'Qwj\8ZeS\*uYU);Q%;*c-/ XA8e\ | So do what you do reverently and carefully. These are the candle holders who bear the candles. On Sundays and other more important occasions, two or more servers should be employed to carry out the various functions normally entrusted to these ministers. endstream Proper Decorum means maintaining a dignified external appearance. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. The Altar Servers therefore carry out various tasks in the context of the Mass, and are named after them, to distinguish themselves from each other. You may know it all but you are not good if you are not willing to learn. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. I was a fourth grade student when I became an altar server. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. If something goes wrong, don't show it! In some Christian denominations, altar servers are known as acolytes. They know to step in when an item is misplaced and smooth out any rough edges during the Mass. It doesnt mean that when you are the priests favorite, you are a good one. <> Editors note: The United State Conference of Catholic Bishops website includes an 11-point list of requirements potential altar servers must fulfill before service. It is a privilege to be called and a responsibility to be present and ready to serve! 0000002125 00000 n There are lots of reasons for becoming an Altar Server. Everyone in the procession will genuflect (except if you are holding something in your hands. Most priests' first memories of serving the Lord are as altar servers. Heres an idea: print out this post and give it to the person who trains your altar servers or make copies for the kids and their parents. Mu Qpx|4MZvd:t*Sa +8b`O0f'$'`uk\$Ni\DWH @t/DlZXiT2~'{RF|)6"2cXeb"6@,MPR9T W5~7d'|\!e; M sqW$ ;&&}O[jWO##?KIl%1q4=`,UY)W)W&s! 0000054891 00000 n If you are carrying a candle, bow your head before the altar. Here are seven reasons why becoming an altar server might be one of the best things you could choose to do. Contact your parish priest. Proper Decorum means maintaining a dignified external appearance. If you would like to find out more information on how to altar serve correctly. You dont have to wear dressy clothes because your cassock will cover that, but what people can see should look good. Do I need to change the pages for the priest if I'm an altar server? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 11. Not only during services, but also throughout everyday life, Altar Servers must live by following His example of love, generosity, commitment and precision. If young, the server is commonly called an altar boy or altar . Altar Servers are not the only assistants of the officiant during Mass: generally readers, choristers, acolytes move alongside them. A national survey of men being ordained priests found that three-quarters of new priests were at one time altar servers. Servers are required to arrive early to each Mass in order to determine their roles, prepare items and dress in their albs. [1] In 1905, Pope Pius X, gave his approbation to the canonical establishment of the Guild at Westminster Cathedral. Altar servers must memorize the Mass and commit to a regular schedule of service. \TI\Y@*;*- >WB *yt mmf^o2 wikiHow is a wiki, similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. Second, it is because you are there to serve. kERUuv\DtChm 0qK. Altar Servers are Jesus' 'friends', usually young people full of enthusiasm and willingness to take part in the activities of the Church by offering their contributions of love and devotion. endobj Father Christopher Smith, Executive Editor They recall a Such persons may carry out all the functions listed in no. 7 0 obj 13 0 obj That is why, recently, when I was asked by an altar server seeking advice from my Tiktok account, I shared to them two things, First, "Hindi kayo kurtina. endobj The reason of an altar server why he serves should not be the following: to be famous with his peers and to look more holy than them, and. LMYWx~8X=5o_? 9cMo6]#5aE3k{V. They should have already received holy communion for the first time and normally receive the eucharist whenever they participate in the liturgy. rdBV\ID_fs5m~\l]vM~]~.H HX35hO\-=W>@eDu3vjo/>wUhj Q, As your friendship develops, youll end up having many friends who all share your faith and this can lead to some brilliant conversations and great memories. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. The following is a list of specific responsibilities that the altar . Believe it or not that helps people to get into the right, reverent frame of mind for worship. In the procession, move at a stately pace. 10 0 obj That doesnt sound like a great place to start, but its true Father can do all the stuff you do at Mass. The place next to the priest is normally reserved for the deacon. Benefits of being an altar server. Servers carry the cross, the processional candles, hold the book for the priest celebrant when he is not at the altar, carry 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, assist the priest celebrant and deacon as necessary. In fact, besides cooperating with the Divine Server by helping him arrange what is required for the Eucharist, placing the liturgical objects on the altar and bringing the Missal, the Altar Servers also have to pray together with the believers, accompany them with hymns and, in general, operate as the priests servants and guides for the congregation. Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! A good altar server must be sensitive to the necessities of their parish, wherever there is a need. Msgr. A tendency of an altar server is to treat his service as a mere dance step. Home Religion The roles of Altar Servers. Serving at the . [1] Latin Church [ edit] Perhaps most important, Dawson notes, altar service encourages youngsters to consider others needs before their own and encourages their contributions to the greater good. They should not be serving if they are not present in these events. 0000000966 00000 n Altar Servers, more commonly known as altar boys, are children or teenagers who assist a priest during Mass. :Upv8*)/:I@&b~)A")G6{s_H& ucme&Ue5]u8) r65Hm]DLE'yju9U:p6`g.- This is our rallying sign! So you carry the cross silently and solemnly like a soldier in parade. You are not a mere display. Albs are usually girdled with a cincture, so be sure to put one on that is not too long and not too short. The server must be able to understand the Mass as well the server's role in the celebration. Altar service contributes to a servers maturity as they learn lessons and put their knowledge into practice. INTRODUCTION These guidelines are intended to assist both new and experienced altar servers in understanding the important role that the altar server plays in the holy celebraon of the Mass.The dues and responsibilies of the server must be taken seriously. start distribution to the altar servers and choir immediately). Servers are required to arrive early to each Mass in order to determine their roles, prepare items and dress in their albs. Servers respond to the prayers and dialogues of the priest along with the congregation. Are you an Altar Server? He is open. <> Therefore, an altar server should be active in his ongoing formation on the Catholic Faith and Liturgy. You may be a skilled server but if you are not active in your ministrys formation, practices, and meetings, you are not a good altar server. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The function of the Ceremonieri and Caudatario, How to become a deacon: duties and education, 10 liturgical lectern covers for your church, Ecclesiastic hierarchy within the Catholic Church, Saint Matthew, apostle, evangelist and martyr, Mind-Blowing Statistics About Christianity You Need to Know, Way of the Cross for children: how to tell your child about the 14 stations, The apparitions of Our Lady of Guadaloupe. Subsequently, the Ceroferari must accompany the priest during the proclamation of the Gospel, always standing on both sides. We constantly hear that there are too many demands on us. Youd be surprised how the worship changes when the altar servers are top notch. To be an altar server, you must be 10 years of age and entering into the 5th - 12th grade, have received your First Holy Communion, know how to genuflect properly and how to make the sign of the cross. Youre better than that! Maintaining the atmosphere of prayer consists in having a proper decorum. Ruskin Matthew Tan, an altar server of San Roque Cathedral Parish, serves beyond the altar of liturgy. In the Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Catholic churches, the nearest equivalent of acolyte is the altar server. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Which I think was a beautiful time where it was tradition to have men serving along side boys and/or . <> Its use is nonetheless optional, and occurs at different times of the Mass, usually at the beginning, on the entrance of the priest and his assistants, when the Gospel is being preached or before the consecration. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). The candles are used at the Gospel reading. That is why, recently, when I was asked by an altar server seeking advice from my Tiktok account, I shared to them two things, First, Maintaining the atmosphere of prayer consists in having a proper decorum. Altar servers learn the deeper meaning behind each step of the liturgy. %PDF-1.3 % The best preparation is to pray. Contact <> 0000000667 00000 n Your role, through your actions and conduct, is to bring the assembly to a fuller understanding of the liturgy and a greater love of God. Altar Servers are Jesus friends, usually young people full of enthusiasm and willingness to take part in the activities of the Church by offering their contributions of love and devotion. During the Preparation of . *XAY|xvg*/s}Uoo!V(C4,!lTuhNO*iN/) D|3tE[f H#X94. 5. A good altar server may not come by age. Our website provides Catholic Even if you do something wrong, nobody in the congregation notices so basically its always a winning situation! Not only during services, but also throughout everyday life, Altar Servers must live by following His example of love, generosity, commitment and precision. Pope Francis acknowledged the important role of altar servers during a special evening meeting and prayer that drew 9,000 youth from throughout Europe to St. Peters Square in early August 2015, according to the National Catholic Reporter. 