Nearly 200 young people aged 13-23 attended a two-day seminar on “Altar servers” in Joseph parish in northern Phnom Penh that finished yesterday.

They came from churches in the apostolic vicariate of Phnom Penh to learn more about the Church and the meaning of gestures and actions in ceremonies or feasts such as a Mass, offertory, bread breaking gesture or displaying the Body of Christ displaying, said Father Mario Ghezzi, coordinator of the seminar, the first of its kind.

He said that until now altar servers have carried out their actions on their own initiative or in light of what a priest or a veteran Catholic told them.

“I think after the seminar, they were interested more in their services, not just making a gesture or an action, but performing a real service to God and the Church through the spirit,” he added.

Phat Channy, a 21-year-old altar server at Don Bosco parish in Phnom Penh said that the event was meaningful for him. “I think I will fulfill my duties better than before,” he added.

Ngourn Sorithy, a 19-year-old altar server, said she was amazed by the seminar. She now knew more clearly the meaning of ceremonies and each gesture. “It made us know fbetter our church, Lord and God. As a result, we may fulfill our undertakings with deep respect,” she added.

There are more than 200 altar servers in the apostolic vicariate of Phnom Penh.