Getting back into the Spring of things

February:

Please note that we will not have a February 20th trip. We will make it up to Tryon this year sometime during the Easter Season. (April/May)

Postulants will have a review session for rubrics and the test on February 13th. Please ensure that you are taking the time to train at home. All Postulants will then take the written test and skills test on February 27th with Fr. Reid.

March:

First Missa Cantata of the year will be held in March for the Annunciation. We're looking for volunteers for all positions.

If there are any social opportunities or events you want to do, please submit suggestions. We're all ears...

October News

Great training today!

We want to welcome our two new and final Postulants for the year, Vincent Schiffiano and David Carter. This rounds out the 2011 class to seven and please take time to pray for the Postulants during their training period.

Just so no one feels lonely, here's some homework:

-Postulants:
Read the Know Your Mass Book pages 23 - 31;
Read the How to Serve Low Mass book Lesson 2;
Listen and practice with the audio file of the Prayers at the Foot of the Altar on the blog;
Review all handouts and be prepared for an oral quiz at the next training session.

-Servers:
Review the entire Know Your Mass book prior to the next training session;
Practice positions for Christ the King Missa Cantata.

The next training session will be October 29th from 9 - 10 AM. Everyone is invited to attend the 8:00 AM Mass at St. Patricks Cathedral, followed by training at St. Ann's.

Pray hard. Love much.

Photo credit: Bowsk

Serving During Holy Week

I often get strange looks and questions from parishoners, parents, priests, seminarians, and many other types of people when I explain the expectations we have for our MEF servers at St. Ann's. While Fr. Reid sets these expectations, I willingly apply the training, constantly pushing the servers in every aspect that I can.

Let's get to the point: serving at the altar is not a right; it's a privilege. Fr. Reid approved every single server in our ministry for a reason. Not everyone is called to be a priest. Not everyone is called to kneel three feet away from the Celebrant during the most sacred aspect in our faith, the Consecration.

We take the Mass very seriously. Serving in the Sanctuary always takes preparation, diligence, and love. We are not Pharisees. Completing rubrics and spouting off an ancient language like robots without understanding what's going on is an insult to the Lord and unbefitting of altar servers. That's one reason it takes 6 months to complete basic training to be an acolyte at Low Mass. We focus on understanding and the goal is to cultivate a stronger relationship with God and a stronger love for Him. Start off as a "slave for Christ," train, learn, and listen, and then Christ will invite you to be his friend (John 15:15) as Pope Benedict XVI reminded us in his message to Altar servers. Thus, once in the Sanctuary, you are loving God and glorifying Him through excellent and diligent serving.

As Lent comes to it's culmination, the emphasis on the Liturgy during Holy Week is heightened and intensified. Servers must step up to the occasion:

1. Mind your appearance before the King of Kings - haircut, shoes shined, showered, and shaved.

2. Reverence for the King of Kings - pause when genuflecting, move slowly and purposefully, keep your eyes down, mind the altar, the vessels, and the tabernacle.

3. Be conscientious to imitate the King of Kings - arrive in plenty of time, help without being asked, be the example.

4. Prepare to be in the presence of the King of Kings and to receive Him: Sacrament of Reconciliation, time spent in Adoration, and learning humility. Especially ask Our Lady for help.

Lastly, training does not stop once you leave St. Ann's. You bring everything you are to the Sanctuary when you serve, and therefore you must serve at home as you would serve at Church. Spend your day imitating Christ so that when you are in His Sanctuary you will bring with you the sweet aroma of charity from serving your family well.

Be silent angels this week and glorify God.

Lenten update

Lent is upon us. I hope everyone got their ashes yesterday and has begun Lenten practices by now. I have some news for the entire group so here we go:

Next training session is this Tuesday March 15th from 4:15 to 5:45. Please be prepared for the training prior to arriving. Go over your Mass cards and your roles for the Missa Cantata. Just so there is no confusion, attendance is going to be considered when assigning roles for the Missa Cantata's this summer.

There will not be a Missa Cantata for the Annunciation this year on March 25th as there is no priest available to celebrate it. It is still a Holy Day of obligation, so make sure to attend Mass.

The next Missa Cantata will probably be in May for the Ascension. I expect Fr. Reid will want to do at least two to three Missa Cantata's between May and July so we'll be focusing on that in training.

