Seminarians now candidates for ordination

Published: December 30, 2019

Bishop Anthony B. Taylor installed 10 Diocese of Little Rock seminarians as lectors, acolytes and candidates during the 4:30 p.m. Mass at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Little Rock on Saturday, Dec. 14.

These included: John Paul Hartnedy of Little Rock and Mark Johns of Jonesboro as lectors, which allows them to proclaim the Word of God during liturgies and catechize the faithful; Nathan Ashburn and Daniel Wendel, both of Little Rock, and Jose Jaime Nieto of Springdale as acolytes, which allows them to serve at the altar during Mass, assist in the purification of Communion vessels and take holy Communion to the sick; and Brian Cundall, Ben Riley and Emmanuel Torres, all of Little Rock; Omar Galvan of Fort Smith; and Alex Smith of Jacksonville were accepted as candidates for holy orders, which is conferred on those who have demonstrated the necessary qualifications for ordination.

The five candidates are set to be ordained deacons in May and are scheduled to be ordained priests in 2021. This event is sponsored by the Vocations and Seminarians Office. For more information, contact Miriam Gallaher at (501) 664-0340, ext. 337. To learn more about our seminarians, visit the Seminarian Directory.