Young adults, teens, and youth (4th grade or 9 years old and older) who have completed their First Holy Communion and are of good faith are welcome and encouraged to become an altar server. All that is required is a desire to serve at the Altar of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Each candidate must complete an application and a period of training. Applicants will receive appropriate training to get started. During the training period servers will learn basic information about the Catholic Church and the Mass. Servers will observe others and learn how to carry out specific tasks while serving at the Altar.
An altar server must be willing and interested to participate in this ministry on their own accord and not by parental or peer pressure. A reluctant or disinterested server is a distraction to the celebrant, other servers, and the entire community. Similarly, parents must undertake an active role in supporting their child in this ministry by ensuring that he/she arrives to the assigned Mass on time. In addition, altar servers must:
• be an active member of the parish community
• believe in the teachings of The Holy Catholic Church
• have already made their First Confession and their First Holy Communion
• at least a rising 4th grader or 9 years old by September of commissioning year
• adults (18 years old and older) must also have a current Ethics and Integrity in Ministry (EIM) certification
This application is for the Ordinary Form of the Mass.