At Saint Ignatius, the entire school attends a mass the first Friday of every month, typically dedicated to an important event that takes place that month. All school mass is a way for students to be present and engage in their faith. One of the ways students can get engaged in mass is by becoming a Eucharistic Minister.
According to the Saint Ignatius Website, there are 100 students annually in liturgical leadership roles and 100% of students who finish 30 hours of service here at school. Students are required to complete these 30 hours of service as a graduation requirement, however, some students have used their faith-based education to serve the school community outside of their requirements. One of the most popular roles in the Church that students choose to partake in is by being Eucharistic Ministers. These ministers are typically juniors and seniors, who distribute Holy Communion to other students, faculty, and staff at school masses.
This year, there have been a significant number of juniors who joined this service role. Juniors Lucy Connolly and Sydney Ahler are two members who joined this role this year. Ahler said “it is good that it occurs only once a month because it is not too repetitive which makes attending it more special”. Despite these masses only being once a month, some students still struggle to be engaged in the service.
Both Connolly and Ahler mentioned that joining Eucharistic Ministers is a good way to serve their community and strengthen their relationship with God. Connolly said “being a minister helps me engage with mass and reflect on and deepen my understanding of sacramental life”. Ahler said “I feel more connected to the church process, and I see myself more willing and excited to go to mass because of the role.”
Lastly, both Ahler and Connolly would recommend becoming a Eucharistic Minister to underclassmen. They both described how this role has changed the way they perceive mass, and allows them to not only be more attentive, but also allows them to be involved in their faith and overall more involved in the school. This experience can help students become more open to the monthly masses, where they can explore their faith even more.