The student will normally receive the Ministry of Acolyte during his second semester of studies.  This is only after preparing appropriately during the preceding novitiate year.  Most acolytes in parishes are temporary acolytes.  This is not a conferral of ordination, rather it is conferral of institution.

The acolyte is appointed in order to aid the deacon and to minister to the priest.  It is his duty therefore to attend to the service of the altar and to assist the deacon and the priest in liturgical celebrations, especially in the celebration of Mass; he is also to distribute communion as a special minister when the ministers spoken of in the Codex Iuris Canonici can. 845 are not available or are prevented by ill health, age, or another pastoral ministry from performing this function, or when the number of communicants is so great that the celebration of Mass would be unduly prolonged.  In the same extraordinary circumstances an acolyte may be entrusted with publicly exposing the blessed sacrament for adoration by the faithful and afterward replacing it, but not with blessing the people.  He may also, to the extent needed, take care of instructing other faithful who on a temporary basis are appointed to assist the priest or deacon in liturgical celebrations by carrying the missal, cross, candles, etc., or by performing other such duties.  He will perform these functions more worthily if he participates in the holy eucharist with increasingly fervent devotion, receives nourishment from it, and deepens his knowledge about it. [1]

As one set aside in a special way for the service of the altar, the acolyte should learn all matters concerning public divine worship and strive to grasp their inner spiritual meaning: in that way he will be able each day to offer himself entirely to God, be an example to all by his gravity and reverence in church, and have a sincere love for the Mystical Body of Christ, the people of God, especially for the weak and the sick. [2]

During the institution of acolytes, the Provincial places the vessel with bread or wine in the hands of the candidate[2]:

Take this vessel with bread (wine) for the celebration of the eucharist.   Make your life worthy of your service at the table of the Lord and of his Church.

R./ Amen.

Notes:

[1] Motu Propio: Ministeria Quaedam, Pope Paul VI, 15 August 1972, 6.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Book of Rites
[4] Cf. General Instruction of the Roman Missal.

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