Sacred Heart in Sinton altar servers wait downstairs in St. Joseph Hall before the Altar Server Recognition Mass held at the Corpus Christi Cathedral on November 22. Left to right: Lisa Villareal, a junior, who will receive outstanding server award; Jensen Hunt, a freshman who will receive her red cord to become an Eucharistic Cross Bearer; Andrew Mercier, a freshman who will receive his red cord to become an Eucharistic Cross Bearer; Aaron Berecka, senior who will receive his purple cord for his 10 years of service as an altar server. All are students at Sinton High School.

With the Corpus Christi Cathedral tower bells ringing and the Cathedral Youth Chorale singing, Bishop Edmond Carmody welcomed 350 altar servers from throughout the diocese to the annual Altar Server Recognition Mass held on Christ the King Sunday, November 22.

These altar servers from 46 parishes and missions were being recognized for their faithful service to the Lord.

The young people varying in age from 14 to 19 were receiving three different awards: Eucharistic Cross Bearer, Outstanding Server or Ten Years of Service.

The cathedral was filled to overflowing as parents and family members joined Bishop Carmody to witness the recognition of their children's accomplishments in serving their parishes.

Seated in the sanctuary, the youths receiving the Ten Years of Service award surrounded by Bishop Carmody as he thanked the altar servers for their dedicated service to the Lord.

You are "a great example by your devoted devotion. You inspire many by your great service and devotion."

During his homily, Bishop Carmody emphasized the fact that these young people understood the importance of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King Sunday.

Looking out over the pews filled with altar servers, Bishop Carmody stated, "You recognized our Lord as King. You give up your time to serve your King. Your King loves you, and your King rejoices in you every day."

Following the conclusion of the Mass, serving as master of ceremonies, Father Paul Hesse, pastor of St. John the Baptist, started the awards ceremony.

Each altar server and his parents were called forward individually to receive his or her award from Bishop Carmody.

The Eucharistic Cross Bearer is an altar server who has served for at least three years and is traditionally a freshman in high school.

Dressed in his fuchsia colored choir cassock, Bishop Carmody greeted and placed around each altar server's neck a large cross hung from a bright red cord.

Young people being honored as Outstanding Altar servers were called forward and were given a plaque as a symbol of their service to their parishes.

The Outstanding Server award is given to two servers in each parish. Each parish selects their own outstanding servers.

Before announcing the names of the Ten Years of Service Awards, Father Hesse, stated that the Ten Years of Service Award was a relatively new honor.

"For almost 40 years, the Diocese of Corpus Christi has given out the Eucharistic Cross Bearer Award and the Outstanding Server Awards. It has only been recently the Diocese has begun honoring the young people" who have faithfully served for 10 years.

These teenagers are usually seniors in high school.

Individually, these servers and their parents were called forward. Bishop Carmody placed around each altar server's neck a large cross hanging from deep purple cord signifying their ten year devotion to the Lord.

St. Elizabeth Parish in Alice had one of the largest groups in the Diocese with 23 altar servers receiving awards.

Deborah Beltran, one of the altar server coordinators for St. Elizabeth explained why the altar server program is so popular.

"Most of our altar servers feed out of the Catholic elementary schools. The altar servers start in elementary schools. We also have parents who are very active in the church who encourage and push their young children to volunteer to altar serve. When the children are older, they volunteer to serve. We are blessed to have parents instilling God in their children's lives."

Recipient of the Ten Year Service Award, altar server Myles Beltran, said when he was younger he always looked up to the older altar servers.

Now a senior at Alice High School, Beltran says he is "excited and honored" to receive his purple cord.

"Being an altar sever has brought me closer to God and the other altar servers."

Lisa Villareal was named Outstanding Altar Server for her parish, Sacred Heart in Sinton.

Extremely happy, Villareal commented that receiving this honor "was a shocker. I am speechless."

Villareal is a junior at Sinton High School.

