Altar Servers

It is an honor, a privilege and a great responsibility to take part in the Liturgy by assisting the priest at the altar.

"You will be little apostles who obtain the graces of the Lord for so many souls, and prepare for yourselves a great and precious treasure in heaven."

— John Paul II, Message to Altar Servers, 28, Feb. 1987

Requirements to be an Altar Server

• Servers should be mature enough to understand their responsibilities and carry them out well and with appropriate reverence. They should be Baptized, have already received Holy Communion for the first time, and normally receive the Eucharist whenever they participate in the Liturgy.
• Servers should be at least 10 years old and in the 5th grade.
• Servers should be an active member of the parish community and believe in the teachings of the Holy Catholic Church.
• Parental/Guardian approval of participation is required for the Altar Server Ministry.

Altar Server Responsibilities

• Servers carry the cross, the incense and censer, present the bread, wine and water to the priest during the preparation of the gifts or assist him when he receives the gifts from the people, wash the hands of the priest, and assist the priest celebrant as necessary.
• Servers respond to the prayers and dialogues of the priest along with the congregation. They also join in singing the hymns and other chants of the liturgy.

Documents

Our online documents are typically PDF files. To view PDF files, you'll need a viewer like Adobe Reader.

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Altar Server Instructions

Altar Server Prayers

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Altar Server's Prayer

Open my mouth, O Lord, to bless your Holy Name. Cleanse my heart from all evil and distracting thoughts.

Enlighten my understanding and inflame my will that I may serve more worthily at your holy altar.

O Mary, Mother of Christ the High Priest, obtain for me the most important grace of knowing my vocation in life.

Grant me a true spirit of faith and humble obedience so that I may ever behold the priest as a representative of God and willingly follow Him in the Way, the Truth, and the Life of Christ.

Amen.