Fr. Reid has mentioned a few things that need to be addressed: If you are not going to show up to Mass as assigned, then I need to be informed no matter what. We've had some team players help out, especially Will Borin and Joseph Mack, but it is the original server's responsibility to be aware and to manage to be at Mass. Second, Fr. Reid has mentioned that servers are arriving late to help set up for Adoration. Servers are REQUIRED to be at St. Ann's by 4:30 pm to set up for Adoration on Wednesday and by 5:45 pm to set up for Saturday evening Mass. This comes from Fr. Reid and it is a matter of obedience on the server's part. Lastly, when servers extinguish the candles, please let the smoke extinguish prior to replacing the glass chimney and wipe the chimney after Mass. We'll review this at training.

The April Mass Schedule is out but the training schedule will need to wait as I'm waiting for my April schedule from work at this time.

Fr. Reid did commend the servers and their hard work. Keep up the good work.

Photo credit: The Catholic Traveler

Let's get started again

Happy Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus!

What a wild and crazy Christmas Octave that was for a lot of us. Getting back into the swing of things here's what's going on:

Saturday January 8th from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM, we will have our next training session. Those who have taken tests can bring those tests in for grading. Those who need to take written and skills tests will do so. After the training session, we will have a 15 minute informative session for the parents. After the session, questions will be answered on a one to one basis outside the Church.

Sunday January 9th 4:00 PM, we will have the Solemn High Mass in Greensboro, NC. Anyone who needs a ride just needs to pipe up at the next training session.

On Wednesday January 12th after the 6:00 PM MEF, we will have the ranking ceremony for the servers. Please make plans to attend.

Please note the updates to the Server rank information and application for advancement on the sidebar.

End of the Year...Liturgically speaking

I hope everyone has recovered from the last Missa Cantata and is ready for the next one! Wednesday December 8th at either 6:30 or 7 pm (waiting back from Fr. Reid on the time.) Prior to Fr. Reid scheduling the Missa Cantata, I had scheduled to see my in-laws in Spokane, WA, so I won't get the joy of being there, but I think with everyone's help, it should go smoothly. More details at Monday's training session.

Our ministry has been invited by Fr. Ferguson FSSP to assist as servers in a Solemn High Mass for the Feast of the Holy Family on Sunday January 9th at 4:00 PM in Greensboro at Our Lady of Grace Church. A Solemn High Mass has clerics for the MC position, but we would fill in the rest. We've already done most of the training for it with the Missa Cantata, and the Deacon and Sub-Deacon perform many of the roles our servers usually do in a Missa Cantata. Fr. Reid has given us permission to assist with this Mass, and I will be asking/recuiting for volunteers for positions on Monday.

We are going to have our first ranking ceremony for the Postulants and the servers. I need families to vote on which date would be best for everyone to attend. Fr. Reid has said he would prefer not to have the ceremony after a Missa Cantata, so I'm offering a few choices you can pick on the blog. Info on the tests and requirements for advancement to be provided on Monday.

I've updated the Mass Serving Schedule one the blog, and do not forget to study for the Our Lady of Fatima quiz on Monday.

September Training

Next training session is this Tuesday September 7th at 4:15 PM. Postulants need to be prepared to run through all of the Latin and rubrics up until the beginning of the Canon. Experienced servers need to be prepared this month to take the test for the first level: Junior Acolyte. This test will cover the Ac2 position at a Low Mass and the TorchBearer position at a Missa Cantata.

On Monday September 20th, Fr. Reid will be present to educate the servers on the Canon. In order to accomodate his schedule, the training time has been moved a half hour earlier going from 3:45 to 5:15. This is a great opportunity to learn about the pinnacle of the Liturgy. Please make plans to attend.

Please review the Mass schedule for changes to assignments.

Photo Credit: FaceMePLS

Prayers at the Foot of the Altar

Here's the long awaited Prayers at the Foot of the Altar for the MEF. Please note the wonderful mistake I made, and left in on purpose...ahem, to show that suffixes are important in the Confiteor. Practice and be perfect for the next training session.

Sacred Heart Weekend

We have confirmation for this weekend:

• Saturday AM Mass at St. Vincent de Paul at 9:00 AM
• Drive to Sacred Heart Church in Salisbury, NC arriving by 11:00
• Training with Fr. Ferguson and Noah Carter from 11:00 to 1:00pm
• Bring your own lunch, a large cooler with ice will be in my car. We'll eat lunch on the Church grounds.
• Arrive back at St. Ann's in Charlotte between 2 - 3 pm
• Be back at Sacred Heart Church in Salisbury on Sunday June 13th by 3pm

We'll have extra space in cars on Saturday. If you need a ride on Sunday, we can coordinate that as well.

