The event celebrated the faithful dedication of the young people who serve at the altar and the important role they play in the life of the Church.
The day began with a prayer service led by Bishop Gregory Parkes. During his reflection, he thanked the altar servers for their faithful service to the Church and encouraged them to continue growing in their relationship with Christ. He also reminded the young people to remain open to God’s voice, sharing that some among them may one day feel called to serve the Church through the priesthood or religious life.

The prayer service was followed by an awards ceremony honoring altar servers from parishes throughout the Diocese. Altar Servers of the Year from each parish were recognized for their commitment, reverence, and service to the Church. Following the ceremony, attendees enjoyed lunch, music by Spirit FM, bounce houses, and fellowship together.

“We hope that this event is one that would allow the young people who serve at the altar to feel genuinely appreciated," said Jasmine Pujol, administrative assistant for the Office of Vocations. 

“It was a great joy to see so many families coming together from across the diocese for a morning of prayer and fun. If even just one young person left the event thinking ‘could the Lord be calling me?’ then I believe the event to be a great success. Please remember all young people of our Diocese in your prayers: that they may have the courage to say ‘yes’ to the Lord when He calls them so we may have an abundance of vocations in our diocese.”

The Diocese of Saint Petersburg is sincerely grateful to all altar servers for their faithful dedication and generous service to the Church. Their faithful presence at the altar is a beautiful witness of faith and devotion to Christ.

“This event is one of the most important for us as a diocese,” said Father Xavy Castro, director of Vocations. “The role of altar serving is one of the most important and sacred roles a person can have at Mass. Those who serve at the altar serve essentially at the foot of the Cross on Calvary and help the priest keep the liturgy reverent and holy, allowing others to encounter the beauty, goodness, and salvific truth received in the sacrifice of the Mass. We are deeply grateful for all of our altar servers throughout the Diocese, and this event is a way to recognize their ‘yes’ to the Lord through service.”

To learn more about the Office of Vocations and how the Church supports those discerning God’s call, click here.

To view photos from the event, click the arrows below.