Nikon D200 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200mm — 1/350 sec, f/3.5, ISO 800 — map & image data — nearby photos
Anthony Serving his First Mass
Anthony served at Mass for the first time today, at a Mass said by Fr. Graham McDonnell, who says an English Mass once a month at the Catholic church we attend (the Kyoto Kawaramachi Cathedral, which is the same church that I got married in almost 10 years ago).
Anthony had been begging to do it for months, but it took until today until our schedule matched up with Fr. McDonnell's, so by the time we got there, he was quite excited.
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55 f/2.8 @ 30mm — 1/45 sec, f/2.8, ISO 800 — map & image data — nearby photos
Excited About Finally Starting
Jimazaki-san (one of the parish office workers) had to scrounge around for a cassock in Anthony's size. She and Fr. McDonnell then got Anthony all set up...
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55 f/2.8 @ 55mm — 1/45 sec, f/2.8, ISO 1250 — map & image data — nearby photos
Getting Dressed
We'd arrived early so that Fr. McDonnell could take Anthony out to the altar and give some basic instructions so Anthony would know what to expect. It was a lot of information in a short time, and I'm sure that Anthony was totally bewildered, but he tried to follow along like a trooper.
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55 f/2.8 @ 55mm — 1/350 sec, f/2.8, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Attentive
One of the tasks for the altar boys here is to light a candle before the Gospel is read. Anthony had never touched a match before, so Fr. McDonnell tried to show him how to do it.
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55 f/2.8 @ 55mm — 1/350 sec, f/4, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Demonstrations in Pyrotechnics
It proved too difficult a task in the little time allowed, so Father figured a way around Anthony having to do it.
Later, Father was instructing Anthony in some of his tasks that I wouldn't be able to see during the actual Mass, so I took the opportunity to get a better angle on the goings on behind the altar...
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55 f/2.8 @ 55mm — 1/125 sec, f/4, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Lotsa Stuff To Do
Father said that I could take whatever pictures I liked during Mass, but I felt that I should exercise a least some restraint, so I didn't employ my normal “carpet bombing” photographic technique. Still, I did get a few well-timed shots.
Anthony's friend Joe was there also, so luckily, Anthony didn't have to go it alone on his first time. Joe is three months older than Anthony, but has been serving Mass since his sister's baptism six months ago, so he's an old pro at it.
When Mass started and Anthony was on the altar looking out at the no-longer empty congregation, he was clearly a bit nervous about what he'd gotten himself into....
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 80mm — 1/350 sec, f/3.5, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Out Comes the Tongue
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 130mm — 1/640 sec, f/3.5, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Just a Tad Nervous
He did an excellent job, without all the fidgeting that accompanied the many times I served as a kid.
The candle-lighting problem was solved by leaving the candles to be lit near the priest's chair, and him lighting them. (At 80 years old, Fr. McDonnell understandably prefers not having to run around the altar too much). After being lit, the kids were then to carry the candles over to the lectern. I liked this picture of them picking up the candles.
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55 f/2.8 @ 34mm — 1/350 sec, f/4, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Rule #1: Do Not Ignite Hair
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — 1/200 sec, f/2, ISO 320 — map & image data — nearby photos
Just Tall Enough To See
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55 f/2.8 @ 26mm — 1/250 sec, f/2.8, ISO 320 — map & image data — nearby photos
The boys stood in one place (shown above) during much of the Eucharistic Prayer, which is a tall order for two five-year-old boys. At one point, Joe idly placed one foot on the step above for a moment. Anthony noticed this, and was unsure whether it was something he was supposed to duplicate, so he tentatively did the same while keeping a close eye on Joe...
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55 f/2.8 @ 38mm — 1/250 sec, f/3.5, ISO 320 — map & image data — nearby photos
Following In his Footstep
I thought the moment was adorable, as was the whole thing.
When Mass was over, I made sure Anthony knew how proud I was of him, and thanked Joe for being such a great lead in helping show Anthony what to do.
Anthony and I came home and spent much of the afternoon playing with the train stuff he got for Christmas (that added to what he got for his birthday), which is another story in itself...
Well,now, how am I ever going to get anything done today when I’ve just melted into a pile of grease? Anthony on the altar was just precious and reminds me of you doing the same all those years. I would have thought him too young, but looks like he did a fine job and your heart was probably just as full as mine was.
Incidentally, the grey background on this comment section makes it exceedingly hard to see the cursor. Beautiful post.
Yeah, you’re right about the comment box color. It turns out that you can’t control the cursor color with CSS, so I’ve gone ahead and darkend the background color for the comment box so that a white cursor is more easily seen, thanks! —Jeffy
Wow. Aunt Marci melted too. I’m so proud of Anthony, I can’t stand it. And I’ll bet Grandma has some new wallpaper on her computer now.
Actually, Aunt Marci is only half right. The wallpaper isn’t on my computer. I blew up each photo to 8 x lO feet and wallpapered the living room.
Loved your pictures. Enjoyed seeing the inside of your church. You and your wife must be so proud of him.
Very cute, although if Anthony is going to be an altar boy you should probably learn how to spell “altar”…….
My mom mentioned the same thing, and I fixed it about five hours before you added your comment. I guess you’d loaded the page prior to that, and it took that long just soaking up the overwhelming cuteness before you eventually got to the bottom to submit your comment? 🙂 —Jeffrey
Guess my RSS reader loads the thing once and doesn’t refresh.
Ah, yes, that would explain it. RSS aggregators and search engines immortalize my every, many mistakes…. —Jeffrey
I’ve just come across your blog (via your work on colour management): great reading.
This post brought back memories of my days at the altar many years ago. We only entered training at about 9years and couldn’t do Mass solo until about 11. Typically Acolites (the candle bearers) were middle-rankers (13+). Of course, this was a large parish in the UK, so plenty of recruits. Seems they start them young “in the provinces”.
Martin may be interested to learn that they also occasionally start them young in “the colonies.” Jeff’s younger brother Alan also started at age five, serving with his three older brothers.
Dear Jeffrey, I love to use one of your photos for the cover for a newsletter promoting vocations to the Catholic Priesthood. The photo is the ‘Following in His Footsteps’ photo. This newsletter is distributed free in my diocese (Singapore). Please email me!
Dear Anthony and Jeff, Friday, November 2o, 2009 9:10 pm
Was I ever surprised to see your wonderful website which featured you, Anthony, serving your first mass. The photos are fabulous1 Your Dad has a winning way with a camera. Those photos were taken about a week before Father Hyatt died on January 14th. That would account for the fact that I completely missed them.
As I was going through the website, I said to my myself, “I have got to tell Joseph Mauch about this great website.” Then I added, again to myself, “These photos would be good for vocations!”
Now, Joseph is preparing for his First Holy Communion. I asked his Dad, Peter Mauch, to see if he could find you and your Dad, Anthony, because I knew that you would want to make your First Holy Communion too. I am going to offer Mass this coming Sunday, November 22, at Sanjo Kawaramachi Church.
If you see these comments, and if you are in Kyoto, be sure and come on Sunday at noon for a repeat of your First Mass. Remember, Jesus told his apostles at the Last Supper, “Do this in memory of me.” I am really looking forward to seeing both of you on Sunday. Father Graham McDonnell in Kyoto. Japan
I am very delighted to see you serve with Fr. McDonnell. I once worked in Japan to teach English with Fr.’s YBU group. I hope you become a person who really loves Jesus. Sharon from Racine, WI. USA