Altar servers immerse themselves in prayer

Making our way to the altar with an abundance of heart-felt joy to serve once again during this  unchartered period, we began to realise how fragile life can really become.

Covid-19 is the catalyst for change! It has brought us to our knees and compelled us to a deeper, spiritual way of life in more ways than one.

In general, altar servers have been thinking of different ways they can reach out to fellow servers to reconnect the friendships that may have been broken or lost.

One ideal thought was we should be like palm trees standing in  fertile soil finding common ground, immersing ourselves in prayer for it’s the driving tool which works as a coping mechanism.

There was an impactful moment with His Grace who imparted words of wisdom to us. A question was first given to us, “How many altar servers really have a proper prayer life?” Now  that got us thinking!

His Grace then went on to share with us three basic steps one must begin their daily routine with:

1. Do a morning offering
2. Do an examination of conscience before going to bed
3. Do an act of sacrifice

In addition, a specific line was given to be said every day “Bend my heart to do your will, O God.”

With every racing thought, ‘PRAY’ kept shouting out to us: Pour out your heart, Realise God will answer, Always believe, Yield  to what God tells you.

In Acts 1:12–14: “So from the Mount of Olives, as it is called, they went back to Jerusalem, a short distance away from, no more than a Sabbath walk; and when they reached the city they went up to the Upper Room where they were staying; there were Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Jude son of James. With one heart all those joined constantly in prayer, together with some women, including Mary, mother of Jesus, and his brothers.”

Just as the disciples, we processed to the upper room, where we met virtually, achieving our goal of praying together on a schedule-based system, where it gave us a surreal feeling of knowing love is embedded in our footsteps, while prayer rests on spines, minds and hearts raised to the heavens.

The dedication to this much-needed level of understanding that God’s glory is the needle of our moral compass which shone its way out to every altar server throughout the Archdiocese. It has indeed shown us that within prayer we can still foster great friendships.

It’s very refreshing to see what prayer can do as we navigate through these times of uncertainty!

St Tarcisius, patron of altar servers, be my patron! Feast day: August 15.

To an Altar Server

By St John Berchmans

To assist Christ at the altar,

To serve Him freely there,

When even the angels falter

Bowed low in reverent prayer.

May God bless you forever,

And keep you in His care,

And guard you,

That you never belie the robes you wear.

Throughout life, then,

Endeavour God’s graces to employ,

For your most deserving reward

Will be eternal joy.

God bless you for your service.

—Altar servers Cree George, Gran Couva/Tabaquite, and Dujon Morris, San Juan, on behalf of the Archdiocese of Port of Spain Altar Servers.