The Catholic Sun
OLPH-ALTAR SERVERS-8
Altar servers help priests set the Lord’s table
By Ambria Hammel | Nov. 4, 2009 | The Catholic Sun
GLENDALE — Ask a child or teenager to set the dinner table and they may reluctantly oblige.
Ask one of them to help prepare for the Lord’s Supper and they jump at the chance. At least that’s what happens to more than 125 altar servers at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish.
And at least one more person each week asks to join them. That’s because these young Catholics are finding personal and communal value in being an altar server.
The ministry has ballooned in recent months, attracting servers as young as 8 and three acolytes who are well into adulthood.
“The biggest limiting factor is the number of cassocks and albs we have,” said Tom Ruane, coordinator of the ministry and an acolyte.
He consistently gets three to four times as many volunteers as he needs. That sometimes means smaller roles for each server — whether it’s simply carrying the cross or candles, bringing the presiding priest a glass of water after the homily or helping with the credence table — but it allows them to participate.
“We try to get them involved and make it something they look forward to doing,” Ruane said. “If they participate, it’ll teach a faith in them that we can’t teach in the classroom.”
He should know. Ruane’s 12-year-old son raised his grade in religion class by several notches after joining the ministry. That’s because the ongoing training — including a weeklong mentoring session at Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral this summer — helped servers not only identify the parts of the Mass and the elements used at the altar, but grasp their greater meaning.
“Symbols are always important because they help us understand deeper concepts,” said Fr. Michael Reinhardt, pastor of the Glendale parish. That has led to increased reverence throughout the liturgy.
The servers — six to 12 per Mass — gracefully walk and bow in unison and keep their hands folded flat in prayer. If one hand is holding the cruets or bells, the other hand crosses their heart with poise.
“They support the liturgy in making it flow and making it aesthetically beautiful,” said Fr. Reinhardt, who joined the ministry as a third-grader.
Eleven-year-old Juan Ramirez likes carrying one of the candles because he said he’s “shining the light for our Lord Jesus Christ.”
He’s one of many altar servers who knows the ministry has helped them better understand the readings and the Eucharist. They said it’s helped them focus.
“It’s a high-class affair coming to Mass,” Fr. Reinhardt said. “They realize they set the table for the Lord.”
The pastor has been working with the parish too by re-emphasizing the Eucharist as the source and summit of the Catholic faith. That’s why he returned the paten to the communion line.
The altar server extends the golden plate as each parishioner comes forward. It’s one more way to show respect for the Eucharist.
These subtle differences in the liturgy have many altar servers interested in seeing how things are done at other parishes. They’ve been learning about Church history and taking pilgrimages.
Roughly two dozen altar servers visited to San Xavier del Bac Mission in Tucson this spring where they served a Mass.
Several of the altar servers have dual duty at Our Lady of Perpetual Help’s chapel, other parishes and diocesan events. A core group has taken turns serving a midday Mass at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul each Wednesday since May.
Ten-year-old Rachel Steinheiser has only been serving three months, but she’s already looking into serving at another parish too.
“I used to be like, ‘oh boy, church,’” she said with boredom in her voice. Now she’s excited to go and serves almost every chance she gets.
Fifteen-year-old Libby Moran said altar serving helps make Mass fun. It not only heightens her participation, but makes her a role model.
“As an altar server, you’re leading the congregation in prayer, so you’re doing a lot of good through the ministry,” she said.
Moran’s two younger siblings also serve. Her brother John was recently appointed as the ministry’s first president.
That means the eighth-grader will market the ministry at the parish school. Other servers are free to help by word of mouth and by wearing a school-approved “altar server” shirt as part of their uniform.
“If we can excite them about the faith now, how much more awesome will that be when they’re older,” Fr. Reinhardt said.
That excitement is enhancing prayer life and spawning preliminary thoughts of religious vocations among the servers. Eighth-grader Efraem Amarillas is thinking about the deaconate and 10-year-old Peter Lukaszewski, the priesthood.
“It’s been more of an open window as a job,” he said of the altar server ministry. “It’s an easy and fun way to serve God.”
More: www.catholicsun.org
ORDERING INFORMATION
Looking for a glossy/matte copy of this photo? Please call 602-354-2132 or send an e-mail for ordering information. Please note the photo's title when ordering. Download the order form here.
Copyright 2006-2009 The Catholic Sun. All rights reserved. This photo and all photos on this Web site credited to The Catholic Sun are provided for personal use only and may not be published, broadcasted, transmitted or sold without the expressed consent of The Catholic Sun.
