3 minute read
MEET OUR ALTAR LINEN LADIES: Glorifying God Through Humble Service
For most people who attend Mass regularly, there is some awareness of the many pieces that come together to create a beautiful experience of prayer each Sunday. The priest, the choir, the readers, the ushers, altar servers and the Eucharistic Ministers — each has a unique role in aiding the parish community as they worship. But there is one group whose service to the liturgy often goes unnoticed. Yet without their humble efforts, our experience of Mass would be very different. They are our Altar Linen Ladies.
“You just don’t realize all the things that need to happen, all the ins and outs, in order to make the parish run, and I like just being one little piece of that,” says parishioner Angie Hancox, who has helped care for the altar linens for the past 15 years. “It just makes me feel good that I can help out.”
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Each week, one of the women who is a part of this ministry stops by the church to pick up the altar linens — the purificators, which are cloths used to wipe the chalice after someone receives the Precious Blood, and hand towels used during Mass — to wash, iron and fold them for the following week’s liturgies. As someone who also serves as a Eucharistic Minister, Angie enjoys seeing the way that her service helps to bring a sense of honor to the Eucharist, ensuring that the linens are well cared for.
“It feels good to know we’re helping out with ‘behind the scenes’ stuff, but it’s front and center at Mass,” Angie says. “We want to make sure [the purificators] look nice and they don’t have a hole in them or have a stains on them.”
For many years, Angie, who works as a nurse, struggled to find a ministry that fit with her schedule. When she was asked to help with the altar linens, she discovered it was a great way for her to give back.
“I definitely enjoy doing the ministry,” Angie says. “I was always looking for something I could help out at the church, but it had to be something that I didn’t have to go to a meeting to be able to participate. This worked out really well, I could pick up the linens and do the washing and ironing anytime I have a chance.”
Being involved in this ministry has also been an opportunity to get to know and build friendships with others in the parish.
“I have a great group that I work with,” Angie says of the other ladies. “I couldn’t do it without them. They’re great.”
Angie encourages her fellow parishioners to find ways in which they might give back to the parish community in service. Regardless of what ministry people may feel called to join, Angie reminds that it’s an opportunity to make a difference in our community.
“We’re on this earth to help others and that’s what it’s all about,” she says. “If I can help out in any way at my church, I’ll be right there.
“There are lots and lots of things that have to happen in a church, so pick up the phone and say, ‘Hey, I can help doing that,’” she adds. “I’m really glad I said ‘yes’ when I was asked to help with altar linens many years ago, and it’s been so good to continue.”
