Altar Servers Awards honor youth across Archdiocese of Miami

By Emily Chaffins - Freelance Writer

MIAMI | Eighth-grader Eric John Albornoz was surprised when his pastor, Father Jesus Ferras of St. Kieran Church, suggested he become an altar server in August 2025. Less than a year later, Eric received another surprise — he was named a recipient of the 2026 Altar Servers Awards.

Eric was one of over 110 altar servers recognized at the Altar Servers Awards on April 11 at St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami. Before the awards were distributed, Archbishop Thomas Wenski celebrated Mass, accompanied by Father Milton Martinez Blass, Archdiocese of Miami vocations director and Serra Club chaplain, and approximately 10 other priests.

The annual awards Mass and reception are organized by the Serra Club of Miami and Broward chapters — branches of Serra International, a worldwide, Vatican-recognized lay organization that educates Catholics on vocations to the priesthood and religious life. The organization also supports priests, religious, seminarians, and those discerning their vocation as they pursue their calling.

 

Although many altar servers are not called to pursue the priesthood or religious life, serving can be part of their discernment journey. EWTN News reported on a 2025 survey from the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA), which found that over 70% of respondents — U.S. seminarians to be ordained in 2025 — had been former altar servers. Archbishop Wenski’s story is similar, as he once served as an altar server at Sacred Heart Parish in Lake Worth.

Over 70% of respondents — U.S. seminarians to be ordained in 2025 — had been former altar servers

“I think honoring the altar servers gives them pride and joy for their hard work, commitment, and dedication to our Lord throughout the year,” said Kimberly Rocha, president of the Serra Club of Miami.

The Serra Club reached out to parishes from across the Archdiocese of Miami, each of which selected this year’s award nominees. Miami club members Zulay Domínguez Chirinos, vice chair of the Altar Servers Awards, and Monica Gayle, vice president of programs, along with Broward club’s Catherine Donn, vice president of vocations and Altar Servers Award Mass chairwoman, were among those instrumental in facilitating the awards.

“We ask our parishes in the Archdiocese of Miami to only nominate two altar servers per parish, which can be a very difficult selection, as some parishes have 60 or more altar servers,” said John Yardley, president of the Serra Club of Broward. The awards “recognize the elite performance and skill of young men and women who have demonstrated punctuality and dependability, in addition to reverence and faithfulness.”

Eric, who attends St. Kieran Parish in Coconut Grove, was honored this year along with his friend Andres Fernandez, who “showed him the ropes” while serving his very first Mass.

“Altar serving gives you a behind-the-scenes look at how the Mass works — what each object is called and how it is used,” said Eric enthusiastically. He likes learning about the parts of the Mass and why they’re significant. He recalled “a certain part in my life where I remembered, you can’t just go to church on a Sunday. You’ve also got to keep your relationship with God every day.”

“I think he’s learning a lot,” said his mom, Maria-Cristina Albornoz. “I’ve seen growth in him. You have to be focused, and you have to be responsible, and he is. I’ve seen a kind of maturity, and it’s helped him to grow in a lot of different ways.”

As a parent of an altar server, Albornoz has also felt enriched by the experience. “I’m learning a lot myself, just from what he tells me and what I have seen when he’s been at the altar serving.”

At St. Kieran, the altar servers have a vibrant community, with weekly meetings as well as fun events like bike rides, lunches, bowling, and retreats.

“Eric goes to a very small school, so there’s really not a whole lot of socialization involved,” said Albornoz. “Altar serving provides another opportunity for community and a sense of belonging. It’s just like their own little family.”

On April 2, Holy Thursday, Eric’s pastor shared the news with him after the Holy Week Mass rehearsal: he was an award winner. Eric couldn’t believe it. As he received his award at the ceremony, his dad, mom, and sister were there to cheer him on. He joked, “The only time I got a certificate was for graduation, so I felt like I was graduating from something!”

Reflecting on his time altar serving so far — the friendships, the rehearsals, the hours spent in service — Eric can confirm: “Being an altar server is worth it.”

WHAT IS AN ALTAR SERVER

 

Core Roles and Responsibilities

 

• Procession: Carrying the processional cross and candles (or torches) at the start and end of Mass.
• Liturgy of the Word: Holding the Roman Missal (prayer book) for the priest and carrying the incense (thurifer) during the Gospel.
• Liturgy of the Eucharist: Assisting in preparing the altar by bringing the chalice, ciborium, and cruets (water and wine) to the priest.
• Ritual Actions: Washing the priest's hands (lavabo) and ringing the altar bells during the consecration. 
• Holy Communion: Servers may hold a communion paten (a small metal plate) under the chin of communicants to catch any particles of the Host.
• Post-Communion Clearance: After communion, servers receive the vessels (chalice/ciborium) back from the priest, returning them to the credence table, and assist in purifying the vessels with water. 

Note: Altar servers generally receive Holy Communion themselves before bringing the items to the altar for purification.

Requirements to Serve

• Sacraments: Servers must be baptized Catholics who have received their First Holy Communion.
• Training: They must be properly instructed in their duties and the flow of the Mass.
• Reverence: They are expected to be attentive and maintain a prayerful demeanor, reflecting the "active participation" in the liturgy. 

Note: While traditionally a role for boys, the 1983 Code of Canon Law allows both male and female lay persons to serve at the altar.