Another altar server being honored for serving ten years, Aaron Berecka of Sacred Heart in Sinton and a senior at Sinton High School, remarked that he was "glad he stuck with the altar serving program."

"This award is very exciting. I always tell the younger altar servers not to panic on the altar and to just stick with it."

EUCHARISTIC CROSS BEARER Christ the King: Illyana Morales. Corpus Christi Cathedral: Natalie Ivana Barrera, Kathleen Bell, Elijah Paul Chupe, Jose Hector Guardiola, Isabel Marie Hendericks, Kristian Faith Lopez, Theresa Marie Lopez, Frank Lowell McNiff, J. D. Noyola, Eva Anne-Marie Smith, Nicholas Jacob Vela. Holy Family: Leti Maria Flores, Jose Alberto Garcia, Karina Montes, Angela Padilla. Immaculate Conception: Vincent Garcia, Samantha Salinas. Our Lady of Consolation: Zane Best. Our Lady of Good Counsel: Julian Espino, Bethany Munoz. Our Lady of Guadalupe – Alice: Cristian J. Benavides, Rony Chavarria, Anessa Elizabeth Hernandez, Biance Camille Molina, Ashleigh Alma Pena, Janel Lynn Perez, Juan Francisco Perez, Jr., Corissa Tijerina. Santo Nino De Atocha: Leslie Anay Perez. Our Lady of Mount Carmel: P. J. Bowie, Kristin De Moss, Ben Dietz, Larry Earnest, Anthony Jaramillo, Priscilla Young. Our Lady of Perpetual Help: Aaron Alvarado, Clarissa Carreon, Carlos De La Rosa, Evelyn Espinoza, Sean Griss, Chelsea Guerra, Jonathan Martinez, Lance Newton, Alexandra Ortiz, Angel Ortiz, Ricky Ramos, Tyler Suarez. Our Lady of Pilar: Naomi Kirsten Moreno. Our Lady Star of the Sea: Alexa Knesek, Amy Schultze. Our Lady of Victory: Laura Dominguez, Joshua Gonzales. Sacred Heart – Falfurrias: Eliseo Barrera, Michael Carrasco, Juan Garcia, III, John Michael Gonzalez, Albert Hernandez, Eligio Montalvo, Manuel Ramirez, Joseph Reyes, Gregory Vela. Sacred Heart – Mathis: Nicole Elledge, Megan Garcia, Danny Gonzales, Stephanie Salinas, Bryce Silva, Fabian Tijerina. Sacred Heart – Odem: Venyssia Pizana, Samantha Rodriguez, Anthony Serrano. Sacred Heart – Rockport: Robert Garcia, Scott Kelly, Nicolett Marshall, Mychelle Ramirez, William Reyes, Kimberly Silva, Jacob Trujillo. Sacred Heart – Sinton: Jensen Hunt, Andrew Mercier. St. Anthony: Alejandra Del Angel, Jenny Hernandez, Vanessa Ochoa. Sts. Cyril & Methodius: James Ayala, Abel Garcia, Luis Garcia, Jasmine Gomez, Dillon McQuary, Matthew Morales, Elizabeth Soliz. St. Elizabeth-Alice: Chrystin Canales, Gabriel Duran, Andrew Edelen, Richard James Garza, Kassandra Guerra, Clarissa Martinez, Robert Molina, Ryan Pakebusch, Andre Saenz, Gian Carlo Saenz, Syrena Zamora. St. Frances of Rome-Agua Dulce: Chris Charles. St. Francis de Paula-San Diego: Ashley Saenz, Laura Trevino. St. George-George West: Allison Bryce, Joseph Feist, Kate Jimerson, Andrew Katzfey, Quest Newberry, Salina Ruiz, Victoria Wasicek. St. Gertrude-Kingsville: Maria Bartolazo, Joel Castro, Bianca Cordero, Genaro De Leon, Patrick Lopez, Lauren Martinez. St. Helena of the True Cross of Jesus: Catherine Fergie, Matthew Matl. St. James – Refugio: Danielle Uarela. St. John the Baptist: Amanda Butt, Julia Cheesman, Tomas Hinojosa, Audrey Martinez, Molly McIntire, Olivia Megee. St. John of the Cross-Orange Grove: Bree Berry, Marcos Contreras, Kaitlin Ruiz. St. John Nepomucene-Robstown: Max Garcia, David Martinez, Jr. St. Joseph – Beeville: Adrianna Campos, Christian Cuellar, Matthew Cuellar, Steve Dougherty, Lane Rothlisberger. St. Joseph – Corpus Christi: Cassandra Alvarado, Rebecca Mirabal, Jose Segovia, Thomas Silvas. St. Joseph – Kingsville: Jakob Arnold Reyes. St. Martin - Kingsville: Joe Michael Acuna, John Michael Acuna, Juan Carlos Gonzalez. St. Patrick: J. L. Bronold, Jaren Cooper, Sierra Fabela, Kayla Gonzales, Margaret Kainer, Christopher McCravy, Matthew Morrison, Seth Polanco, Deanna Ramirez, Logan Ross, Hayley Sanchez, Taylor Tajchman St. Patrick Mission-San Patricio: Wyatt McCown. St. Peter: Aryssa Benavidez, Alyssa Rodriguez, Victoria Salazar. St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles: Samuel Beattie, Maire Bustamante, Brandi Candelaria, Brittany Casares, Anna Marie Falcon, Aaron Flores, Ryan Flores, Zachary Gatlin, Amy Lynn Hernandez, Gilbert Martinez, Stephanie Parlamas, Daniella Perez, Marissa Rocha. St. Philip: Madison Aboud, Victoria Anzaldua, Benjamin Guerrero, Wesley Jackson. St. Pius X: Trent Dimas, Paul Freeman, Andrew Shull, Andrew Thomas. St. Thomas More: Danielle Garcia, Angela Villegas. St. Therese of the Little Flower: Kasandra Hernandez.