OLPH-ALTAR SERVERS-8
Altar servers help priests set the Lord’s table
By Ambria Hammel | Nov. 4, 2009 | The Catholic Sun
GLENDALE — Ask a child or teenager to set the dinner table and they may reluctantly oblige.
Ask one of them to help prepare for the Lord’s Supper and they jump at the chance. At least that’s what happens to more than 125 altar servers at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish.
And at least one more person each week asks to join them. That’s because these young Catholics are finding personal and communal value in being an altar server.
The ministry has ballooned in recent months, attracting servers as young as 8 and three acolytes who are well into adulthood.
“The biggest limiting factor is the number of cassocks and albs we have,” said Tom Ruane, coordinator of the ministry and an acolyte.
He consistently gets three to four times as many volunteers as he needs. That sometimes means smaller roles for each server — whether it’s simply carrying the cross or candles, bringing the presiding priest a glass of water after the homily or helping with the credence table — but it allows them to participate.
“We try to get them involved and make it something they look forward to doing,” Ruane said. “If they participate, it’ll teach a faith in them that we can’t teach in the classroom.”
He should know. Ruane’s 12-year-old son raised his grade in religion class by several notches after joining the ministry. That’s because the ongoing training — including a weeklong mentoring session at Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral this summer — helped servers not only identify the parts of the Mass and the elements used at the altar, but grasp their greater meaning.
“Symbols are always important because they help us understand deeper concepts,” said Fr. Michael Reinhardt, pastor of the Glendale parish. That has led to increased reverence throughout the liturgy.
The servers — six to 12 per Mass — gracefully walk and bow in unison and keep their hands folded flat in prayer. If one hand is holding the cruets or bells, the other hand crosses their heart with poise.
“They support the liturgy in making it flow and making it aesthetically beautiful,” said Fr. Reinhardt, who joined the ministry as a third-grader.
Eleven-year-old Juan Ramirez likes carrying one of the candles because he said he’s “shining the light for our Lord Jesus Christ.”
He’s one of many altar servers who knows the ministry has helped them better understand the readings and the Eucharist. They said it’s helped them focus.
“It’s a high-class affair coming to Mass,” Fr. Reinhardt said. “They realize they set the table for the Lord.”
The pastor has been working with the parish too by re-emphasizing the Eucharist as the source and summit of the Catholic faith. That’s why he returned the paten to the communion line.
The altar server extends the golden plate as each parishioner comes forward. It’s one more way to show respect for the Eucharist.
These subtle differences in the liturgy have many altar servers interested in seeing how things are done at other parishes. They’ve been learning about Church history and taking pilgrimages.
Roughly two dozen altar servers visited to San Xavier del Bac Mission in Tucson this spring where they served a Mass.
Several of the altar servers have dual duty at Our Lady of Perpetual Help’s chapel, other parishes and diocesan events. A core group has taken turns serving a midday Mass at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul each Wednesday since May.
Ten-year-old Rachel Steinheiser has only been serving three months, but she’s already looking into serving at another parish too.
“I used to be like, ‘oh boy, church,’” she said with boredom in her voice. Now she’s excited to go and serves almost every chance she gets.
Fifteen-year-old Libby Moran said altar serving helps make Mass fun. It not only heightens her participation, but makes her a role model.
“As an altar server, you’re leading the congregation in prayer, so you’re doing a lot of good through the ministry,” she said.
Moran’s two younger siblings also serve. Her brother John was recently appointed as the ministry’s first president.
That means the eighth-grader will market the ministry at the parish school. Other servers are free to help by word of mouth and by wearing a school-approved “altar server” shirt as part of their uniform.
“If we can excite them about the faith now, how much more awesome will that be when they’re older,” Fr. Reinhardt said.
That excitement is enhancing prayer life and spawning preliminary thoughts of religious vocations among the servers. Eighth-grader Efraem Amarillas is thinking about the deaconate and 10-year-old Peter Lukaszewski, the priesthood.
“It’s been more of an open window as a job,” he said of the altar server ministry. “It’s an easy and fun way to serve God.”
More: www.catholicsun.org
ORDERING INFORMATION
Looking for a glossy/matte copy of this photo? Please call 602-354-2132 or send an e-mail for ordering information. Please note the photo's title when ordering. Download the order form here.
Copyright 2006-2009 The Catholic Sun. All rights reserved. This photo and all photos on this Web site credited to The Catholic Sun are provided for personal use only and may not be published, broadcasted, transmitted or sold without the expressed consent of The Catholic Sun.