Altar Server
Serving God and our parish at the altar.
The mission of a Catholic altar server is to assist the priest and deacon during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and other liturgical celebrations with reverence, dignity, and devotion, facilitating a smooth and prayerful worship experience for the community. Servers fulfill practical duties such as carrying the processional cross and candles, holding the Missal, preparing the altar, and ringing bells during the consecration, all while acting as a servant of God and a representative of the people present.
Altar Server
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Who We Are
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Key Responsibilities
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Significance
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Who Can Serve
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Contacts and More
Altar servers assist the priest and deacon during liturgical celebrations like the Mass by performing practical tasks such as carrying the processional cross and candles, holding the liturgical books, preparing the altar, presenting the gifts, and ringing the bells. This ministry, often performed by young people but also by adults, helps to facilitate a smooth and reverent liturgy, enhancing the community’s participation in the Mass and allowing servers to serve God and the Church in a meaningful way.
Key Responsibilities:
- Processional Duties: Carry the processional cross and processional candles to and from the altar.
- Book Holding: Hold the Roman Missal (the book of prayers) for the priest or deacon when they are not at the altar.
- Altar Preparation: Assist with preparing the altar and sacred vessels before the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
- Gifts Presentation: Help with the presentation of the bread and wine during the Offertory.
- Ringing Bells: Ring the altar bells at the consecration to draw attention to this solemn moment.
- Hand Washing: Assist the priest with washing his hands at the appropriate time.
Significance of the Ministry:
- Enhances Reverence: The service of altar servers adds dignity and solemnity to the Mass, creating a prayerful atmosphere.
- Aids the Liturgy: Their coordinated actions help the Mass flow smoothly, allowing the congregation to focus on the sacred mysteries of the Eucharist.
- Spiritual Growth: Altar serving offers a profound way to participate in the worship of God and can help young people draw closer to the Church’s teachings and potentially inspire a vocation to the priesthood.
- Community Involvement: It is a vital ministry for parish members, providing a way to serve the community and its clergy with commitment and reverence.
In the Catholic Church, altar servers assist the priest or deacon during the liturgy and are chosen from baptized, confirmed, and communicant parishioners who are mature enough to understand and fulfill the duties. Eligibility for boys and girls generally begins around the 4th or 5th grade, and while it’s an important role, the priest or parish has the discretion to allow individuals of any age, male or female, to serve, provided they meet the qualifications and are approved.
If you are interested in serving as an Altar Server, please call the Parish Office to arrange a conversation with our Altar Server Coordinator.
Contacts:
- Father Richard Groff is our Altar Server Coordinator.
Please call the Parish Office at (717) 665-2465 to arrange for a conversation with Father Rich.