by

 Giuliana Frigo

(This article originally appeared in 'Christian Traveller' our parish magazine)

My name is Giuliana Frigo and I am the president of the Altar Society. For all those who do not know what work we do, I shall give a brief outline. Fifteen generous ladies gather every Friday after the 12.30 mass for an hour or so to carry out their allotted tasks. Two ladies wash the vessels and prepare the credence tables for the weekend and weekday masses. Two dust the seats and surrounds of our large church. Two more wash the numerous glass doors that seem to collect sticky finger marks throughout the week. One lady changes the holy water, cleans the side tables with all the literature that gets scattered around. She also dusts the altar and the day chapel and makes sure that the holy water is blest as required. One lady dusts the conference room, cleans the small vestry and the chapel in Manresa house and makes sure that all the required vessels and vestments are clean and ready for anyone who wishes to celebrate Mass there. One cleans the main vestry, tidies the altar servers’ vestments which are often just dumped by the little darlings and also cleans the choir loft. Two ladies arrange all the flowers on the main altar for Sundays, special feast days and occasions as well as weddings when required and also all the side altars. I am certain that you have all admired their work through the year. Two clean any used brass and silver vases and polish candle sticks and all the other vessels required in the course of any of the services. Two ladies have their hands full cleaning the votive candle stands which are used extensively in our church. This task is also carried out several times during the week. One lady keeps all the vestments and laundry clean and ready for all occasions. Removing candle wax is a major task which has often to be left for any lady who has finished her other jobs. If there is a weekend wedding the seats are prepared for the bride and groom and any other special requirements are met.

We have a contractor who fortunately vacuums the church but apparently the contract does not state that door mats are to be lifted or that any room with a closed door has to be cleaned.