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by Deacon Michael Kennedy
The Feast of St Stephen
Mass to celebrate the Ministry of the Altar Servers. 26th December 2022
On Tuesday 26th December the Altar Servers from the parish came together to celebrate the Feast of St Stephen, their patron. They were joined by Fr Peter the parish priest who was assisted at the Mass by two Deacons, Deacon Ste Lloyd SDB and Deacon Michael Kennedy along with three members of the Salesian Community, Father Hugh Preston, the Rector, Father Francis Preston and Father Martin Poulsom along with Bro Ante SDB who is working with our altar servers’ group as part of his pastoral work in the parish, together with parishioners who came to pray with and give thanks for the ministry of the server.
In his homily Deacon Ste reflected on the commitment and the role that each of the altar servers play each week when they come together to help the people to pray. He encouraged them to be faithful to that Commitment and to look to the example of St Stephen their patron who chose to say Yes to the Lord and follow him. He also highlighted that each server had a special duty and an important part to play in the life of our parish, to help the people to be better people and grow closer to God.
He also informed them that they were unique and famous all over the world, one of the many comments that are made by visitors to our parish was on the number of Servers that we are so fortunate to have so many. It is a credit to them and to their parents whom he also thanked for their commitment and encouragement.
He also reminded them that St Stephen was also one of the first Deacons and so he asked them to pray for all the Deacons who helped them.
After the Homily Seven of our Servers who had been serving for over a year were formally enrolled into the Guild of St Stephen and received their medals from Fr Peter having made their promise. Congratulations to Antoni, Clyde, Lilly, Arian, Luke, Rafferty and Sebastian. They were then joined by all the other Servers present who then made their commitment once more to continue to serve as members of the Parish Servers group for the next year.
At the end of the Mass, Fr Peter presented Louis with a Certificate for 5 years faithful service in the parish and then a Silver Medal to Kacper, for 10 years’ service later this year.
He then presented the newest servers to our group, Sofia, Gail, Gillian, Judith, Roman and Dishon with a copy of the Altar Servers handbook They will know continue their period of preparation and all being well will be enrolled into the Guild of St Stephen on this Feast day next year.
A gift of a Book on the lives of the Salesian Saints, St John Bosco, St Dominic Savio, St Francis de Sales and St Mary Mazzerallo and a book on the life of the latest young person to be beatified, Blessed Carlos Acutis was presented to each of the servers as a Thank you from the parish.
We are very blessed and fortunate to have such a dedicated and committed group in the parish.
The Mass was offered for their intentions and also for all those Servers, Past and present who have helped the people to pray here in this church over the years.
St Stephen, Pray for them.
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