The Mass schedule has been updated as well. Training schedule to be updated soon.

The new servers will be joining us at the next training session on Monday, June 21st. Please pray for them as the first few months are challenging as we all remember. More to come...

Training Time Change

Sorry for the late notice everyone. This Monday, the Missa Cantata run-through will be from 5 - 7 pm. That's 5pm to 7pm which is an hour earlier. This change is to accomodate Fr. Reid's schedule. The late notice is my fault as I've known for over a week now. That being said, I still expect the servers to have reviewed their roles for the Missa Cantata to be prepared for Monday evening at 5:00 pm.

Don't forget about the Summer Server Party at the Borin's. All Latin Mass servers and their families are invited to attend. It's on Saturday May 22nd at 6:00 pm.

I also need to add a friendly reminder that parents need to be aware of when they are supposed to show up for their role in Protecting God's Children. We've had some very gracious help with some parents volunteering to stay when others didn't make it, didn't find a substitute, and didn't notify me. Please remember that if we do not have an extra adult, training will be immediately cancelled.

More to come...

Annunciation announcements

If it wasn't official before, it is now; Thursday 25th at 7:00 pm Fr. Reid will offer a Missa Cantata for the Feast of the Annunciation at St. Ann's. I sat down with Fr. Reid this week and he accomplished a lot for the MEF at St. Ann's:

1. Hundreds of dollars of new cassocks have been ordered and will be at St. Ann's within 5 weeks. (Yes Luke, we ordered an 11 just for you.)
2. The Spring Mass schedule has been hammered out and is available on the side bar.
3. The Server training schedule has been completed and is available on the side bar. Please note the Monday March 15th training session with the Schola and hopefully Fr. Reid for a Missa Cantata rehearsal. It is imperative to make that training session.
4. An additional Missa Cantata may be planned for Thursday May 13th on the Feast of the Ascension which we did last year.

Let me know if mistakes have been made on the schedules or how I can help you in your ministry.

Piano = no practice today

Sorry for the late notice, but there will not be any practice today. On a better "note," my little family got an upright piano for the cost of moving it. On a worse "note," the piano fell on my leg while moving it. But the piano is fine, so don't worry.

My leg swelled up a bit, but rest, ice, compression dressings, and elevation have brought it down a good bit. I will need to rest it today and therefore practice gets cancelled. I've notified many of the server families, but please call someone if you talk with them regularly just to make sure they're aware.

Otherwise, the text Missa Cantata is officially scheduled for Thursday March 25th, the Annunciation. More details to come. I'll also work on the schedule, and we'll reschedule todays training for another time.

Please use this opportunity to go over the Latin and practice rubrics for the Low Mass. Have a happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day!

Training Canceled Today (Friday October 23rd)

I'm back from the other side of the country, and our trip went well. Teresa did not seem to be bothered much with the flying except for not having a place to lay down when she wanted to take a nap.

Looking at everything that needs to be accomplished for our MEF servers, it's more prudent to cancel training today than to have it.

Please leave a comment, email, or call me to confirm that you have received this information. Please call or email other parents to ensure that everyone has this information.

Tighten up

It's time to buckle down. We have four training sessions left before the Missa Cantata, and three of them will happen over the next ten days. Due to the number of servers missing practices, (beyond their control), I'm waiting to see what happens for the Ac's and Tb's. Moreover, with the flu running around, I'm expecting for some last minute sickness. I'm hoping for full health going into the end of the month.

Here's my current thoughts on positions:
Thurifer: Joseph M. (Brady O. as alt)
Ac's: Brady O., David R., Ben B., Joseph B.
Bb: Luke Bruck
Tb's: JP M., Joseph Y, Griffin W., Nate S., and whoever isn't an Ac.
Cb: Chase M. (Corey A. as sub)

Please note that I will be gone from Oct 13th - Oct 20th and then working the 21st and 22nd. We'll have a practice on Friday October 23rd to finalize things so please don't miss that session. I can be reached, but we won't be having training during this time. This means that for this Missa Cantata, servers are going to need to practice at home a lot for their position and alternate positions.

If anyone can serve tomorrow night (Saturday Oct 3rd) at 6:30 pm with Thomas Mathis please let me know. I'll be working, but I'll get my messages regularly. Stay tuned.

New Sanctuary is up and running!

Tonight we'll have the first MEF in the new Sanctuary. There's going to be a lot of guess work as to where items will be and how we will run the MEF, but it will all work out and glorify the Lord.