OUTSTANDING SERVERS: Christ the King: James Hernandez, Siera Gonzalez. Corpus Christi Cathedral: Gilbert Rene Rodriguez, Mary Jane Shea. Holy Family: Jose Alberto Garcia, Christina Zuniga. Immaculate Conception: Jay Clifford Saenz, Rachel Wenceslada Ortiz. Our Lady of Consolation: William Best. Sacred Heart Mission: Nathaniel Garza. Our Lady of Good Counsel: Zachary Rodriguez, Miranda Hernandez. Our Lady of Guadalupe – Edroy: Vivian Kiefer. Our Lady of Perpetual Help: Michael Garcia, Alora Suarez. Our Lady Star of the Sea: Brandon Wiggins, Emily Reinhart. Our Lady of Victory: Guy Rodriguez, Maria L. Garcia. Sacred Heart – Falfurrias: Romeo Rivera. Sacred Heart – Mathis: Brock Silva, Nicole Elledge. Sacred Heart – Odem: Samuel Pesek. Sacred Heart – Rockport: Jacob Trujillo, Kimberly Silva. Sacred Heart – Sinton: Roy Salazar, Lisa Villareal. St. Anthony: Rodolfo Gonzalez. St. Anthony: Desirea McCrackin. Sts. Cyril and Methodius: Joseph Moore, Madalyn Lerma. St. Elizabeth: Todd Wright, Pamela Salas. St. Frances of Rome: Milo Saenz, Christina Lopez. St. Francis de Paula: Robert Helton, Laura Trevino. St. George: Theo Gonzales, Sarah Crawford. St. Gertrude: Nick Brown, Angelica Arredondo, Brittany Arredondo. St. Helena of the True Cross of Jesus: James Matl, Madeleine Lu. St. James – Beeville: Naomi Garza. St. James – Refugio: Ricky Solis, Krystal Garcia. St. John the Baptist: Tomas Hinojosa, Tara Hinojosa. St. John of the Cross: Garrett Bryce Gallagher, Catrina Cavazos. St. Joseph – Beeville: Juan Gonzales, Martha Salazar. St. Joseph – Corpus Christi: Charles Silvas, Laura Luna. St. Joseph – Kingsville: Jakob Arnold Reyes. St. Martin: Marco Antonio Salinas, Angela Katrina Salinas. St. Mary's Mission: Aaron Garcia, Jr., Leila Marie Cortez. St. Patrick: John Oelschlegel, Nora Maza. St. Patrick's Mission: Wyatt McCown, Emma Downing. St. Peter: Jonathon Garcia, Aryssa Benavidez. St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles: John Alexander Porche, Danielle Watkins. St. Philip: Matthew Deck, Amber Wenzel. St. Pius X: Brandon Lutz, Marisa Matthijetz. St. Pius X Mission: Pedro Olivarez, Stephanie Olivarez. St. Thomas More: Samuel Guerrero-Saenz, Lori Ann Garcia. St. Therese of the Little Flower: Ryan Cisneros, Tess Perez.

