Scranton Bishop Joseph C. Bambera installed 12 candidates, including Andrew Fazio Sr. of Dunmore, for the permanent diaconate in the Ministry of Lector at a mass on Sunday, Sept. 20 in the Cathedral of Saint Peter.

Candidates for the permanent diaconate are installed as lectors at the beginning of their third year in the five-year formation program. This ceremony is the church’s public commissioning of the candidate to serve the people as a reader of the Word of God.

Pictured in first row, from left: Deacon Joseph DeVizia, permanent diaconate coordinator for pastoral formation; Monsignor Thomas M. Muldowney, V.G.; Bishop Bambera; Monsignor David Bohr, secretary for clergy formation; Reverend Donald J. Williams, diocesan director of vocations.

Second row: Monsignor Dale R. Rupert, permanent diaconate coordinator for liturgical formation and cathedral pastor; candidates Michael Golubiewski; John Musyt; Joseph Munley and Maxime Francois.

Third row: Candidates James Rebarchick; Robert Warnock; Ronald Maida; Herbert Cruikshank and Andrew Fazio, Sr.

Fourth row: Candidates Paul Cooper, Jr.; Leonard Jinselli, Jr. and Carl Albright.