April and Youth Lenten Retreat

Training this week is on Tuesday April 5th from 4:15 to 5:45 pm. This is the second time I'm announcing that practice attendance in March, April, and May will help guide who is chosen to do what in Missa Cantata's this year.

The Diocese of Charlotte is sponsoring a Youth Lenten Pilgrimage this Saturday from 9 AM to 8 PM at Belmont Abbey. Click here to see the info page about the day. If anyone is interested in going and does not have a youth group to go with, I will consider taking servers this year. If you want to experience Christ in the company of your fellow servers and North Carolina Youth, I am highly encouraging the trip this year. Let me know.

Practice cancellation notice

I commend the parents for the keeping me updated on family schedules. Unfortunately, due to the high number of servers who can't make it to Saturday's practice, I'm going to have to cancel it.

I've updated the training schedule and I'll confirm today about the 4th or 5th next week.

We have an opening for this Saturday evening's Mass for Ac1 if anyone is interested. Please let me know.

New Novus Ordo Missal

The new English translation of the Roman Missal is coming out and the servers will recognize that the changes reflect the Latin responses they've learned in the MEF.

Even so, there's still an opportunity to learn about the responses which has been an integral part of our ministry. The Diocese of Charlotte has been putting out education in the Catholic News and Herald on a regular basis, but in addition, the Diocese of Charlotte has also produced some great videos featuring Fr. Brandon Jones of St. Mark in Huntersville. Here they are:

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

A great time

I've gotten reports from servers, families, and priests that the field trip to St. Bernadette was successful and enjoyable. Fr. Gober was very impressed with the server's catechesis and he credited that to the families. Both Fr. Reid and Fr. Gober were grateful for the time and effort put into the questions presented to them in the Q&A session. We all had fun running around Linville Falls as well. Look for more trips in the future!

Just a reminder that we have training this Tuesday from 4:15 until 5:45 as usual and we'll be covering Missa Cantata work and reviewing the field trip.

Please keep all of the servers and their families in your prayers but please pray especially for Mr. Stefano who's enduring some blessed challenges and has requested prayers.

Anyone want to fill in for Ac2 on Saturday March 5th? If so please email me.

Field Trip!!!

So here's the list of what's going on and what needs to happen:

Servers need to eat breakfast prior to attending. A very gracious parent is supplying snacks and some beverages in an ice-chest, but servers are still on their own to ensure they have enough to eat outside of lunch which will be provided.

Servers need to bring outdoor clothes. If we do go hiking, we're not going hard-core. It will be a maximum of 2 miles on easy trails around Linville Falls or field games.

Servers need to bring great attitudes and a willingness to be open to God and open to being teammates with the other servers.

We decided to simplify the trip and decrease the driving and only go to one parish. Fr. Reid chose Linville = we go to Linville, NC.

No permission slip = no Linville. No permission slip = no Linville. No permission slip = no Linville. We're Catholic; it's always better in 3's. If you need a permission slip, email me.

Each server needs to bring 3 thoughtful questions written down on paper to ask the priests.

Here's the itinerary....suggestions are welcome. We've never done this before.
8:00 AM Morning Prayer and Rosary at St. Ann’s
+ Collect permission slips
9:00 AM Mass with Fr. Reid
+ Select servers to serve Mass
10:00 AM depart for Linville, NC
+ Rides - Do you want to ride up with your parents if they're driving?
-Leaders are Brady, Joseph, & Benjamin.
-Questions, Games, & CD of Archbishop Fulton Sheen
-if in the cars at 12:00, pray Angelus
12:30 PM Lunch (pizza at St. Bernadette)
-Discussion from the car rides
-Office of Readings – Liturgy of the Hours
1:30 PM Tour St. Bernadette with Fr. Reid
2:30 PM Holy Hour / Adoration / Confession?
-Chaplet of Divine Mercy at 3pm
3:30 PM Hiking at Linville Falls/Gorge (if weather permits) or use the church parking lot for some football/ultimate Frisbee – group choice – either will be fun and either will be free.
-If we have poor weather, we’ll go straight to the question and answer session and bypass outdoor activities.
4:30 PM Q & A session with Fr. Reid & Fr. Gober
5:15 PM depart for Charlotte
-6pm Angelus
7:30 PM pick up in Charlotte

Parents please be aware that we may come home earlier. You will be informed on the ride home if this need arises.

February Shake-Up

Two big ticket items:

First and most pressing is the February Mass Schedule. Due to circumstances, the change in training times in the last few weeks has wreaked havoc on the schedule. After taking time to review individual needs and ministry needs, I've re-worked the February Mass schedule. Please understand that I don't like this kind of change with such short notice. I have been trying to really address individual needs, but I have to make decisions based on the group as a whole.
Please also note, that the next training session is on February 12th at 10:00 AM and everyone needs to be there to catch up.

If you can't make a particular date based on the current schedule, let me know.

For future scheduling, I am waiting to post March scheduling information until the weekend of the February 12th when I'll start my new job at CMC-Pineville ICU. Once they give me a schedule at that time, I'll make the server schedule as opposed to making something now and having to change things again.

We have a green light for our Monday February 21st Server Field Trip. Servers and parents are invited on the trip; everyone can obviously come to the Mass.
Here's the rough draft itinerary:

• Everyone meet at St. Ann at 9:00 AM for Mass.
• Carpool up to the St. Lawrence Basilica in Asheville, NC. (Bring a snack for the ride up)
• Tour the Basilica with Fr. Reid and pray the rosary. (Bring your rosary)
• Lunch in Asheville at a restaurant. (Can someone head up research on a decent one?)
• Travel to either Linville, NC or Tryon, NC (Fr. Reid hasn't confirmed which one yet.)
• Tour the 2nd parish with Fr. Reid and Fr. Gober.
• Question and Answer session with Fr. Reid and Fr. Gober. (More on that to come)
• Carpool back to St. Ann.

We intend to throw in a outside activity during the day. This is the first time we've done this but I really think it's going to be a wonderful opportunity for the servers. I'll need someone to organize carpooling which can be done via email and during the Saturday Feb 12th training session.

Thanks to Griffin and Will for stepping up and assisting at the Candlemas this past Wednesday. It was good to try it out, and we'll be better prepared for next year. Comment away...