Prepared with 400 hamburgers, 320 hot dogs and lots of space for Frisbee, football, volleyball and baseball, more than 300 youths gathered last Wednesday at Lake Fairfax for the annual Altar Server Picnic.

"I am delighted to see you all," said Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde, who thanked all the boys for their service to the Church. While some of the altar servers may be called to the priesthood, he said he wants everyone to learn to love Christ.

"My hope is that all of you will have, for the rest of your lives, a deep love of Jesus in the Eucharist," he said.

According to Larry Cerruti, one of the picnic organizers, the food was purchased by the Office of Vocations while the Knights of Columbus sponsored several door prizes and provided the man power. The grand prize was a $100 savings bond.

Cerruti and Kerry Gorton, both knights and parishioners at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington, have been organizing the event for 12 years.

"I feel we need to pay them back," Cerruti said, adding that it’s easy to forget to say thank you. "We do a little for them because they do so much for us."

"This is the fun part," said Gorton. The first altar server picnics drew less than 100. This year, more than 300 altar servers attended — not counting adults.

Father Dan Hanley, parochial vicar of St. Mary Parish in Alexandria, thinks the picnic is an excellent opportunity for the youths to be around the priests and seminarians. It’s also a chance for them to meet other Catholic kids from around the diocese.

"They realize the Church is bigger than just their local church," he said.

Jonathan Mann, 16, has been an altar server at St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Great Falls since he was in fourth grade. He thinks the most important aspect of serving is to help with the Mass.

"I serve for love of God," he said.

Chris Bahret, a member of St. Mary Parish in Alexandria, believes that altar serving is a good chance for his son to be exposed to other decent people. Serving at Mass may also lead him to a vocation, Bahert said.

Anita Biroonak brought six altar servers from Holy Family Parish in Dale City, including her two sons.

"It’s a calling," Anita said. Her younger son, Adrian, 12, has always wanted to serve, since before his first communion.

"It’s good for the community of God," Adrian said. "I just like doing it."