August 3, 2010. Saint Peter’s Square has welcomed a new statute in its midst – that of Saint Tarcisius – patron of altar servers. The statue is here in this unique place for the international meeting of altar servers taking place in Rome from August 3rd to 4th.


After the celebrations, the statue will be moved to the catacombs of Saint Callistus, where Saint Tarcisius is buried. It will be the first place in the world dedicated to altar servers.

Mons. Martin Gächter
Presidente, 'Coetus Internationalis Ministrantium'
"Young people will see the tomb of Saint Tarcisius, where the statue is located, and it will be a place where altar servers from around the world can meet."

Swiss sculptor Bernhard Lang made the statue of the Saint. After nearly four years of work on the project, the results are striking.

Bernhar Lang
Escultor
"In autumn 2008 I was ready to give them to the foundry. They made it in bronze, in 7 parts, put it together again by soldering the parts together and I overworked the whole surface of the statue and at the end I did the patination. So that it what it is now".

The statue is five meters high and weighs four tons. The shapes symbolize the movement and dynamism of young people – represented in Saint Tarcisius, patron of altar servers around the world.

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