Abbatini Maltin fil-Vatikan

This was the first  group (of two) of Altar boys (25 in all from various parishes in Malta and Gozo) that went to the Vatican this year. They left Malta on the 9th of August and came back on the 23rd of August. These boys had the daily duty to serve for masses at St. Peter’s Basilica. They used to wake up at 5.45 am in the morning in order to prepare so that by 6.30 am they will be ready to prepare the numerous altars (over 20) situated in St. Peter’s Basilica. By 7.00 am numerous priests would come to the sacristy and the boys would help them dress and accompany each to the respective altar where mass was said. This experience proves to be an excellent one where the altar boys have a spiritual boost. It even proves to be one which sparks vocational discernment, in fact, numerous seminarians/priests had had this experience in the past when they themselves served as altar boys.

This year, the first year of pope’s Francis Pontifical the altar boys had the opportunity to meet with the Pope. After the Angelus held at St. Peter’s Square on the way back to his residence at Santa Marta, the Pope called the altar boys so that he could meet with them. This was an other spiritual experience where all could experience the humbleness and humility of the Pope. The altar boys had the opportunity to speak with the the pope and to pray for him. After a request from one of the boys the pope also signed the distinctive “fascia’ of the Vatican altar boys.