2 minute read
Meet Lector Steven Schreifels: Grateful and Blessed to Serve God at Mass
We often see youth serving on the altar, or maybe carrying the gifts up with their families, but it’s a bit less common to see a young person serving as a lector. While serving as a lector may not be for everyone, Sauk Centre junior and St. Paul’s parishioner Steven Schreifels has known for a long time that it is for him.
“I don’t get nervous in front of people when I have something to read,” he says.
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Steven has been an altar server for many years. A few years ago Steven’s dad, Kevin, completed a stewardship card for Steven and chose the Lector Ministry. Steven then received a call to sign up and he agreed. For about six months, he has been serving as a lector.
“I really enjoy having the opportunity to do something to help during Mass,” Steven says.
Steven takes time to go over each reading a few times and practice any tough words before he proclaims the reading aloud to the congregation. Practicing also helps him better understand the readings prior to weekend Mass. Throughout all of this preparation, he is also gaining a valuable understanding of the Bible.
“When you are doing anything that isn’t just sitting in the pew, it does help with feeling part of the Mass,” Steven says. “It helps me to focus more on Mass, too.”
While Steven has found it interesting to get involved as a lector, and he finds that he is blessed to have learned even more about the Mass than he knew from being an altar server.
“This has helped me grow closer to God,” Steven says. “It’s important to have Him to look up to and to have something to look forward to after death.”
Having attended many youth group events through junior high and high school, Steven truly enjoys being with other people who share his faith. This month, he is attending the National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis, Ind. with the Sauk Centre youth group. He also attended the conference in 2019.
“You get to meet a lot of people there,” Steven says. “You also get to see a lot of cool speakers. One thing I remember from when I was there the first time was how cool it was to see hundreds of priests come up for Mass.”
In his free time, Steven enjoys coding, playing online games with friends, and being involved with the Sauk Centre Robotics Club.
Steven Schreifels enjoys serving as a lector at St. Paul’s.