'Jesus Revolution': Talking to Jonathan Roumie, Episcopal Woman Priest Says Abortionists are "Saints". It is a concrete way of participating in the community of faith.. Brown boots? You're supported by all your fellow servers, you have quite a large responsibly and rules to guide you. This pandemic has given our parish, San Roque Cathedral Parish, a chance to start a SERVING AT HOME program for our young altar servers who are not yet permitted to serve within the parish due to quarantine restrictions. The customer must be approached as early as possible and should receive their food as soon as possible. Its important to take time and take care. Remember, everything you do people are watching. <>/Metadata 14221 0 R/ViewerPreferences 14222 0 R>> stream Remember to choose an alb that fits you, coming down to your shoes. A Critique of Unfettered Do you care about the feelings of others? <> Altar Servers must follow the example of Jesus, who did not hesitate to place himself at the whole of humanitys service, and even sacrificed himself. `7.C-seF+;.ysuZ4-KSyF9L@z/uBm+5`#Cb(AcIlc 'GAg\3 Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. The procession is more than just walking into church The procession is an ancient religious ceremony in itself. E ye contact. endobj 714.282.3000, Editorial Council Chair Enjoy! endobj To create this article, 57 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. Being an altar server instructs children in order, care and poise. Try to wear it at around the same length as the other servers, but if you are unsure, again, ask a member of the clergy. Martin is the founder of Padyak Klasrum, a youth group whose mission is to teach children and aid the poorest of the poor. With a great range of ages and experiences, youll meet some fantastic people youd probably meet nowhere else. Wild tattoos and piercings? If young, the server is commonly called an altar boy or altar girl. endobj In addition to giving the celebration the necessary solemnity, the passage of the Crociferi also serves a very strong symbolic function, particularly during funeral processions: in fact, the passage of the cross symbolises the passage from death to life, which involves all the faithful who are supporters. When there are only two Altar Servers, there will be no candles in the opening and closing procession. Acolytes, altar servers, readers, and other lay ministers may wear the alb or other suitable vesture or other appropriate or dignified clothing. They learn to serve with love and to perform the smallest details beautifully. Often the Thurifer accompanies a Navicularius, the Altar Server assigned to the incense boat. This means they are called to serve as prayer leaders within their families. This is proper etiquette that is required. Altar Servers minister to either the Priest or Deacon during Liturgies such as (e.g., Mass, Confirmation) or devotional worship services (e.g., Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Stations). Altar Servers are about the same height and in the same grade, decide among yourselves before Mass who will be "Cross/Book" Server and "Candle" Servers. This is because we are live in a very fast paced life and to hear God we have to be silent and to go at Gods pace we have to slow down. s> \]9P 6 xrK7oE?q) Maverick De Vera is also an altar server who desires to translate the Holy Eucharist in his life through social action activities. Regarding this service, I would like to suggest some points for your reflection. ALTAR SERVERS . Candidates can be of any gender as long as their church agrees with the practice of including altar servers of another gender. wikiHow is a wiki, similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. The term "altar boys" should be replaced by "servers". When is Empathy Unhealthy? Servers must spring into action when mistakes are made. .pL28, UL_$w\bQatf5Ez_Z~(>IilPs"P[wzw6I~i\MMl_G`\uqn}@!G9] 2LgJ|LIOh,4ntp_ PJgy^rx7 JyoVr1[uS'dp;n rG%g2\O}80-R0TSbJap>-9T!qK2U!`M2U*| This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. An Altar Server is a member of the Church who participates in the celebration with the understanding that they are leaders of the assembly. A good altar server attends practices before serving. The Altar Server responsible for the books takes them from the altar to the pulpit, which is the raised structure for readings, and from the pulpit to the altar. a mature Christian - qualities that transcend chronological age. Incense has always been used during religious ceremonies, to give them solemnity and sacredness. The Altar Server is a boy or girl, a woman or man who is trained to help at the Mass so that it can be celebrated with grace and reverence. Attentiveness. 3. As you process into church you are leading everyone into the presence of God. 3 0 obj Punctuality. 0000000758 00000 n You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. We explore seven of them and look at why becoming one might be one of the best things you could do. Candidates should have made their First Communion. Never wear shoes with flashing lights. news, news about Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Catholic prayers, Catholic Mass Times and a church directory for 6 0 obj Requirements for Altar Serving Candidates, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/d3\/Be-an-Altar-Server-in-the-Catholic-Church-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Be-an-Altar-Server-in-the-Catholic-Church-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/d3\/Be-an-Altar-Server-in-the-Catholic-Church-Step-1.jpg\/aid378464-v4-728px-Be-an-Altar-Server-in-the-Catholic-Church-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"