Catholic Campus Ministry at Virginia Tech 2025 : Issue 1

Serving at Mass

“Often before I serve at Mass, I remind myself that it is how I can serve God in a tangible, direct way. In addition, altar serving has given me a much deeper understanding and appreciation of the Mass. I’m grateful to God and to our ministry for the opportunity to grow in service in this way!” — Kieran Sweeney “Being an EMHC has allowed me to love and understand Jesus more in my service of him every week. Serving Jesus like this teaches me how to better be his hands and feet on this earth.” — Felicity Wolf “Coordinating Mass on Sundays has given me the opportunity to serve God in a way I never have before. I enjoy helping set up War Memorial Chapel so that the community can come together in love for God. I'm grateful for all of the coordinators for volunteering their time on Sundays!” — Keira Salvanera “Altar serving at Mass is a wonderful opportunity for me and my brothers to participate in the liturgy. Being so close to the consecration of the Eucharist and assisting the priest during the distribution of Communion are both a great honor and a privilege. I have been altar serving at Mass since I was in the fifth grade, and I am glad that I can continue to serve here in Virginia Tech’s Catholic community.” — Conan Ugaz At the heart of the Catholic Campus Ministry is a spirit of service, and nowhere is this more visible than in the quiet, reverent roles students take on during the Mass. Whether serving as altar servers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, or coordinators, each student brings a unique perspective to this shared ministry. These acts of service are not just tasks — they are moments of grace and communion. As St. Teresa of Ávila once said, “ Christ has no body now but yours, no hands, no feet on Earth but yours .” In every small action and simple gesture, our student ministers live out this calling, serving God and their peers with humility, love, and devotion: “Being an EMHC for the CCM has given me such joy in administering the Body and Blood of Christ to the faithful who hunger for him. It is an honor to be entrusted with such a sacred office of the Church, and it has granted me a greater appreciation of my ability to receive Jesus every day.” — Julia Burant