Diocese recognizes over 140 altar servers at Cathedral celebration
By Elizabeth Landry
Staff writer
They came from parishes around the diocese, near and far. Vested in their robes — white, black, red, green — they came with their families to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Syracuse to be recognized for their service by Bishop Douglas J. Lucia. In total, more than 140 altar servers representing 42 parishes came together on Sunday, Feb. 2 for the Diocesan Altar Server Celebration.
After beautiful hymns and psalmodies were sung as part of Solemn Vespers, and before he greeted and congratulated the altar servers, presenting each with a pin and a prayer card, Bishop gave a homily speaking to and interacting with the servers in the front pews. Bishop, who also was an altar server in his youth, recalled sitting in that same spot five and a half years ago, looking up at Cardinal Dolan during the ceremony when he became a bishop. He drew a connection between the duty of a bishop and the duty of altar servers.
“During the course of that ceremony, the Cardinal said something very interesting,” Bishop said. Cardinal Dolan had pointed out that in addition to the crozier, or bishop’s staff, the bishop would carry something else. “He said I also would carry a lamp. A lamp so that others could come and see Christ. And I was thinking of that because, in a real way, that is what being an altar server is.
“As altar servers, that’s what we do. We carry the light of Christ,” Bishop added.
Father Jason Hage, director of the Office of Vocation Promotion for the Diocese of Syracuse and pastor at Mary, Mother of our Savior parish in Utica, served as Master of Ceremonies. Before he called the name of each parish represented at the celebration, so that servers from the parishes could approach the Bishop in groups, he thanked the pastors, deacons and all those who help with altar server support in each parish community.
Speaking with the Sun, Fr. Hage explained that this event, which has been celebrated in the diocese for three years, alternates annually between the Cathedral and in the parishes. He said it is important because support for altar serving has a direct impact on vocation promotion. He said that his office researched how they could best invest their time, energy and resources to help promote more vocations. He cited a study conducted by the CARA (Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate) Institute at Georgetown University, which found that over 70% of newly ordained priests in the United States had served as altar servers in their home parishes as children.
“Clearly,” said Fr. Hage, “there’s a direct connection between altar serving as a child in a parish, and the ability of the young person to respond to the call, whether it be [to the] priesthood, consecrated life or [another vocation].”
Fr. Hage likened altar serving as a way to get “back to the basics” when trying to attract young people to the Church and get them involved in parish ministry. “Sometimes we agonize over all these kinds of sophisticated approaches to getting young people involved. But the one thing we always have available to us, which is very easy and accessible for families to get their children involved with because they’re already at Mass, is getting kids up on the altar to altar serve, to experience the liturgy up close and personal, to be that close to the Eucharist and the altar. Regardless of what their vocation is, it’s definitely going to deepen their faith.”
One local seminarian who identifies altar serving as having played a major role in his discernment to join the priesthood is Douglas Villanella, who was one of the Bishop’s servers during the altar server celebration. Villanella, who is on the path to being ordained in the spring of 2027, said he began altar serving after he made his first communion.
“[Altar serving] was crucial for me and my discernment because being that close to the mysteries and being able to assist at Mass, it really played a big part [and] stirred my soul, stirred my heart to want to do that. And seeing the priest in his actions and being that close to him really encouraged me,” Villanella said.
He added that by attending the altar server celebration and witnessing the large group of altar servers from throughout the diocese, he sees a lot of potential for vocation. “Kind of like Bishop mentioned, I used to be that young serving, and seeing them kind of grow up, knowing all the joy that I got from it, hopefully, they can get from it as well.”
In a similar sentiment, Fr. Hage identified how altar serving is an accessible, hands-on way for young people to feel good about being active members of their parish communities, rather than just spectators.
“[By] actively inviting young people to consider serving in this ministry, both boys and girls … we can say, ‘Hey, we want you to be an important part of our parish family, and you don’t have to wait to do that until you’re an adult. You can do that right now as a child. You can do that right now as a young person.’ And when they start altar serving, they feel so good about what they’re giving to the parish, and it really is a service.
“They’re not just meant to be Catholics in the future,” added Fr. Hage. “They’re meant to be Catholics now.”
