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You have been
chosen. You have been asked to become a part of a very special group of people:
the Cathedral parish’s altar servers. Perhaps it was a priest, a teacher in
your religion class, or even your parent who made the invitation to you. But
keep in mind: it was God who made the call. God wants you to play a very
special part in the life of this parish. He wants you to help your parish
worship by being a server. It is important to realize that you have received a
call from God to serve. God does not call strangers, he calls friends. And he
has called you, as scripture says, “by your name.”
Servers are important ministers in the
liturgical celebration. You are part of the peoples prayer and must know well
the duties of an altar server so they are second nature to you. This leaves you
free to concentrate on your involvement in prayer. You are probably thinking,
“Who me…lead prayer?” Young people have been serving Mass from the earliest
centuries. They have been lighting candles, carrying the Cross, carrying the
books and saying the prayers. More than anything else, the server is a prayer
leader. All the things servers have to do during the Mass can not be a
distraction to the people’s worship.
The server is part of the liturgical
celebration. The server is not like a server in a restaurant who stands off to
the side and only helps out occasionally. The server is part of the
celebration, working all the time. The people in the assembly will see you
participating through your actions, praying, listening, and singing. This will
help them to feel more comfortable about praying and singing themselves. This
is your first leadership job: to be a prayer leader.
It takes quite a few people to celebrate Mass
well. Remember the word “liturgy” means the work of the people. In our
Cathedral parish there can be as many as fifty or sixty people ministering (if
you count the choir). As a server at Mass you must be familiar with the sacred
vessels, the sanctuary furniture, the sacred books. Know what they are, where
they are kept and how to use them.
The Ministry of Altar Serving is open to boys
and girls in the 5th grade through 12th grade. Servers in
the 5th through 8th grades must either be attending St.
Jude School or the Parish School of Religion. 9th through 12th
graders must have received the Sacrament of Confirmation. If you feel you are
being called to the Ministry of Altar Serving, please contact
Paulette Purvis,
Coordinator of Liturgy, 347-9702 for an
application form.
Now that you are about to become an altar
server, remember this is a commitment, there are people counting on you. First,
the priest depends on you. He needs to know you will be there on time. He
needs to know you are prepared. You help the priest ensure things go smoothly.
Remember also the people in the assembly count on you.
Without you an important part of prayer
leadership is missing. And finally, remember to be responsible. You have been
called to serve. Your parish is grateful that you have responded to God’s call.
We also have a need for adult men and women as
altar servers for the daily 8:15 and 11:00 AM Masses in the Chapel.
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