What Is an Altar Server?
From the Introduction to the
Saint Paul the Apostle Parish Altar Server Handbook,
by Fr. Paul Schreiner
Welcome to the ministry of Altar Server at Saint Paul the Apostle Parish! Your willingness to serve is a blessing to all the people who will come to the parish church to worship and praise God. The church is grateful for your generous gift of time and talent.
To be an Altar Server is a special honor and a great privilege in the Catholic Church. As an Altar Server, you can trace your roots to the order of acolyte, a ministry that once was reserved only for those who were going to be ordained priests! You can look upon being an Altar Server as a special and unique ministry by which you can begin your christian vocation to spread the word and the love of Christ through your actions and words. Even though it is a very important ministry, it is not difficult, and this handbook will help you with the things that you need to know in order to fulfill your commitment.
The ministry of Altar Server is open to men and women and to boys and girls fourth grade and up. Altar Servers are not ordained, but they are commissioned for service by the pastor of the parish and publicly inducted into service.
The main role of the Altar Server is to assist the priest and deacon in the celebration of the liturgy. The most common liturgy we celebrate is the Mass. Sometimes we celebrate other liturgies including: baptisms, weddings, funerals, stations of the cross, and Eucharistic Adoration. Servers perform specific actions and set an example to the assembly by their active participation in the liturgy: by their actions, singing of hymns, responses, looking alert, and keeping an appropriate posture.
To be an Altar Server is a special honor and a great privilege in the Catholic Church. As an Altar Server, you can trace your roots to the order of acolyte, a ministry that once was reserved only for those who were going to be ordained priests! You can look upon being an Altar Server as a special and unique ministry by which you can begin your christian vocation to spread the word and the love of Christ through your actions and words. Even though it is a very important ministry, it is not difficult, and this handbook will help you with the things that you need to know in order to fulfill your commitment.
The ministry of Altar Server is open to men and women and to boys and girls fourth grade and up. Altar Servers are not ordained, but they are commissioned for service by the pastor of the parish and publicly inducted into service.
The main role of the Altar Server is to assist the priest and deacon in the celebration of the liturgy. The most common liturgy we celebrate is the Mass. Sometimes we celebrate other liturgies including: baptisms, weddings, funerals, stations of the cross, and Eucharistic Adoration. Servers perform specific actions and set an example to the assembly by their active participation in the liturgy: by their actions, singing of hymns, responses, looking alert, and keeping an appropriate posture.
You can read more about the required knowledge, duties, attitude and posture for Altar Servers and the complete description of Altar Server training in the Saint Paul the Apostle Parish Altar Server Handbook. Each person who is trained to be an Altar Server receives a copy of the handbook.
Century Farms Awards Mass - September 20, 2017
Altar Servers with (from L to R) Fr. Paul Schreiner, Bishop Daniel Thomas,
Deacon Jim Reichert, and Msgr. Ken Morman.
(Click Image to Enlarge)
Altar Servers with (from L to R) Fr. Paul Schreiner, Bishop Daniel Thomas,
Deacon Jim Reichert, and Msgr. Ken Morman.
(Click Image to Enlarge)
How to Become an Altar Server
Training for new Altar Servers is scheduled several times throughout the year for students in the 4th grade through high school. When future training dates are scheduled, they will be announced in the bulletin and on this website.
After you have attended one of the training sessions, your parents must fill out a Commitment Form in order to be scheduled on the calendar. The Altar Server Commitment Form, 2017-2018 is a letter to parents that describes the commitment their child wants to make and the support that parents are expected to give to their child in this endeavor. The filled-out form can be returned either to the school or to the Parish Office.
If you have any questions, please call Fr. Andrew Wellman at 419-668-6044, ext. 225, or email him at frandrew@stpaulchurch.org.
After you have attended one of the training sessions, your parents must fill out a Commitment Form in order to be scheduled on the calendar. The Altar Server Commitment Form, 2017-2018 is a letter to parents that describes the commitment their child wants to make and the support that parents are expected to give to their child in this endeavor. The filled-out form can be returned either to the school or to the Parish Office.
If you have any questions, please call Fr. Andrew Wellman at 419-668-6044, ext. 225, or email him at frandrew@stpaulchurch.org.
Pope Francis Encourages Altar Servers:
"The closer you are to the altar, the more you will remember to speak with Jesus
in daily prayer; the more you will be nourished by the word and the body of the
Lord, the better able you will be to go out to others, bringing them the gift that
you have received, giving in turn with enthusiasm the joy you have received."
"The closer you are to the altar, the more you will remember to speak with Jesus
in daily prayer; the more you will be nourished by the word and the body of the
Lord, the better able you will be to go out to others, bringing them the gift that
you have received, giving in turn with enthusiasm the joy you have received."
Saint John Berchmans, Patron Saint of Altar Servers
The eldest son of a shoemaker, John Berchmans was born March 13, 1599, in Driest, Belgium, where he was an ordinary young man who knew early in his life that he wanted to be a priest. During his life, he loved serving at the altar, praying the rosary, meditating about the crucifix, and striving for holiness. In 1615, he entered the Jesuit College and became a Jesuit novice the following year. He was sent to Rome in 1618 to continue his studies but died there on August 12, 1621, while still a seminarian. After his death, many miracles were attributed to him, and he was beatified on May 28, 1865, by Pope Pius IX, and canonized on January 15, 1888, by Pope Leo XIII. His feast day is November 26.
There is a website devoted to St. John Berchmans, and articles about him can also be found at Wikipedia and in the Catholic Encyclopedia.
There is a website devoted to St. John Berchmans, and articles about him can also be found at Wikipedia and in the Catholic Encyclopedia.
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More Information
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Pope Francis' Address to Altar Servers
The Life, Death and Miracles of St. John Berchmans [sjbdevotion.org] St. John Berchmans [video - YouTube] |
