Knights of the Altar

This is a program designed to help boys internalize the Catholic formation they receive by enabling them to actively participate in the liturgy as altar servers and develop a personal prayer life that will help them form life-long habits.

http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeA2eE4cRV0&feature=youtu.be

In serving God in the daily masses, we are forming the hearts of the future Christian leaders in our society, people willing to spend the entire life in helping the less fortunate and make our society an authentic culture of love and care.
 
We had a dream to serve in the center of Catholicism -- the Vatican!  Our goal was to enrich our young lives by meeting Christ’s vicar on earth -- the Holy Father.
 
We worked hard to reach this goal throughout last school year. This was done through our “quest” that challenged us to give our best in performing the core values as Knights: Love for Christ, love for the Blessed Virgin Mary, love for the Church, love for Pope, love for others and love for ECyD as a personal gift received by God.
 
After a year of hard work, the great day arrived!  Finally, we departed for Italy on June ___.  Throughout our 3-week trip, we had great sessions of formation, deep moments of spirituality and encounters with God, and of course a lot of fun!
 
We heard and served in masses in the Duomo of Milan, in the chapel of the holy shroud in Turin or at 3000 mts in the Italian and Swiss alps.  These experiences made our trip unforgettable.
 
As we were getting closer and closer to serving in the Vatican, we intensified our training. There was now a need to focus.  Our dream of serving in masses at the Vatican was about to be fulfilled. Serving in masses at the seat of the Roman Catholic Church is an honor and privilege.  We feel humbled for the opportunity.
 
We finally arrived in Rome -- the eternal city, the city of the Popes, the city of martyrs, the city of many saints in the history of the Church. We celebrated our first mass in St. Peter’s tomb in which we renewed our faith in the Vicar of Christ. Mons. Angelo Magistrelli, who is responsible of the Altar servers in the Vatican, encouraged us and made us feel at home.
 
We had the tremendous grace to meet in the Vatican Mons. Guido Marini, the master of ceremony of Pope Francis. We couldn’t imagine the grace that we were receiving. Monsignor invited us, at the end of our encounter with him, to take part at the private mass that the Holy Father was going to celebrate in St. Peter’s Basilica.
 
The Knights of the Altar had to be ready. We would be in front of our supreme General on earth, the Pope! What a pleasant surprise! Meeting the Holy Father was not part of the plan, although it was our silent wish and prayer to be given the opportunity.  The invitation to be part of a small, intimate mass by the Holy Father was extended to our boys and their families.  What an amazing grace!
 
Knights of the Altar, powered by ECYD, had changed our lives. We had committed to God that we will be his Knights forever, and together with St. Paul, our patron, we would like to repeat with him: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
 
Knights of the Altar! Knights of Christ!