By Mary Frances McCarthy
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 8/21/03)

Nearly 400 boys from 28 parishes gathered at Lake Fairfax Park in Reston last week to feast on a "gourmet" lunch of hamburgers and hot dogs and to enjoy the hot summer weather at the annual Diocesan Altar Boys’ Picnic.

"In the nine years I’ve been coming, I don’t think we’ve had a bigger crowd," said Father Brian Bashista, diocesan promoter of vocations.

The office of vocations organizes the annual picnic to thank the boys for their service to the parishes.

James Bergida, an altar server from St. John the Baptist Parish in Front Royal, said he enjoyed spending the day in the park. "It’s nice to come and see the priests, and nice to see the bishop. It’s great to see how many altar servers there are."

While the boys enjoyed playing in and around the stream near the picnic site, they were also aware that this might be one of their last summertime activities before going back to school. When asked if he was excited to return to school, Bergida’s friend Aaron Way, also from St. John Parish, said, "Not really."

The Cathedral Council of the Knights of Columbus organized the food preparation. The altar boy coordinator at the Cathedral, Larry Cerruti, was in charge of organizing the preparation and distribution of more than 500 hamburgers and 300 hotdogs.

The altar boys took advantage of the chance to spend time with friends from their own parish, and make new friends with altar servers from other parishes.

While many boys simply enjoyed being outside and playing in the streams at the park, others brought soccer balls, footballs and volley balls to play group sports. Groups also made use of the boats at the park and visited the "Water Mine" water park.

Father Peffley and his juggling act provided mid-day entertainment. Reciting the mandatory "Don’t try this at home" before each new trick, Father Peffley juggled basketballs, tennis racquets, machetes, bowling balls and torches. He ended his act by juggling the flaming "angel sticks."

The altar servers weren’t the only people enjoying the picnic. The day also gave priests the opportunity to visit each other.

"It’s not unlike family picnics," Father Bashista said. "The Fathers get together and let the kids go play."

Father Michael Dobbins, parochial vicar at St. Phillip Parish in Falls Church, echoed this sentiment as he stood holding the door prize tickets of all his servers who went their separate ways to enjoy the park.

Father Bashista and Father Dobbins were in the same class at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md., and shared stories with three of their fellow classmates; David Todd; Father John Heisler, parochial vicar at St. Bernadette Parish in Springfield; and Father Joseph Kenna, parochial vicar at St. Mary Parish in Fredericksburg.

Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde arrived at the picnic just in time for lunch. After lunch, he helped draw tickets and hand out door prizes, including t-shirts, baseballs, bats and frisbees.

The bishop told the boys, "Some of you, here, are called to be priests, and some of you are called to be religious brothers. Whatever it is you are called to do, do it with all your heart."