Who are Altar Servers?

As an Altar Server for St. Peter Parish you are one of the liturgical ministers of our Parish. It is a call from God to a special ministry in the Church. Altar Servers have special tasks to perform during liturgies, especially during the celebration of the Eucharist. The Altar Server is very important in helping God's people worship in the best possible way. The ministry of assisting in the sanctuary enhances the beauty of the celebration for all who have been gathered together to pray.

Requirements for Altar Server Candidates

• The ministry of Altar Server at St. Peter Parish welcomes both Adults and Children to serve.
• Already received their First Holy Communion.
• A strong desire to serve at the Altar of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
• Be an active member of the St. Peter Parish community and believe in the teachings of The Holy Catholic Church.
• Be willing to pray aloud and make appropriate responses during the Mass.
• Arrive at church at least 10 minutes before Mass starts.
• Stay alert and attentive during Mass to serve the priest.
• Take direction from Liturgical Coordinators for the Mass that you are serving.

How to sign up for Altar Server

if you are interested in becoming an altar server please let the office know and they will make arrangements for training and scheduling. Then every quarter pick up a schedule and check which days you are assigned.

Altar Server Scheduling

Before the start of the new quarter, fill out the server availability sheet to let the office know any days that your are NOT available in the coming quarter. Then when the schedule is ready for the coming quarter, pick up a schedule and check which days you are assigned.

If you are unable to serve during your scheduled time it is your responsibility to find a replacement. You will find the list of Altar Servers and their phone numbers in the Vestry.

Training for Altar Server Candidates

When you sign up to be an Altar Server, the office will arrange for an initial training session with you to prepare you for serving. You will be taught the duties and how to serve. You can also find the St. Peter Altar Server Guide on this website that describes the duties and how to serve, so that you will be able to study on your own. It's always a good idea to read through the Guide to become more confident about serving.

Following your initial training session you will be scheduled to serve as Altar Server at Mass. For your first few Masses, an experienced server will be there serving along side you guiding you through the Mass in progress and teaching you the duties. You will be scheduled frequently at first so that you can practice "on the job" and become confident at serving as Altar Server.

Don't worry if you forget something, you are not alone up there. You will be serving with a second Altar Server, both of you working together to fulfill the ministry of Altar Server and perform the duties. Father is also very helpful in prompting you when he needs you.