TEN YEARS OF SERVICE: Christ the King: Jordan Cadena, Melanie Chapa, James Hernandez, Jorge Morales, Ted Morales, Celeste Solis. Corpus Christi Cathedral: Gilbert Rene Rodriguez, Mary Jane Shea, Michael Aaron Steiner, Brianna Villarreal, Chase White. Immaculate Conception: Alejandro Flores. Our Lady of Consolation: William Best. Our Lady of Good Counsel: Aleida Cantu. Our Lady of Guadalupe – Alice: Andres Alaniz, Teresa Salome Buentello, Luis Andres Castillo, Jenifer Renee Jackson. Our Lady of Mount Carmel: Andrew Jaramillo, Zack Leuhring. Our Lady of Perpetual Help: Anjelina Abecia, Jeremy Alvarez, Thomas Morales, Alora Suarez. Our Lady of Victory: Maria L. Garcia, Jonathan Schwindt. Sacred Heart – Falfurrias: Romeo Rivera. Sacred Heart – Mathis: Marissa Rangel, Miguel Rangel. Sacred Heart – Odem: Angelica Barrera, Mariah Dominguez, Brian Hinojosa, Michael Juarez, Samuel Pesek, Catarina Pizana, Nicolas Pizana, Aricela Rodriguez. Sacred Heart – Rockport: Geremy Wrestler. Sacred Heart – Sinton: Aaron Berecka. St. Anthony: William Stone Sts. Cyril and Methodius: Joey Garcia, Andrew Gonzalez, Christina Marie Silva St. Elizabeth: Myles Beltran, Jacob De La Cruz, Allan De Leon, Matthew De Leon, Juan Nicholas Garcia, Danielle Greenup, Franklin Hinojosa, Andrew Pierce, Mark Saenz, Pamala Salas, Haley Jo Starr. St. Frances of Rome: Clarissa Acuna, Larissa Flores. St. George: Alexandria Katzfey. St. Gertrude: Angelica Arredondo, Brittany Arredondo, Ann Booth. St. John of the Cross: Christy Berry. St. John Nepomucene: Daniel Craig. St. Joseph – Beeville: Ricky Cardwell, Lazaro Smith, Hollis Stubenthal. St. Joseph – Corpus Christi: Laura Luna. St. Patrick: Sarah Cooper, Kenny Cusick, Sara Fredrickson, Anthony Gibson, Brianna Holden, Kate Kainer, Nora Maza, Marianne Medina, Robyn Polanco, Andrea Ramos, Jennifer Villarreal. St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles: Stacy Ayarzagoitia, Kelsie Markos, David Martinez, Corina Parlamas, Vanessa Perales, Stephanie Pizana. St. Philip: Anndee L. Shaunessy. St. Pius X Mission: Stephanie Olivarez. St. Theresa of the Infant Jesus: Catherine Chavez. St. Thomas More: Jordan Allison, Lori Ann Garcia, Kaeli Hernandez.