2011 St Ann Carnival

Another opportunity for service is available on Saturday October 1st. Just like last year, we'll be helping to set up for the St. Ann's Carnival. We'll meet at 7:45 AM at St. Ann and remain to help until about 12 PM.

Last year we had a blast helping set up booths and tents. After we prayed the rosary, we headed back out and handed out balloons to kids. We even got a free treat from the bake sale! Although, I can't guarantee that we'll be able to get the treats again this year.

Many of the parishoners who were in charge of the Carnival last year were very relieved to have our assistance. It makes a big difference when we help out and it's an opportunity to extend our serving ministry beyond the Sanctuary as God calls us to do.

Homework time!

Servers need to remember to complete the assignment for this Monday's training session. For those who may have forgotten, all of the servers are to turn in a essay-type blog post on the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Please keep it to under 200 words and please use Church approved references. You may include links as well. Submissions are to either be emailed or handed in on paper by 4:15 August 22nd.

Also, if you know of anyone who might be interested in joining our 2011 new server class, we have one more spot for a potential server. Shoot me an email if someone comes to mind. They would still need to be approved by Fr. Reid for consideration.

Thank you

A big thank you to all of the servers and their families who helped out with the Solemn High Mass for the Feast of St. Ann on Tuesday.

Specifically there's a number of folks to recognize for their efforts. First, thank you to the servers who made multiple practices, arrived early, and served with diligence before, during, and even after the Mass:

Brady O. - Thurifer
Peter Rusciolelli - Acolyte 1
Nathaniel Rusciolleli - Acolyte 2
Michael Kitson - Cross Bearer and Torch Bearer
Harry Ohlhaut - Lead Torch Bearer
AJ Ohlhaut - Lead Torch Bearer
Will Borin - Torch Bearer
Sam Dehority - Torch Bearer
David Rabideau - Torch Bearer
Joseph Mack - Torch Bearer

Additional thanks goes out to Thomas Mathis and his family (especially Danielle) for organizing and managing the pre-Mass dinner. The servers, seminarians, and priests were very grateful for the food during that busy time.

Another special thanks goes out to the Borins, Ostendorfs, and Rabideaus for working with such short notice on putting together the canopy for Bishop Jugis. It came out beautifully and I believe it showed Bishop Jugis that we think he's rather special. (A big thank you to the one organizing the canopy project who asked not to be named but worked very hard up until the moments before Mass began - thank you.)

Be on the look-out for publicity surrounding the Mass which will be coming out soon. The Diocese is very blessed to have a great group of families working so hard to glorify the Lord. Thank you again.

Fire up for the Holy Spirit

I'd like to thank all the servers and their families for all of the efforts during the last few months. Many people were very grateful for the Ascension Missa Cantata, and that type of Mass takes a good bit of preparation. Thanks to all the servers who assisted with this Mass:

AJ Ohlhaut, Brady Ostendorf, Peter Rusciolelli, Sam Dehority, Will Borin, Harry Ohlhaut, Nathaniel Rusciolelli, Luke Bruck, Joseph Bruck, and Griffin Walsh.

The next High Mass will be on Tuesday July 26th. It will be a first for St. Ann's this year as it will be a new feast for a High Mass, the Feast of St. Ann, and it will be a Solemn High Mass! Fr. Reid has rounded up some help to make it happen. It means some new rubrics for the servers to learn, but it will work.

Check out updated Mass and training schedules and be sure to pray the Novena to the Holy Spirit for Pentecost this week.

May is for Mary

Take time this month to get to know your mother...both here on Earth and in Heaven. Whether it's the Rosary or a renewed devotion to Our Lady under a specific title like Our Lady of Fatima or Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, she is a blessed advocate for the whole world.

Also check out the training schedule for May. All dates are subject to be cancelled for when God wants our child to be born. Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Pray for us.

Divine Mercy Novena

Today begins the Divine Mercy Novena, and it continues till next Sunday, Divine Mercy Sunday.

I don't think I need to delve into reasons why it is crucial to petition the Lord for mercy with the general audience of this blog, but nonetheless, there are many in the world, including myself, who are in desperate need of God's mercy everyday.

A small reminder: As a part of our Thurifer rank, a devotion to God's Divine Mercy is specifically encouraged in our ministry. What a great opportunity to prepare for that Rank now!

Bottom line: souls need your advocacy; don't leave them to Hell.

Click here to be redirected to the EWTN's Resource page.

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.