DYKER HEIGHTS — Thomas Fascianella, who is in charge of scheduling the altar servers at the Shrine Church of St. Bernadette in Dyker Heights, used to scramble to fill the spots to ensure that there was a server to cover each Mass. His task was challenging because the church had only five altar servers.

Fascianella’s job is still challenging, but for a different reason. The church now has so many altar servers that he has to juggle the schedule to ensure that each one gets a chance to serve.

That’s because St. Bernadette now has 25 altar servers — a 400% increase — thanks to the 20 newcomers who joined the fold. The youngsters, who have completed five training sessions, will begin serving at Mass this month

“It’s easier because I now know I can fill every Mass and have more of a selection of altar servers. But with 25 altar servers, I have to narrow it down to make sure everybody gets at least one mass,” he explained.

Father Jeremy Canna, the pastor who installed the altar servers at a Mass last month, said the influx of youngsters creates excitement among parishioners.

“It’s definitely being well received by the people there,” he said. “They’re seeing it as something like a new beginning.”

It’s certainly a new beginning for the Caserta triplets — Giuliana, Alessandra, and Francesca — who are nine years old and will enter the fifth grade at St. Bernadette Catholic Academy in September.

Each of the girls is looking forward to serving. “I really wanted to be an altar server because I thought it would be nice to finally be there up on the altar and serve God for real,” Alessandra said. “And I really wanted to be more holy and act like Jesus.”

Francesca said that while she has always enjoyed attending Mass, being an altar server will make the experience more special. “I’ve always liked going to Masses. But I’ve always wanted to somehow be part of one,” she explained. “And now I’m happy that I could be part of the Mass and be closer to God.”

“I like being part of the church and I’m happy that I get to serve God on the altar,” Giuliana said.

Their mom, Enza Caserta, is happy for her daughters, partly because they are getting a chance she didn’t. When Caserta was young, she longed to be an altar server like her three brothers but was unable to because of her gender. The Catholic Church did not officially allow female altar servers until 1994.

“I could not be an altar server. And so I was very happy that my daughters wanted to do it,” she said. “They jumped at the opportunity and I was very supportive. They were running through the house they were so excited!”

Fascianella credits a decision from Father Canna as the reason St. Bernadette was able to go from having just five altar servers to welcoming such a large group.

He said that when Father Canna arrived at St. Bernadette last year, one of his actions was lowering the age at which youngsters could become altar servers. 

Until now, altar servers at St. Bernadette were mostly middle school students. Suddenly, the process was extended to allow students as young as nine to sign up. 

In addition, Father Canna would regularly visit St. Bernadette Catholic Academy and encourage students to consider becoming altar servers.

“I think the main thing is that it was opened up to younger kids,” Fascianella said. “And I think Father Jeremy just going into the school was a big help.”

James Burke, who will be a fifth grader at St. Bernadette Catholic Academy in September, served before he was officially installed. 

“One day, at 10 a.m. Mass, one of our fathers didn’t have any altar servers and he called me up to help,” he recalled. “I loved it. I kept thinking, ‘When will they let me sign up for this?’ And when it came out, I said I’m definitely doing this.”

James is looking forward to serving alongside his mom, Natalie Burke, who is a eucharistic minister: “I would feel comfortable that I am not alone.”

Natalie has fond memories of her days as an altar server in her youth, so when her son said that he wanted to be an altar server, it was a no-brainer for her. 

“It’s so nice to see him on the altar that I used to serve on as well,” she said.

Father Canna is hopeful that their new roles will bring the young altar servers closer to their faith. 

“I would say that now the children get a chance to realize that they are serving God’s people in their own way,” he said. “The server is helping the priest be the priest.”