Altar Server Practice

Today we attended Daughter's first altar server practice. We met with our parish Pastor to learn all about being an altar server. Daughter had asked to be an altar server at our parish, so she sign on the bulletin form and gave it to the Director of Faith Formation. Yesterday Father Gregory, called to let us know that practice will take place at noon today Saturday. We got there on time and another girl was waiting also. They both received a small explanation of all the items that were used during the liturgy. And they started to practice each of their parts. Father divided the practice in three sections and had them repeat each step to make sure they knew what they should do. At the end they rehearsed each step from the start of the mass to the end of the mass. It took them about an hour and a half to do everything. But it was okay, because both girls were very attentive to the instructions and were able to do everything very well. Daughter was very excited. She has wanted to be an altar server for quite some time. She can wait to actually do it during an actual Mass service. Even son had some part in the liturgy practice. He had to bring the offertory gifts to the Father. He looked so cute. Then Father asked him when he will be ready to be an altar server. His answer, " I don't know." Well he first has to make his first communion. And that will be in a few years. Son is only 7 now, and even though this is his second year of Faith Formation, I think is better for him to wait till his 8 or 9 to make his first communion. Daughter was 9 years old when she made her first communion.

As a matter of fact, it was Daughter's decision to make her first communion that brought me back into the Catholic faith. Since niece was preparing for her first communion too, she wanted to join her cousin. My sister and I thought it will be nice if our daughters made their first communion together just like we both did our first communion on the same day back in 1985.

And that's how it happen, our daughters made their first communion together. You can see them in the above picture walking together holding the bread and the wine. I thank their Cathechist because she did a good job in teaching them both all about the Mass and the liturgy. Their Cathechist is a very devoted woman. I also thank her for my return into the Catholic faith. She told me about the classes and when to sign up for them. She made it possible for Daughter to learn all her prayers and tutored her in her home until she was ready for first communion. My sister and her husband are my daughter's First communion sponsors or Godparents. My niece chose my other sister and my brother as her sponsors. My husband and I, are her baptismal Godparents. My daughter's baptismal godparents are my sister-in-law and her husband. Both of my children's baptismal godparents are from husband's family. This is why, I am hoping that they will choose from my side of the family for their other sacraments.