Altar Servers
Altar Servers assist the priest/celebrant at Mass. At special celebrations, such as weddings,
funerals and Holy Days, altar servers will assist and need to know the special
liturgical rites and rituals. They may be called on to serve at St. Michael’s
Cemetery for the Memorial Day Mass.
Ministering to the Church
During their training,
altar servers are told that this is their first ministry in the church. As such,
it affords them opportunities to become more involved in the church, as well as
instilling in them individual virtues. Altar servers learn responsibility and
organization. They are required to find substitutes if they are unable to
attend their scheduled Mass. In addition, they must understand and carry out
the duties they are to perform at Mass. Being an altar server teaches
promptness and preparation. Altar servers must arrive at the church 15 minutes
before the scheduled Mass time to prepare themselves and the altar for Mass. In
addition, servers should check in with the Mass coordinators at whichever Mass
they attend to see if their services are needed.
Who Can Be an Altar Server?
Those boys and girls
who wish to be altar servers must have completed their fifth grade at St.
Hubert’s School or a public school at the time of the initial training, which
takes places in May. St. Hubert’s normally conducts three training sessions in
May, and the candidates are asked to attend two out of the three sessions. The
parish offers training sessions for funeral Masses in September. All training
sessions take place in the church proper, so that the prospective candidates
will be familiar with liturgical objects, such as the Sacramentary, Lectionary,
ambo, credence table, etc. Candidates will become familiar with the tools they
will use during Mass, such as candles, cross, thurible, etc. During the course
of training, candidates will learn where and how to robe in the sacristy, the
correct procedure for processing into the Church and leaving at the end of Mass,
and positions they should assume during the course of the service.
Time Commitment
There is no time commitment for altar servers. Generally speaking, most altar servers serve
between the 6th and 8th grades, although they are most welcome to
continue serving throughout high school.
For More Information
Persons interested in learning more about serving as alter servers should fill out the
Contact Information Form, call the St. Hubert Ministry Center
847-885-7700, or email the parish office:
catholic@sainthubert.org.
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