St. Luke Church Altar Servers

"I see altar serving as an honor and a way to strongly express my faith. My mom also says that because I am an altar server I get “special graces.” Most of all I enjoy being an altar server because it is a great way for me to show how much I love Jesus.”

Alter ServersIn the Roman Catholic Church, altar servers (boys and girls) help the priest and deacon during the liturgy, especially the Holy Mass, funerals, weddings, and other special occasions. They have several supporting duties to carry out, such as carrying the processional cross and candles, carry the incense and thurible, holding the missal for the priest celebrant when he is not at the altar, assisting the priest when he receives the gifts from the people, washing the hands of the priest before the prayer over the gifts, removing items from the altar during communion, and assisting the priest celebrant as necessary. Altar servers wear the alb or the cassock and surplice during a liturgy.

Children who are in grade 3 and above are encouraged to become alter servers. The active participation in serving at the altar of God gives people graces, joys and benefits. God blesses altar servers with additional graces separate from the graces received from participating in the Holy Mass. There are also joys from serving, such as satisfaction at helping the priest celebrate Mass also satisfaction from praising God in a different way. There are also a multitude of benefits such as learning the order of Mass, a chance to meet new people and build self-esteem.

If this has encouraged you or someone you know to become an altar server please contact Steve Autieri or meet the priest or deacon after any mass. We will be pleased to incorporate you in the altar server group at St. Luke Church. There will be training sessions for new candidates.