Servers of the Month for December 2005

Last month we instituted an altar server competition.  This competition is meant to encourage servers to improve in their reverence during Mass and in the execution of their ministry.  Each month we will recognize a few “servers of the month”, and we will also have “servers of the year”.  The servers are critiqued by two judges: the priest or one of the deacons; and someone in the congregation which will most likely be one of the sacristans.  They are judged on three categories: attendance (showing up to serve); attentiveness (paying attention and responding during Mass); and accuracy (executing their ministry in the way that they have been trained).  They are judged on a scale from 1 to 10, but they can get bonus points for going “beyond the call of duty”.  The lowest score of the month was 6.5, and the highest score of the month was 16.  There are four serving groups that I would like to recognize for the month of December.  This is more than I usually expect to do, but I think all of these servers deserve some sort of recognition because of all the special liturgies during this month.

• The highest scoring group for this month was St. Ann (Andrea , Dale , and Fiona ) with a score of 16 points.  They were only scheduled to serve once, but members of their group ended up serving an additional two times, both of those times on the Dec. 8^th holy day.
• Of the high school servers, St. Anthony (Kevin l, Joe , Nick ) deserves an honorable mention.  They were scheduled to serve once, but members of their team volunteered to serve the midnight mass which includes incense and staying up late.  Joe and Tom Otto really went beyond the call of duty and served all during Christmas vacation.  I am most appreciative to them. 
• St. John Bosco (Joe , Steven ,  Nic ) received a score of 12.5 points.  They were also only scheduled to serve one time, but members of the team volunteered to serve an additional time on the Dec. 8^th holy day.
• However, I think the title of “Servers of the month” should be given to St. Mary, Mother of God.  St. Mary Mother of God (Mariah , Megan , Shalea  had an average score of 12.1 points, but they served more than any other group this month.  They were scheduled to serve three times, but members of their team ended up serving three additional times.  One of those times was the “midnight Christmas Mass” which includes using incense and staying up late.  It also includes volunteering to serve on the Dec. 8^th holy day.  So, I think St. Mary Mother of God deserves some special recognition this month.

I would like to thank all the servers for their dedication to this important ministry and all the people in the parish who enrich our liturgical experience. 

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