Boys and girls in grades 4-12 who have received their First Communion are eligible to join the program. They must complete a period of observation where they spend time watching other servers and the liturgy at the altar. After their observation period, server candidates are elevated to their appropriate server level, based on their grade and/or age and become active members of the server team.

Requirements to join the altar server program:
- Family is registered parishioners at St. Louis Catholic Church.
- Student has received their First Communion.
- Student has completed the 3rd grade or has turned 9 years old by October 1st.

Parents of altar servers partner with their child in this ministry. The baptismal rites of the Church explain that the parents are to be the first teachers of their children in the faith. Parenting an altar server is a perfect opportunity to embrace this commitment to God. We encourage parents to remember that even though they, as parents, are not serving directly in
the ministry, it is their duty to promote altar service in a professional and courteous manner, consistent with the loving discipline of our faith, the love of the sacred liturgy, and the community of St. Louis.

Altar Server Ranks

There are several ranks of altar servers.  Each rank performs certain functions during Mass. The Altar Server Coordinators, made up of Acolytes, Parent Volunteers, and Senior Altar Servers, train all ranks of servers.

Regardless of grade status, each rank is only served for these set number of years (i.e., can only be at Senior level for 4 years, Junior level for 2 years, etc.).

Observers must serve a minimum of 8 Masses before they are eligible for elevation. Elevation is dependent on successful completion of the observation program. In addition to observers, students moving to a higher rank are also invited to elevation. Parents and altar servers will be notified by the office if they will be elevated in a particular year to the next level. The ceremony is generally held in October, and the date will be announced.

Altar Server obligations & expectations

All altar servers are expected to attend the mandatory Serviam Saturdays:

• family emergency;
• illness of the server;
• academic tutoring or other academic activity; or
• sudden transportation difficulties.

Servers are required to:

• arrive 30 minutes before the scheduled time for Mass (no exceptions--if you are late and another server has already been found as a replacement, you will have lost your position to serve that Mass);
• sign-in on the iPad (if iPad is not working, sign-in on paper);
• perform duties as designated by their assigned position;
• be respectful;
• be well-groomed; and
• wear proper attire.

All altar servers are expected to follow these important guidelines for being responsible witnesses of worship to the assembly during the Mass:

• Participate in all prayers, hymns, and responses.
• Maintain respectful posture on the altar at all times.
• Keep attention focused on the Mass.

• If a server is unable to fulfill a scheduled shift, the server must find a substitute of the same rank or higher to fill the schedule. Substitutes may be requested through the online ministry program (MSP). Please allow adequate time for yourself when finding a sub.

• All servers are required to serve at a minimum 15 times per year. There are many opportunities to substitute or volunteer for special Masses that are not Sunday liturgies.

Scheduling of Altar Servers

The altar server schedules for weekend Masses as well as Holy Days of Obligation, St. Louis School Masses, and other church services are prepared by the Office of Engagement and Worship. Any changes regarding family addresses, phone numbers, Mass preference, or recurring scheduling conflicts need to be changed in the Ministry Scheduler Pro (MSP) application and reported to the ministry coordinator.

The schedules are prepared monthly. Once the schedule is created, posted, and distributed, a server’s assigned times to serve are theirs and their family’s responsibility.

Preferred times are respected. However, due to the high number of preferences for certain Masses, some servers are not able to serve as often. Servers may serve more by being available for multiple Mass times, serving at funeral Masses, or picking up substitute requests.

Altar Servers are responsible for recruiting their own substitutes. Should an emergency occur which prevents a server from fulfilling their commitment to serve, they may request another server to substitute for them by filling out the sub request form in the MSP app. Servers should include their rank in the request. For example, in the Comments field, the server or parents should write “Illness--Junior level, please.” Servers should accept sub requests at their rank to ensure that the work of the liturgy is properly distributed. An apprentice, for instance, has not been trained to carry flags, but most juniors have. Please contact the Engagement and Worship Office for more information.