Friendship And Family (Currently undergoing a rewrite. Do Not Read.)

CHAPTER 39. Thanksgiving

                  Maria's POV

The Mass was ours; we were the ushers, choir, layreaders and alter servers.

I led the choir with the entrance hymn; here we are. The bell rang, a signal that the Mass has started, and the faithfuls joined us on their feet as they sang along.

The Mass was a sendoff ceremony for the graduands, so the color theme was white.

Reuben walked on the aisle to the alter in his white cloak as he led the procession, with the sweet smell of burning incense. Francis moved behind him, holding the long wooden cross. It was a warm feeling to see Andrew and Mathias take the place of the acolyte, marching side by side while bearing the lighted candles, even though they had no choice but to belong to a society for the event. Behind them was the Master of Ceremony who rings the bell, with the Senior Sacristan, the priest's right hand man, beside him, and then the incense boat bearer. The layreaders marched after the alter servers in their white robes. And last was Father Ezekiel, moving with grace in his sacred, embroidered white vestment.

Reuben climbed the stairs to the alter and bowed his head, and then he went ahead and stood at the left hand side of the alter, holding the thorible. Francis did a simple bow when he approached the alter, before proceeding into the sacristy with the cross. Andrew and Mathias marched forward and stood on either ends of the alter, and then they blew out the candles and went down on one knee, dropping the quenched candles that glued to a metal stand on the floor underneath the alter. They both rose up at the same time and stood in an orderly fashion that emanated holiness and modesty, facing the alter. The others had spread out behind them, and Father walked in their middle to the alter. They all genuflected along with Father, and then bowed their heads.

Father walked further at the same time the alter servers walked to their seats at the alter. Six, red cushioned chairs were behind the alter, three on each side of it, facing each other. Andrew, the Master of Ceremony and the incense boat bearer, occupied the seats at the left hand side of the alter. While Mathias, Francis who had now joined them from the sacristy, and Reuben, occupied the ones on the right, but Reuben was yet to join them. The Senior Sacritan stood at his seat that was next to Father's chair at a more visible spot, while the layreaders turned around to join the faithfuls in their reserved, front pew.

The hymn hadn't stopped so we were still on our feet. Father reached behind the alter, he bent low and gave it a holy kiss, and then he approached Reuben who handed the thorible to him.

Reuben led Father in a slow pace around the alter with both hands clasped together, as Father swung the thorible at the corners of the alter, sanctifying it. They stopped at the front of the alter and bowed their heads, and then Father lifted up the thorible. He swung it three times at the terbanacle and brought it down, repeating the same action two more times, and then they bowed their heads afterwards. Reuben continued with the lead in the same gesture as Father kept sanctifying the other corners of the alter, which dazzled in its white and gold dressing.

Father handed the thorible back to Reuben after they had walked round the alter. Reuben proceeded to the sacristy while Father walked over to the lectan, and that was our cue to end the hymn.

We endured Deborah's terrible singing all through the procession, and I could only hope that no one else heard her loud tone that went off many times. She had a beautiful voice for alto on the days we reharsed, but for some reason, she wanted to sing soprano, probably to compete with Agnes, or simply sabotage our effort, giving the church the impression that we never had any rehasals. And the joke was on me. I halted the choir with my hands, almost rolling my eyes as I walked back to my seat.