2 minute read
Altar Servers: Drawing Closer To God While Growing In Understanding Of The Mass
Altar Servers often do their job so quietly and patiently that they can blend right into the sanctuary during Mass. However, when speaking to altar servers, Pope St. John Paul II said that they have a special calling to be friends to Jesus. Their job might seem simple enough — to assist the priest during Mass — but Nick and Nate Wild, parishioners at St. John, have discovered that serving at the altar has deepened their faith and their relationship with God.
Nick, 16, has been serving for seven years. He and his family lead busy lives, but because of his faith, he knew it was important to serve the Church in some way.
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“God has the power for everything,” Nick says, “So we have to respect that and worship Him.”
Nick found that by serving, he got to know the priests better. He has enjoyed talking with them and learning more about the Church and his faith, and even found that he is open to discerning the priesthood.
Nick’s younger brother, Nate, is 11 and has been altar serving for four years. Initially, he thought that he would like to serve alongside his brother.
“I thought maybe I could be like him and serve,” Nate says. “I thought it was cool to be up there and maybe we could serve together.”
Nate was nervous as well as excited the first time he altar served, but his brother was there to help him and he got used to it quickly.
“It’s kind of fun and it feels like if you help out it goes faster,” Nate says. “You get to do stuff instead of just going along — you get to help out.”
Nate has liked that he has a chance to talk with the priest and feels like he has gotten to know him.
One of Nick’s favorite things about being an altar server is being able to help with special Masses. He has served at Easter Mass, at funerals, at healing Masses, and even at Mass with the bishop.
“It’s fun and serious at the same time,” Nick says.
Both of the brothers have found that altar serving gives them a different perspective of the Mass. They see things in a way that just isn’t possible when you are sitting out in the congregation. This new perspective brings their faith to life and engages them in the liturgy. They both like that they can be useful while participating at Mass.
