John Peter Zappe of the Paterson Diocese was among 10 seminarians who were instituted to the Ministry of Lector by Auxiliary Bishop Elias R. Lorenzo of the Newark Archdiocese during a Mass on Feb. 16 at Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Kearny.
Zappe, 26, a first-year theology student at Immaculate Conception Seminary, in South Orange, joined seminarians from Newark, and the Metuchen Diocese. He is from Andover and St. Joseph Parish in Newton. Zappe anticipates being called to ordination as a diocesan priest in 2028.
The Rite of Institution of Lectors is an important milestone on the way to the priesthood. This ministry is the first that a seminarian receives in preparation for ordination. Lectors are entrusted with reading the Sacred Scriptures during Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours.
