A new way to serve By Coryn

    The closest someone can get to the altar, without being a priest or deacon, is by altar serving, or being an acolyte. My older sister Josephine was an altar server in elementary school, but I had never really wanted to do the same. I was always too scared that I’d mess it up. I would lector, or read the readings at Mass instead, and I considered myself much better suited for that. Little did I know, four years later, I would be learning how to altar serve at Saint Mary Magdalen Catholic Church here in Abbeville, and going on to serve at many great and beautiful Masses. 

When we first began our stay in Abbeville, I was attending the local public school. After the virus hit and we had an unexpected extension to our time here, my parents decided to send all of us to the closest Catholic school. At the beginning of my seventh grade year at Mount Carmel School, Father Don, the priest who baptized Gwendolyn, would make frequent visits to the school. Every time, Fr. Don would tell us St. Mary Magdalen Church could use more altar servers, and request that everyone consider coming to the next altar serving training session. This pricked my interest right away. I had always preferred lectoring, but what if I just tried altar serving? If there was training for it, surely I could get the hang of it.

 When I brought the matter up to my parents, my dad took me to the next altar serving training. All of the instructions and things to remember were a lot in the beginning. The first time I served at Mass, I was completely nerve-wrecked. Thankfully I was accompanied by a junior from the Catholic high school who had been serving for many years. She guided me through the whole Mass expertly. Although I was anxious the whole time, the close presence of Jesus was undeniable. I am always at least a little nervous whenever I serve, but it is amazing to be that close to the miracle that happens at every Mass on the altar, to personally announce the Consecration by ringing the bells. 

I have been serving for nine months now, and have been privileged to be near the altar at 3 special events. The first was in January for our friends’ Drew and Shayna Labbe’s wedding at Saint Mary Magdalen. It was a beautiful celebration, one I was blessed to be a part of. Then in April I served for my Great-Grandma Josephine Mescher’s funeral, at Saint Veronica in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Although I was extremely grieved at the passing of my great-grandmother, I was grateful I could participate in her funeral Mass. In May, Bishop Deshotel celebrated the dedication Mass for the new Chapel of the Good Shepherd right here at Stillwater Catholic Retreat Center. I served as an acolyte with my friend Trinity, who attends Mount Carmel School with me. At every Mass I serve, I feel the real and close presence of the Lord. 

God continues to bless me with every opportunity to serve at His altar. He continues to bless our family with new opportunities to serve others, wherever we are in the world. Thank you for all your prayers and support! You truly make this life of service to the Lord possible.