Young flock to serve at Holy Family

Sydney
7 April 2002

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Young flock to serve at Holy Family

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Young flock to serve at Holy Family

By Helen Ransom

Weekend Masses at one Eastern suburbs parish have recently seen a growing number of altar servers, with Cathedral-like numbers serving at Christmas and Easter celebrations.

More than 40 young girls and boys from the ages of eight to 25 are listed to serve at Saturday evening and Sunday morning Masses at the Church of the Holy Family, Maroubra.

At major feast days such as Easter, the parish has 20-25 young people serving at once.

According to Holy Family's parish priest, Fr Bill Challenor, the server's liturgical presence has permeated into the parish community.

"We're a parish that encourages our youth," Fr Bill said.

"I think they feel a part of the community ... they are invited to come and take their place - we don't turn our youth away."

However, contrary to trends in recent years, it's not just the youngest who are answering the call to serve.

The parish has also had an increasing number of high school students who want to be involved as servers - and eventually become acolytes. Most of the older servers (pictured above), including 17-year-old Nathaniel King, are from the parish's high school for boys, Marist College, Pagewood.

"It's the right thing to do," says Nathaniel. "It's part of being in the parish.

"My Mum used to make me

do it. Now I do it for the parish and the Church.

"It's a good way of being a part of it.

"At Easter and Christmas Masses we get lots of older

and younger servers; everyone comes."

Mark Schembri, 24, who co-ordinates the altar servers, said the community was fortunate to have such a large group of dedicated servers and a very supportive parish priest.

"I'm surprised that some parishes are finding it harder to keep altar servers," he said. "It's such a great way of involving young people in the Church.

"Many of the servers continue to serve even after finishing school and some decide to become acolytes.

"The altar servers are even sending a group to World Youth Day."

As reported in Priests don't have to use altar girls (CW 13/1), the Vatican has recently recognised the importance of the altar serving ministry in encouraging vocations to the priesthood and religious orders.