A History of the Servants’ Entrance Sign

As I shelter at home, missing the people, and in-person liturgy (while enjoying the YouTube liturgies with Fr. Mike, et al),  I thought about our community and it mission.  That musing led me to the Servants’ Entrance sign.  I thought you might be interested in hearing about the origin of that important sign that is hanging in our sanctuary.  

It all started serendipitously, as many things do, when we (Pat and Mercy Nicosia) were visiting a brother-in-law and his family who were living in Germany while working for Ford Motor Co.  in the early 1990’s. When Sunday rolled around we went to Mass on an American base near Bonn.  The mass was vibrant and meaningful and was officiated by their beloved, Fr. Bill (last name unknown to me). During the homily he made several references to “the servants’ entrance” while gesturing to the rear of the church.  When I turned around to see what he was talking about, I remember thinking that God’s call to serve others had never been clearer.

I carried the memory of that sign and its message with me as we continued to travel around  Germany and eventually back home to Michigan.  I was excited to share that sign with fellow members of the Art and Environment Ministry where it was enthusiastically received. A woodworker member went to work on it, and the result is what you see hanging above the rear door of our sanctuary.  

This is an example of a symbol that beautifully sums up what we are about at St. John Fisher Chapel. When we walk out at the end of the Mass, we realize that, yes, the Servants’ Entrance is our going into the world having been formed by Word and Eucharist to carry on Jesus’ mission.  

Even though we are not currently physically together and able to pass through that particular servants’ entrance, our spirit and work can go on wherever we are until we can all pass through the Servants’ Entrance united in purpose and commitment to the values and beliefs of our dear St. John Fisher.  

God Bless All of You, Dear Servants!

Pat and Mercy Nicosia

May 3, 2020 (written during the Covid-19 Pandemic)