Serving the Peace
Ehra Louise Guiwa | Maui High School, Class of 2028
The saying “Church is more than a building” emphasizes faith is more than being in a physical place but a relationship between people devoted to Christian beliefs. It is expressed through worship, service and practices. Tedious work goes into preparing the Mass from liturgical practices, such as communion, to the booklets distributed by hospitality members. Yet, no one truly feels as if this is work but a sense of duty evoking an enriching feeling.
This is one of many reasons why parishioners, including myself, love being Christian. A group of young acolytes who also serve as leaders in their parish communities, St. Anthony and Christ the King, come together for this column to express what it means for them to be altar servers and how they prepare for the Advent season.
Being an acolyte seems so intimidating because everyone watches your every move and not to mention, you are ever so close to the priest. For Jacel Jarra, her journey started with the curiosity of what it might feel like to be up on the altar. “I wanted to see what it was like to be up at the altar instead of just sitting in the pews; I thought it would be a much better experience to actually be involved in the Mass rather than just watching from the crowd.” Since her calling to serve the Lord, for the last seven years, Jacel has served as a proud acolyte. Not only does this help Jacel become closer to her faith but “It’s also made me feel like a real part of the parish” as she gets to meet teens in their journey of faith. Jacel prepares for Advent by the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It is not always easy; sometimes we hide behind the fear and shame of our sins but like Jacel, by finding the courage to confess them, we find solace in God.
Another acolyte from Christ the King, Leia Hook, says “It is an honor to be an altar server for my church and I will never regret becoming one.” After seeing her older sister become an acolyte, Leia has since felt inspired, thus having her mom sign her up as one when she reached the appropriate age. Leia describes being an acolyte as a way for her to grow closer to God. Through attending daily mass and reciting prayers, this is a way Leia prepares for the Advent season.
For Herman “Trey” Andaya, his perspective shows “the altar servers were the cool kids of the church.” But being cool is not what led Trey to being an acolyte.
“Knowing where we come from and staying connected with those traditions strengthens our love and deeper understanding of Christ” is what truly led him on this path. Trey has become deeply involved in the St. Anthony Parish community, joining numerous ministries and forming new friendships. Trey’s devotion to his faith is apparent in the seven years he served as an acolyte. Simbang Gabi, which translates into “Church Night,” is a nine-night novena to worship the coming of Jesus Christ. This is more than just worship but serves a traditional significance with the Filipino community. Trey has committed to attending all nine masses as a way to prepare for Advent.
Lastly, Noah Baloaloa, like the rest, became an altar server to better connect with his community. He comments, “the impact that this ministry had on me, the church and the parish community is something that changed beautifully.” Noah has been serving for the past five years at St. Anthony Church; however, it was not always easy. In the beginning, anxiety filled Noah at every Mass he served but “Father Ace and my good friend Rob taught me how the Mass worked and what to do at what times. Over time, the Lord guided me to get the hang of it.” Now, he is a leading figure at St. Anthony Church who has even taught upcoming altar servers what to do. From being anxiety-ridden to confidently serving as an acolyte, Noah’s growth is a symbol of how good the Lord is. During the Advent season, to spread Christ’s light to those around him is how Noah chooses to prepare.
Our young group of acolytes has done so much in support of their Church, with their faith in God standing as a heavy foundation. The rise of youth growing in their connection to God is growing day by day. Suddenly, the topic of “Who becomes the future of the Church?” is not worrisome because of outstanding young leaders like Jacel, Noah, Trey and Leia who inspire the next generation.
Google® Is Not Everything…… is a monthly column authored by high school students. The column’s title emphasizes that education is more than just googling a topic. Google® is a registered trademark. This month’s guest columnist is Ehra Louise Guiwa, a Sophomore at Maui High School. She is the President of Sabers Of Law (Maui High’s Mock Trial Club), one of the Executive Vice Presidents for Student Government, Historian in the Key Club, and a student of eskrima under Doce Pares Multi-Style Hawai‘i. Ehra Louise is in the Law and Public Safety pathway at Maui High and aspires to be a U.S senator. In her free time, she enjoys sewing, baking, volunteering at church, spending time with family and friends, and exploring. She is the only daughter of Merlyn Guiwa and Reymund Guiwa.