Now that we're finally in the new Sanctuary, I've been able to finalize the Mass and training schedules for October. Please visit the links to the side and get the dates in your calendars. Please note that there's a chunk of October where there will not be training as I'll be in Spokane, WA for a family wedding. Therefore there's a number of training sessions close together for the servers to get used to the Low Mass in the new Sanctuary and to prep for the Missa Cantata.

This week there will not be practice. It is my hope that everyone and their families can attend the Eucharistic Congress this weekend. For servers, it's a great opporunity to witness the Diocese worshipping and adoring the Lord in the Eucharist. Moreover, a Norvus Ordo Pontifical Mass is always worth witnessing. Before the Mass on Saturday, St. Ann's Schola which serves at the Missa Cantata, will sing at the Eucharistic Congress. Please support those who will be supporting us.

Photo Credit: Lauren Rupar

One brick at a time...

Update: Tim Mack made it through surgery early this morning! He's recovering but still has some ground to make up. Thanks to Theresa Ostendorf for the updates.
Please also keep Thomas Mathis in your prayers as this past week he also under went surgery. He's recovering as well and will provide information as he can.

************On a personal note, I'd like to make sure that the rest of the servers take care of themselves and their families as we've had a breakout of surgeries. I will continue to pray for you all...especially considering that we have a Missa Cantata coming up. :)********************

I've updated the training and Mass schedule for this month. Please note the change from some Mondays. In order to be off later, I had to make some concessions. I am going to strongly encourage attendance as we'll be training for the new Sanctuary and the Missa Canata.

This Friday, we'll be training and helping out with the move into the new Church. PLEASE be available Saturday to help move items over as we'll be doing the first MEF Low Mass on Saturday at 6:30 pm. We will need your help, please. (You'll also be the first to see how the new Church will look.)

I've also completed the master server sheet for the Missa Cantata which answers most of the questions for the Missa Canata in the new Sanctuary. Individual server position sheets will be available shortly.

Please stay tuned and keep praying for those who are recovering.

Training cancelled for today...Labor Day

Due to any number of reasons we have to cancel training today. Schedules and info to be up tomorrow!

Please leave a comment, or call, or email to confirm that you know about today's cancellation.

Thanks!!!

Next Training Session: Monday August 10th

I look forward to Monday's training session.

Please remember to review the Canon using a 1962 missal (or one close to it). If you don't have a missal, you can view a rough version of the Canon online. Please remember to also bring your Missa Cantata work. Lastly, I remind the servers to bring cards and other prayers for Lucas' spiritual care package.

• Upcoming dates: August 17th training session has been moved to August 18th at 4:15pm.
• I need people to comment or email me with requests for Missa Cantata positions prior to this upcoming session.
• If anyone is willing to wash cassocks and surplice's, please let me know. Ours need it.
• I hope everyone who went to Discernment Day had a great time. We look forward to reports on Monday.

"August Happenings"

1. With so many of our servers attending Discernment Day, we are in need of other MEF servers to volunteer in assisting with set up for the Wednesday (Aug 5th) Benediction/Adoration. We have servers who can make it for the Mass, but we are in need for Benediction/Adoration. I will be working and so I cannot make it at that time.
2. My little family will be moving to a new house in a few weeks (Aug. 22nd). In order to make the move successful, I've had to move a training session from Monday August 17th Training session to Tuesday August 18th for the same time (4:15 to 6:00 pm).
3. Seminarian Lucas Rossi will not be attending any more training sessions due to schedule conflicts and he will be leaving his post at St. Ann's next week. I am asking all of the servers and their families to offer up prayers for Lucas and provide a card so we can gather them up for a spiritual care package for his last year in seminary.
4. We will begin work on the next Missa Cantata at the next training session. Servers are asked to bring their previous Missa Cantata work with them so we can jump start right back in it.
5. Early September will be the move in time for the new Church. Please be flexible with the schedule as we approach. We will be looking to help Mrs. Kuhn and Fr. Reid move items from the Sanctuary back into the new Church as well so stay tuned for more information.

Even the Holy Father takes vacations...

Welcome back everyone! We will be having training this afternoon Monday July 20th at 4:15PM. Please be sure to arrive on time. The St. Michael crowd will not be in attendance this week, but we still have work to do.

First off...I really changed the schedule for the end of July and August so that we could have coverage. Vacations are great, but I had to move things around to fill in holes and provide Lucas a chance to serve the MEF. PLEASE BE SURE TO CHECK THE SCHEDULE AS I MOVED A LOT OF PEOPLE AROUND.

I look forward to this evening.