The Altar Server Ministry is an ancient tradition in the Catholic church that continues on today. Altar servers assist the priests and deacons with sincere devotion and decorum in the spirit of the Liturgy for Eucharistic celebrations, Sacraments, funeral masses, benediction, and prayer services. The server role, when conducted with grace and reverence, add significantly to the sacredness fo the rituals and help the assembly participate more fully and more prayerfully.
This ministry allows the youth of the parish to become involved and contribute to the Liturgy of the Mass by serving others.
Typical duties of the server are to carry the processional cross, the processional candles, the incense and boat, to assist with the Roman Missal and the liturgical books used in the liturgy, to assist the Bishop with his miter and crozier and to assist in preparing the altar.
Altar Servers must have a strong desire to serve at the Altar of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. An applicant must have made their First Eucharist, be a member of St. John the Evangelist Parish, and be in 4th grade or higher. They must know how to genuflect, make the sign of the cross, be willing to pray aloud, and know the appropriate responses during Mass. It is most important that as a server is to be attentive, sit quietly during Mass, and show reverence at the Altar of the Lord. In addition to the new altar server training, you must also attend training meetings and rehearsals for special celebrations.
New server training occurs in the Fall and announcements will be made in the bulletin.