Any parish youth who have received their First Holy Communion and who are interested in serving at the altar during parish Masses, school Masses, and other liturgies, are invited to sign up. Training is required. For information contact Donrita at [email protected].
I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do. John 13:15
The acolyte [formally instituted by the local bishop] is instituted for service at the altar and to assist the Priest and Deacon…and may act as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion.
General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 98
In the absence of an instituted acolyte, there may be deputed lay ministers to serve at the altar and assist the Priest and the Deacon; these carry the cross, the candles, the thurible, the bread, the wine, and the water, or who are even deputed to distribute Holy Communion as extraordinary ministers.
General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 98, 100
The liturgy is the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed; at the same time it is the fount from which all the Church’s power flows.
Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, 10
The faithful, moreover, should not refuse to serve the People of God in gladness whenever they are asked to perform some particular service or function in the celebration.
General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 97
Destined as [they are] in a special way for the service of the altar, the [server] should learn all matters concerning public divine worship and strive to grasp their inner spiritual meaning: in that way [they will] be able each day to offer [themselves] entirely to God, be an example to all by [their] seriousness and reverence in the sacred building, and have a sincere love for the Mystical Body of Christ, the people of God, especially the weak and the sick.
Pope Paul VI
Holy Trinity Parish invites members of the parish community to participate in a Ministry of Altar Servers to assist the priest as an example of reverence during the sacred liturgy.
Servers must be baptised members of the Church and have also received their 1st Eucharist.
They need to be carefully trained and commissioned before taking up their ministry. Once training is completed, servers will be commissioned during a parish weekend Mass, at which they are blessed for their ministry.
For these…servers, that the light of Christ may shine in their hearts, we pray to the Lord.
Book of Blessings, 1853
Servers will need to be very familiar with the order of the Mass and the layout of the worship space. It is important to note that these arrangements will vary from church to church. Some important elements to this ministry are: