Today I found myself blessed to watch my son Kevin participate as an altar server at mass for the first time. It is a moment which almost put tears of joy in my eyes. Why? I could see in his eyes and his deeds he wanted this moment with all his heart.

Last night Kalen and I prepared Kevin by holding a practice mass, as conducted at RCA with Father Tran's preferences, twice on our deck. Kevin impressed me with his memory of how the bells rung, the way people stepped around the altar, holding his hand on his chest and the procession in which he would accompany the priest to the nursery to deliver the Eucharist to those working there. I already knew he memorized much of the consecration prayers, but this was pretty amazing for me to see first hand. For all of his daily eight year old distractions, he was paying attention every mass.

Today two upper school boys, John Paul and Stephen, took Kevin over to the chapel to set up and do a final rehearsal. This is something which endears me to Regina Caeli. Our youth are normal youth, but we parents call them out a little more each year to live their faith. At the end of a 15 minute preparation, Kevin came out tripping over the seam of the smallest cassock and stood with Father Tran and Stephen to enter the mass.

He went down the isle with his serious face on, and nervously looked over to Stephen from time to time to make sure he was doing the right thing. Stephen looked out for Kevin as a big brother should, and Kevin earned a smile from Father Tran. Kevin sure made his Daddy proud. It sounds silly to many, but I was proud because he entered the Army of Christ today at the altar of our Lord as a willing servant for the community. it is a major step on the road to adulthood of life and faith.

Thank you God for letting me see this day in the company of so many good friends!

-ehw