness and commitment in your proclamation of the Word of God, the faithful will come to know how strongly you yourself believe in the word that you proclaim,” he said.

As part of the rite, Archbishop Kennedy 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.

Deacon Rosenmeyer, Anthony Vera, Thomas Kollasch and Father Shane Deman

Father Shane Deman, director of seminarians for the Diocese of Sioux City, and seminarian Deacon Jake Rosenmeyer were in Rome for the ceremony. They were joined by Thomas Kollasch, another diocesan seminarian studying at PNAC.

Vera, whose hometown is Le Mars, is a 2020 graduate of Gehlen Catholic High School and 2024 graduate of Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Winona, Minnesota.