Have you ever felt the call to become an altar server? Or have you ever wondered who they are and what they do?An altar server is someone who feels a calling to serve, especially during the Eucharist, where their main role is to assist the priest. Like any other ministry within the Church, being an altar server is also a vocation—a special calling from God to serve Him and take part in Eucharistic celebrations.To better understand this role, we will explore the main activities, attire, behavior, and knowledge that an altar server should have.
1. The main activities of an altar server
Altar servers perform different tasks at different moments, which we can divide into three stages:
Before the Eucharist
- Say a prayer before each Mass.
- Prepare the liturgical ornaments that will be used in the Eucharist.
- Prepare the priest’s vestments.
- Review the missal and lectionary to ensure they are ready.
During the Eucharist
- Bring and remove liturgical ornaments from the altar according to each part of the Eucharist.
- Carry the candles to the ambo during the Gospel reading.
- Carry the candles during Communion.
- Hold the Missal (if they have prior knowledge).
After the Eucharist
- Assist the priest with his vestments.
- Store any offerings if there are any.
- Bow before the cross at the end of the service
2. The attire of an altar server.
The attire of altar servers, as approved by the diocese and the altar server regulations, consists of:
- A white rochet.
- A red alb.
Their vestments symbolize purity and are blessed on the day of their institution, so they must always be clean and in excellent condition.
An altar server is an altar server both inside and outside the church. This means that the altar server should always be an example of being helpful, obedient, disciplined, respectful, kind, and gentle in every place and at all times, under any circumstance, with family, friends, acquaintances, etc.
4. Knowledge of an altar server.
There are different essential knowledge areas that a server at the altar must understand, including:
- The liturgical ornaments and their functions.
- Parts of the Eucharist.
- Attitudes during the Eucharist.
- The priest’s vestments.
- Actions performed during baptism, communion, confirmation, marriage, etc.
- Actions performed according to each part of the Eucharist.
- When to kneel, bow, or make a reverence.
Dear children, if God has called you to this beautiful ministry, do not be afraid! Say yes, just as the Virgin Mary did. Believe me, you will not regret it
Andrea Tagua 3 BGU "A"
