It’s hard to believe that it’s already May, it arrives on Monday! As you surely know, this month is traditionally dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God and the Mother of the Church. As Pope Paul VI expressed so well in his encyclical entitled the Month of May, this is the “month which the piety of the faithful has especially dedicated to Our Blessed Lady,” and it is the occasion for a “moving tribute of faith and love which Catholics in every part of the world [pay] to the Queen of Heaven. During this month Christians, both in church and in the privacy of the home, offer up to Mary from their hearts an especially fervent and loving homage of prayer and veneration” (Month of May, § 1).
As the Mother of God, Mary is the most powerful intercessor for us before our almighty Father. Like you, I’m sure, I turn to Mary often to intercede for my deepest needs. We do so as a Church, too. You will recall that, as Russia invaded Ukraine, Pope Francis called all bishops around the world to consecrate Russia to the Blessed Mother once again. We continue to pray for her intercession for a return to peace in that troubled region.
As Jesus hung on the cross, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold your son,” and to his beloved disciple, John, “Behold, your mother.” From early in the Church, Mary has been seen as the Mother of the Church. She is a perfect model, guide and inspiration for everyone who seeks to be the servant of God and humanity, to follow her Son and to respond faithfully to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
As we observe this Marian month during the last weeks of the Easter Season, we would naturally emphasize Our Lady’s participation in the Paschal mystery and in Pentecost, which marks the beginning of the Church. The pious exercises connected with the month of May can easily highlight the earthly role she played as we meditate on the mysteries of the Rosary. You will find satchels containing a rosary and a pamphlet with the Mysteries of the Rosary at the church entrances throughout this month. Take one home for yourself or to give to a family member or friend. And, you are invited to join in our school’s annual May Procession at 7:00pm on Tuesday, 16 May, as we honor Mary, the Mother of God, the mother of the Church and our mother.
ALTAR SERVERS
The Celebration of the Eucharist is the “source and summit” of our faith to which we come bearing our gifts of faith, hope and love and from which we draw spiritual nourishment. The primary purpose of any Catholic parish is to draw the faithful together to worship God, especially in the Eucharistic celebration. The priest presides over the Eucharist, and he is assisted by many ministers: altar servers, cantors, Eucharistic ministers, lectors, ministers of hospitality and musicians. Each of them plays an important role in drawing together the faithful community to worship God.
Being a server is a very important calling. God asks the servers for special dedication in fulfilling their sacred duties at the altar. As the Constitution of the Sacred Liturgy states so clearly, servers “ought to discharge their office with the sincere devotion and decorum demanded by so exalted a ministry and rightly expected of them by God’s People” (§ 29).
Altar servers are particularly important to the celebrant. They help him set up for Mass, lighting the candles, preparing the wine and water, chalice and paten, sacred linens and books. They also assist the celebrant throughout the Mass, holding the Roman Missal for him so he can lead the people in prayer at the beginning and end of Mass, setting up the altar for the Liturgy of the Eucharist, ringing the bells to alert the congregation to the more sacred moments of the Liturgy, and clearing the altar at the end of Mass.
In our parish, we are blessed with a small but dedicated group of young men and women who serve at the altar, assisting the celebrant throughout the Mass. We are also fortunate to have some more experienced men and women who serve at the altar for funerals. Every year, I invite parishioners who will begin fifth grade or higher next September to become altar servers. I have met with the students in both our school and PREP to invite them personally. Those parishioners who attend other schools and are interested are asked to contact the rectory (610-688-4584). All who sign up will be provided the necessary training. We encourage all the boys and girls of the parish to seriously consider becoming an altar server to serve God and St. Katharine of Siena parish community in this very important ministry!