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by Luke Joseph Santos, Contributor The day we had all been waiting for finally arrived! The KOA Convention 2024 brought together aspiring altar servers from elementary schools for a day filled with fun, faith, and fellowship. Although only four parishes showed up, the event was still a huge success in its own way.
Even with though only four parishes were present, the energy was amazing! We had a variety of activities that allowed us to connect with one another and learn more about our roles as altar servers. An activity called, “Amazing Grace”, mixed different altar servers to challenge their knowledge as an altar server of the Church. The seminarians were super friendly and engaged with us throughout the day. They shared their experiences and offered advice, making it a truly special experience for everyone involved. One of the highlights was the chance to meet new friends from different parishes. It was great to see how we all share the same passion for serving at the altar, even if we come from different places. Everyone was smiling, laughing, and enjoying the day together. The seminarians, who were the organizers, did a fantastic job, and I could tell they were grateful for the parishes that participated. They reminded us that even though we were a small group, our enthusiasm and commitment to our faith made the day meaningful. As the convention wrapped up, I left feeling inspired and excited about my role as an altar server. I can’t wait to take what I learned back to my parish and share it with others. The KOA Convention 2024 may not have had a big turnout, but it brought us closer together and strengthened our faith. I’m looking forward for next year and hope even more parishes will join us!
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Altar servers were exhorted to become bearers of hope during the first run of this school year's Knights of the Altar Convention, which gathered around 600 altar servers from Vicariates of the Holy Cross and Our Lady of Lourdes on November 30, 2024, at St. Joseph Seminary.
The event brought together participants from Dolores, San Juan, Lagangilang, Malibcong, Sallapadan, Tubo, Luba, Manabo, Boliney, and Bucay parishes for a day of spiritual reflection, fellowship, and camaraderie. The convention opened with a Holy Mass celebrated by Rev. Fr. Bernard Barbosa. "Our altar servers are blessed… They are called to serve the Lord directly and therefore should find joy in their sacred service," he said. He thanked the altar servers for their service to the parishes, acknowledging how the parishes would struggle without their dedication. Frt. Jairus Valentino further inspired the altar servers with a talk focusing on hope through service. He reminded the young participants that their role extends beyond the church sanctuary, influencing their families and communities in profound ways, making them truly the bearers of hope. A Festival of Talents showcased the altar servers' creativity and dedication, while sports and indoor games such as basketball, volleyball, chess, Scrabble, and table tennis provided opportunities for teamwork and friendly competition. The day concluded with a closing ceremony recognizing the winners of the various competitions and celebrating the participants' shared values of unity, service, and hope. Upcoming events include an elementary-level altar servers' gathering on December 7, 2024, and a convention for high school and college-level altar servers from the Vicariates of St. James and Immaculate Conception on December 14, 2024. |
The Staff ONLINEThe Staff is the official newsletter of St. Joseph Seminary. We bring you the news and updates as they happen. The Publication TeamAdviser: CategoriesArchives
December 2024
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