NORTH CAROLINA
Indy Week

Pink Smoke Over the Vatican
Saturday, Oct. 19, 1:30–3:30 p.m.
Pullen Memorial Baptist Church, 1801 Hillsborough St., Raleigh
Free; donations accepted
Discussion with the Rev. Roy Bourgeois follows
Sponsored by SWIM of Raleigh

by Lisa Sorg

From my vantage point in the second pew during 10 o’clock Mass at St. Ambrose Church, altar boys had mission-critical duties to ensure the service unfolded properly: swing incense, carry candlesticks, open the prayer book, hand the priest vessels of water and wine and a towel to wipe his hands, and most important, hold the Communion plate to catch any falling Hosts.

My father and uncles had been altar boys, so at age 8, I asked my mother how I could become one. (My interest was not entirely pious; altar boys wore black cassocks and black slip-on Keds, which I thought would absolve me…