MIAMI
| Erich Vazquez received an altar server award in 2014 for his service at Miami’s
St. Dominic Church. Now Vazquez is a seminarian at St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami.
“I
was 15 years old at the time,” he said. “Being an altar server inspired me to
think about becoming a priest. I saw what the priest did and the beauty of the
Mass. That’s when I received a calling from God.”
Vazquez
and several other seminarians took part in the annual altar server awards ceremony
sponsored by the Miami Serra Club. The Mass and awards presentation took place
in the seminary’s St. Raphael Chapel on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 24, 2021.
Photographer: MARLENE QUARONI | FC
Francisco Vasquez, 11, an altar server from St. Timothy Church in Miami, recites the Lord's Prayer during the Mass where altar servers were honored, which took place on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 24, 2022, in St. Raphael's Chapel on the grounds of St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami.
The Miami Serra Club presents the awards each year to altar servers nominated by their pastors.
This
year, 69 altar servers from 27 Archdiocese of Miami parishes received awards.
The annual recognition takes place after Easter. Archdiocesan pastors nominate
altar servers to receive awards in appreciation for the work they do as
volunteers. The servers and their families are invited to the Mass and
reception at the seminary.
In
early December, the Serrans also sponsor a celebration to thank all religious
and priests.
Serra
Club USA was formed in Seattle, Washington in 1935 with its main mission to
promote vocations and vowed religious life. The founders chose St. Junipero
Serra, a great missionary, as their patron. Miami’s first archbishop, Coleman
Carroll, brought the Serra Club to Miami at the same time he established St.
John Vianney Seminary in 1959.
Of
Donald and Sandra Scarcello’s seven children, five have been altar servers at Blessed Trinity Church in Miami Springs. Three of their children — Dominic, 17,
and Anthony, 15, students at Christopher Columbus High School, and Sofia, 16, a
student at St. Brendan High School — received awards at the Mass. Another son, Donato,
19, a University of Florida student, received an award in the past. Ana, 13, and
Alexia, 11, are altar servers and Andrea, 7, the youngest, will serve in the future.
Sandra
Scarcello said that her parents’ example of being active in their church made
her follow in their footsteps with her own family.
“I
grew up in a very Catholic family,” said Sandra, who works at Blessed Trinity
School, where her younger children also are enrolled. “We’ve been blessed. It’s
beautiful. We want to plant the seeds of faith, loving God and serving the
Church.”
Photographer: MARLENE QUARONI | FC
Altar servers from 27 archdiocesan parishes pose with their awards at the conclusion of the Mass where they were recognized, which took place on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 24, 2022, in St. Raphael's Chapel on the grounds of St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami.
The Miami Serra Club presents the awards each year to altar servers nominated by their pastors.
Altar
server Matthew Zavatsky, 11, from St. Timothy Church in Miami, said that the Catholic
Church only brings good things to him.
“At
first, I was nervous serving on the altar,” he said. “But you get used to it. I
made friends with other altar servers. My family is active in our church. My
father is a lector. My sister Sarah, 9, sings in the choir and my brother
Lucas, 7, also wants to sing in the choir.”
Garreen
Poncett, 13, from Christ the King Church in Perrine, said she wanted to learn
more about her faith by becoming an altar server.
“I
didn’t understand a lot about the Church,” she said. “Everything is
intertwined. Church member volunteers work together for a single goal. I feel
like I’m in a special place when I serve on the altar.”
Father
Bryan Garcia, vice rector and dean of students at St. John Vianney Seminary, filled
in for the Serra Club’s chaplain, Father Matthew Gomez, who was out of town.
Father Garcia told the altar servers they are an inspiration to others.
“You
are able to serve on the altar,” he said. “Do you realize what a gift you
received to be so close to the sacrifice of the Mass?”
Serra
Club President Peter Jude took a separate photo of each of the 69 award recipients
and a group photo after the Mass and thanked the altar servers for their
dedication.
Photographer: MARLENE QUARONI | FC
Garreen Poncette, from Christ the King Church in Perrine, holds her Serra Club award while posing with Msgr. Pablo Navarro, left, St. John Vianney College Seminary's rector and president, and Father Bryan Garcia, vice-rector and dean of students. The Mass where altar servers were honored took place on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 24, 2022, in St. Raphael's Chapel on the grounds of the seminary in Miami.
The Miami Serra Club presents the awards each year to altar servers nominated by their pastors.
Comments from readers
Fr Matthew Gomez -
05/04/2022 11:28 PM
Congratulations to the Altar Servers recognized!!!
I wish I could have been there. Thank you Msgr. Navarro, Fr. Garcia and the entire Seminary family for honoring these young men and women who serve so diligently at the Altar.
Comments from readers