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Click to view the Spring/Summer 2007 Altar Server Schedule

 
Saint Robert Bellarmine Weekend Altar Server Ministry
 
What do altar servers do?
 
Altar Serving is a ministry of service to the priests and the parish community.  Are
you, your children or grandchildren being called to this ministry of service? 
Pray, read more about it, and inquire!

The role of the altar server is to assist the priest during liturgies.  Altar
servers carry the cross, candles and incense in processions.  During Mass, they
bring the Sacred Vessels to the Altar before the presentation of the gifts.  Servers
assist with the wine, water and hand washing of the priest before the Consecration,
and they return Sacred Vessels and liturgical items to the credence table after
Communion.  Experienced youth and adult altar servers are trained to assist during
Benediction, and at wedding and funeral liturgies.

 
 
History of altar servers
Altar servers began to assist priests at Masses in the 9th century as young men
assumed the role of ordained acolytes while considering a religious vocation as a
deacon or priest. The office of acolyte was a minor order until 1972, when Pope Paul
VI reclassified it as a ministry. In 1983, the revised Code of Canon Law allowed in
principle for women to serve in the Sanctuary, but it wasn't 1994 that Pope John
Paul II definitively permitted women to serve at the altar.

 
 
 
Who can serve at St Robert Parish?
 
Students entering the fourth grade, as well as older students and adults may become altar servers.  Training sessions are scheduled from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM on the 4th Saturday of every month, with some exceptions occurring in the months of May, August, November and December when we train on the 3rd Saturday.
The training class is purposefully limited to six students per class. Students must
pre-register by contacting one of the trainers.  Contact the parish office or check
the bulletin for a trainer's name and phone number. Training is held in Fr. Jacobs
Library in the church basement.  The class will move to the vestry and the church,
provided there is not a wedding or funeral Mass.  Training sessions provide hands-on activity acquainting students with appropriate dress and behavior, familiarity
with Sacred Vessels and liturgical items used at Mass, and a walk-through the duties of servers before, during and after Mass.  Students may be encouraged to attend training several times until they know and are comfortable with their duties.

 

For an Altar Servers Mom, Dad or Guardian
 

Are you F.A.M.O.U.S ?  ( Father And/or Mother Of an Untidy Server)  If you suspect that you may  be F.A.M.O.U.S., or even if you are not, we need your help, or suggestions on how to tidy up some loose ends in the Altar Server Ministry.  Please offer your support so your child’s ministry may become the best that it can be!  Please let us know which support activity you are willing to assist with, or just do the first one quietly and surprise the church Sacristans, the Choir members, the Ushers, the Priests and everyone else who tells us weekly: “Do something about the Altar Server Albs on the floor in the Vestry!”

 

After the Mass your youth serves, check the Vestry, the room in the church basement where the Albs are hung, to make sure that your child’s

1.      Alb is on a hanger, rather than the floor and

2.      The Albs are organized by size so that the next servers don’t have to hurriedly try on and re-hang several to find their size.  Some Albs and their occupants have been as wrinkled as raisins! 

3.      If an Alb your child routinely wears needs cleaning or repair, remove it from the rack take it home and wash it (warm water, wrinkle free drying) stitch it, and/or replace the Velcro strips.

4.      Do you know of an easier hanger to use for hanging up an Alb? Albs are even hard for an adult to hang on the current hangers (Suggestions, please! Experimental hangers are welcome).

 The Recognition Team develops the needed resources, plans, promotes and implements an Annual Altar Server Recognition Event. For the past two years the team organized a survey of the servers, the majority of whom selected to have a pizza party at the Flushing Country Club Pool in late summer.

 Clerical help, three times per year, to fold, stuff, and seal the schedules and lists for mailing.  This could be a family or scout service activity.  Would you willingly be on a telephone list of people to stuff and seal (less than 65) envelopes?

Training And Guidance (TAG) Team parent, help orient and  train new Altar Servers.  We currently train servers on the 4th Saturday each month;  exceptions occur in May, August, November and December when we train on the 3rd Saturday.  The pastor and pastoral associate review & approve the training manual; we train by the book  &  “role” coach!

 Contact an Altar Server Trainer or the Parish Office for more information !

Our office phone number is 810-659-2501


 

 

 
 
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