Donning colorful T-shirts from their home parishes across the diocese, dozens of young men and women joined parish priests, deacons and seminarians in the ‘Battle of the Altar Servers’ at St. Leo the Great Church in Fairfax July 8, a picnic and sports tournament to celebrate the youths’ faithful service at Masses. While Knights of Columbus grilled hot dogs in preparation for the hungry servers, seminarians and priests helped to run the sports tournament throughout the morning until noon.
In the tournament, altar servers represented their parishes in a variety of indoor and outdoor sports, including gaga ball, basketball, field hockey, nine-square, cornhole, Jenga and soccer, as well as a rock-climbing challenge.
Father John O’Donahue, pastor of Holy Spirit Church in Annandale, said that serving helps youths become more engaged with the Mass.
“In recent years for our parish, we’ve had four vocations, and most of those were servers,” Father O’Donahue said. “I think that one of the great advantages is that they get a lot of exposure to the priests and build relationships.”
Altar server Paul Pryzbysz, 12, of St. Joseph’s Church said that through serving, he has grown more attentive in Mass. “I feel like it brings me closer to God,” Pryzbysz said, “and if I’m active, it keeps me focused.”
Drew Meisenheimer, 19, of St. Leo said that through his ten years of altar serving, he better appreciates “just how close to the Mass you are. You understand it so much better because you’re serving.”
Following the tournament and lunch, the servers, priests, and seminarians gathered in the church for prayer and a brief homily given by Bishop Michael F. Burbidge. Bishop Burbidge said that throughout his travels around the diocese, he is always inspired by the high level of attention and reverence from the altar servers.
“Today is just a small way for the Diocese of Arlington and me as your bishop to say to all of you and those who trained you profound thanks,” he said.
Bishop Burbidge reminded the servers that through their service, Jesus desires them to “ ‘give Me what you have: your example, kindness, your compassion, your sacrifices, your fasting, and your prayers.’ ”
Following a period of prayer, all recongregated in the parish gym, where the seminarians announced the winners of the tournament. To screams of excitement and groans of disappointment alike, servers from St. John the Evangelist Church in Warrenton were declared the winner of the Battle of the Altar Servers. Our Lady of Angels Church in Woodbridge, St. Ann Church in Arlington and Church of the Nativity in Burke finished in a three-way tie for second place.
