Today marked a milestone for Ana Hanson as she was inducted into the Guild of St. Stephen. The images above capture two beautiful aspects of this occasion: first, Ana standing before Fr Adrian to make her commitment - a profound vow to assist in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass with care, understanding, and deep reverence. Second, she is shown in the group shot proudly wearing her Guild medal for the first time. This medal is far more than a decoration; it signifies her entry into a worldwide fraternity of servers and her personal readiness to take responsibility for the dignity of our liturgy. It was heartwarming to see Ana’s parents in the congregation, looking on with immense pride as their daughter took this significant step.

For those visiting our church who may be unfamiliar with this tradition, the Altar Server is vital to our worship. They act as the priest's right hand, performing roles deeply rooted in Scripture. This includes the Crucifer, who leads the procession with the Cross, echoing Christ's call to 'take up your cross and follow me' (Matthew 16:24). It includes the Acolytes, who carry candles to honour the reading of the Gospel, testifying that Jesus is the 'light of the world' (John 8:12). You will see them holding the heavy Missal (prayer book) so the priest’s hands are free to pray, recalling how Aaron supported Moses (Exodus 17:12), and ringing the Sanctus bells to signal the most sacred moments of the Mass, just as bells signalled the High Priest’s presence in the sanctuary (Exodus 28:35).

They also painstakingly prepare the Altar table, mirroring the disciples preparing the Passover (Luke 22:13), and perform the dramatic role of the Thurifer. This server carries the Thurible, a metal vessel containing glowing charcoal. When grains of incense are cast onto the hot coals, they instantly produce clouds of sweet-smelling smoke. As the server swings the Thurible, this fragrant smoke rises into the air, a powerful visual symbol of our prayers drifting upwards to heaven (Psalm 141:2).

Just look at those smiles! Here is Ana proudly displaying her new medal, surrounded by the beaming faces of our fantastic altar server team. We must never underestimate how much this team adds to the amazing wonder of our Mass. Through their discipline, movement, and reverent actions, they help elevate our worship and draw the whole congregation closer to the sacred mystery taking place on the Altar. We are deeply thankful for the example set by Ana and her supportive peers - the future leaders of our church.