A Note From Our Pastor: May 17, 2026

Over the (nearly) two years that Father Ben and I have been here, we’ve worked to create consistency in how our liturgical ministers do things between St. Thomas and St. Philomena. Admittedly, some of the adjustments we made were simply a matter of adjusting to my preferences, from those of my predecessors.

One ministry was our Altar Server program. I must say, I love working with Altar Servers: training them, interacting with them before Mass, and serving at the altar with them. It’s truly a highlight of my ministry. I prefer that our Altar Servers are primarily youth and young adults. The reason is that it’s an opportunity for them to experience, up close, the Altar and Tabernacle, the sources of holiness—with hope that they are affected by that holiness and helps them to grow in holiness.

At my previous parish (St. Joseph, Issaquah), we restructured our Altar Server program, to give more structure to the distinct roles of our Altar Servers. And no doubt, reflecting my liturgical style, perhaps it was more formalized, more emphasis on reverence, less loose. I required our servers, which I often think of as the priest’s assistants in the liturgy, to wear something more like a dress shoe (not tennis shoes). We also created levels that the servers could advance, after demonstrating proficiency and knowledge of the Mass and the items used at Mass. It gave way to leadership and mentoring among our servers.

These changes proved to be good, although when we first implemented the changes, some were no longer interested. But we also found, over time, that a number of servers enjoyed it because it was ordered, and we functioned like a team. Maybe it was not ‘fun’, in the way that servers had previously experienced, but in a different way, it was enjoyable and meaningful.

It’s been our intention to make our server program more like that of my previous parish, realizing that there may be some servers who wish it was more like it was before. Incidentally, at both of our parishes, we have an increasing number of servers at our Spanish Masses, but fewer servers at our English Masses. The rubrics and expectations are the same.

At my previous parish, we kept a stock of dark-colored shoes on hand, a range of sizes, for occasions that servers were asked to serve unexpectedly, or did not have something other than tennis shoes. If you have any lightly worn, dark-colored shoes that you are willing to donate, please let me know (email, please). We would like to have options for our servers, when needed.

I’m grateful for the privilege and joy of working with our Altar Servers—one of my favorite parts of my ministry.

Yours in Christ,

Father Todd O. Strange