Altar Servers' Mass 2015

Our parish has for several short years hosted an annual Mass in honor of its altar servers on the feast day of St. Dominic Savio, a boy who died at age 15, a student of St. John Bosco, and patron saint of altar boys.

This was the first year John could participate. He has been reading a book about St. Dominic Savio for the past month and, the morning of his feast day, asked Daddy if he could go to Eucharistic Adoration because it was this particular feast day (which they did). Later, I overheard him explaining that St. Dominic "is my brother because we're both altar servers." The Mass that night couldn't have been more wonderful, according to the enthusiastic report John gave me upon arriving home late at night, me already in bed, lights out, trying to listen to his loquaciousness and stay awake for half an hour longer.

The boys had raised money for a statue of St. Dominic Savio, which graces the working sacristy, and that night received its public unveiling and was subject of a procession.

Processing in

I've heard reports that the altar servers numbered 59, in the 60s, or 73. Who knows? It's a gloriously big number. These are both altar servers of the Novus Ordo and the Latin Masses, but, as this was a Latin Mass, all the servers of the Novus Ordo sat in choir. There were so many extraneous altar servers, they filled three pews!

Processing out

Boys waiting for the priests

Beginning the procession

After the procession

Happy priests and possibly future priests

A lady at our parish has organized the post-Mass reception for two years in the row now: as mother to all boys, she knows just what kind of food will be fabulously well-received by these hungry altar servers. Last year, the main entree was Chik-Fil-A chicken nuggets, this year it was Domino's pizza, along with yummies like cupcakes, Rice Krispy treats, and sweet tea.

I'm delighted that such effort is put into celebrating altar boys and growing their camaraderie through this event. Click here to see all 190 professional photos of the event. Or view below a slideshow someone assembled:

 

Update: The boys made it to the newspaper!