Altar Servers

4th graders through high school students assist in the Mass celebration on Sundays, funerals, weddings, and special services.  For more information, please contact the parish office.

The primary role of the altar server is to assist the priest in the celebration of the liturgy during Mass. This is done through specific actions and by setting an example to the congregation by active participation in the liturgy by their actions, singing of hymns, responses of the people, looking alert and sitting or standing at the appropriate times.

The servers first duty is to help prepare for the Mass. The server should arrive at the Church early, usually 15 to 20 minutes before Mass, to perform the appropriate setup for their parish.  Every altar server must attend every Mass they are scheduled for. When a server cannot be present, that server must arrange for a replacement.  Altar servers are on duty from the time they enter the sanctuary at the start of Mass until the priest exits at the end of Mass.

Servers have many specific duties depending on the priest celebrating Mass. These duties include serving the wine and water to the priest or deacon, washing the priests hands, standing, sitting and kneeling.  Among other duties, servers carry the cross, hold the book for the priest when he is not at the altar, carry the incense and censer, and assists the priest when he receives the gifts from the people, wash the hands of the priest, assist the priest celebrant and deacon as necessary.