GREENVILLE — Eight-year-old Toby Akinruli has only been an altar server at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul for a month-and-a-half, but already he has discovered many things to love about the volunteer position.
“I like to give the priest the book. I like holding the candle,” he told Rhode Island Catholic. Toby, along with many of his fellow altar servers from around the diocese, attended the altar server appreciation Mass held at Saint Philip Parish, Greenville, last Saturday morning. The Mass is celebrated annually to recognize the commitment of young people throughout the Diocese of Providence who offer their time and efforts on a weekly basis in service to the Mass.
“I welcome you all here, and I want to thank you all for coming and for your service as altar servers in our diocese,” said Father Carl Fisette, director of vocations for the diocese. Father Fisette presided at the Mass alongside Father Chris Murphy, assistant director of vocations, and Deacon Jorge Rocha, ordained to the transitional diaconate in May.
The altar server appreciation Mass is co-sponsored by the diocesan Office of Vocations and the Providence Serra Club, an organization committed to promoting and fostering vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Supporting altar servers is an important part of the Serra Club’s mission, as many priests and religious men and women report first discovering the love for the Mass that later helped them to discern their vocations during service at the altar when they were young.
“It’s a way of acknowledging the servers from around the diocese,” said Father Murphy. “It’s sponsored by the vocations office because the idea is that you have some young people who enjoy serving at and around the altar, and for boys, that’s an opportunity to preach about the priesthood. For girls, they also enjoy being around the Mass and the Church, is there a possible call to the religious life there?”
Father Murphy compared service at Mass to the work of a missionary sent out to preach the Gospel and share the Eucharist during his homily. He quoted a speech by Pope Francis, who addressed a large group of altar servers in Saint Peter’s Square last April.
“How beautiful it is to realize that faith brings us out of ourselves, out of our isolation,” Pope Francis told the altar servers. “Precisely because we are filled with the joy of being friends with Jesus Christ, faith draws us towards others, making us natural missionaries.”
The altar servers were then asked to stand and receive a special blessing from Father Murphy in preparation for their return to service at their individual parishes. The young people in attendance represented parishes from around the diocese, with especially large groups from Saint Philip and the cathedral parishes. Following the Mass, altar servers, family and chaperones gathered for a reception at Saint Philip School, enjoying pizza and sharing stories of their favorite experiences during service to the Church.
Sister Elizabeth Castro, H.M.S.P., who trains altar servers at the cathedral, accompanied several young people from her parish to the event. She spoke about the learning experience for new altar servers, many of whom begin training immediately after receiving their first communion.
“They learn how to be reverent at the altar,” said Sister Elizabeth. “It is important to have reverence and respect and get to know Jesus through service. Serving is also a prayer.”
James Ladino, an altar server at the cathedral, joined his fellow servers in June at Sister Elizabeth’s invitation. “I think it was a great opportunity for him,” said his father, also named James, who attended the appreciation Mass with his son. “He’s definitely risen to it.”
Ten-year-old Maria Plante, an altar server of three years at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Parish, Woonsocket, said her favorite Masses to serve are Christmas Day and the Easter Vigil, while Jackson McWilliams, 10, an altar server of two years at the cathedral, said he enjoys serving the Red Mass for lawyers and members of the judiciary. Jackson, who can remember the date of his first Mass as an altar server, also indicated he might feel a calling to the priesthood, something Father Murphy advised him to pray about.
Sister Elizabeth expressed pride at the young people’s commitment to the Mass. “They love serving, they serve every weekend,” she said of the altar servers at the cathedral. All of the young people present were recognized for their service to the Church and asked to keep their hearts and minds open as they prayed for discernment in vocations.
