The Altar Server Ministry is a liturgical ministry consisting of boys and girls in grades 4-12 who have received their First Communion.  It is a ministry to the liturgy of the Church, ensuring that the sacred rites are celebrated in a solemn manner, worthy of the mystery of God. 

Liturgy means “work of the people”.  This tells us that it is the responsibility of the faithful to work at worship.  Altar Serving is a privilege to be approached with respect and humility.  

Parents of Altar Servers partner with their child in this ministry.  We encourage parents to remember that even though they are not serving directly in the ministry, their participation and opinions regarding service in this ministry, the Pastor and his Parochial Vicars & Deacons, the Acolytes, and the Altar Server Coordinators, can affect a server’s desire to serve as well as their own formation as young disciples.  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.  

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.

4th grade: Observer to Apprentice

5th-6th grade: Server

7th-8th grade: Junior

9th-12th grade: Senior

The Elevation Service generally occurs on an evening in October.  Observers must serve a minimum of 10 Masses before they are eligible for elevation.  The observation period may be as short as 4 months, but this depends on how often the observer is signed up to serve.  Signing up to serve at Mass is the responsibility of the parents and observers by filling out an Information Sheet. The completed Altar Server Information Sheet is most beneficial to make sure that you are scheduled to serve Masses on a regular timetable. 

THE SCHEDULE FOR WEEKEND MASSES:

Saturday Vigil - 5:00 p.m.

Sunday - 6:00 a.m. (Spanish)

Sunday - 7:30 a.m.

Sunday - 9:30 a.m.

Sunday - 11:30 a.m.

Sunday - 1:30 p.m. (Spanish)

Sunday - 5:00 p.m. (Spanish)

St. Louis Altar Server Policies

Altar Servers must:

1. Attend the three mandatory Serviam Saturdays throughout the year as well as the fall business meeting unless there is a reasonable exception.  Reasonable exceptions are:

• Family emergency
• Illness of the server
• Academic tutoring or other academic activity
• Sudden transportation difficulties

Since the frequency of the three Serviam Saturdays is not too demanding, every effort should be made to attend said meetings.  Important information and materials are handed out at these meetings. All Servers are expected to attend.  Rehearsals or practice attendance prior to Elevation Services are mandatory in order to be elevated. 

2. Each server is expected to serve minimum 15 Masses per year.  (August 1st – July 31st).  This will keep the server in active status.

3.  Four Important Items:

• Arrive 30 minutes early for Mass
• Sign-in on the Altar Server Sheet
• Dress in server vestments
• Perform duties as designated by your assigned position.

Note: If a server fails to sign in, that Mass will not be counted toward the attendance requirements.

4.  Remember that we are Witnesses of Worship.  The following are important guidelines for being responsible witnesses to the Assembly:

• Participate in all prayers, hymns, and responses during Mass.  This is expected!
• Dress appropriately (long black pants and black shoes for boys, long pants or dresses and black shoes for girls)….school uniforms for school masses.  
• Make sure hands are clean and hair is neat prior to vesting. 

5.  Prayer Posture - Maintain respectful posture on the altar at all times (hands out of pockets and held in position of prayer when called for; sitting with feet down, hands in lap extended as shown in class).Be mindful that your hands need to be folded in a prayerful position with fingers pointed towards heaven!!!  Servers performing duties that require wearing the white gloves need to keep their gloves on until just before Communion time. Keep attention focused on the Mass.  Do not look around the church for parents and friends. Listen to the readings and the homily.  NO SLEEPING!  Be alert and prepared for any requests from the celebrant. Be kind and fair to each other at all times (not just on Sunday!)

6.  Find a substitute if you are to be absent; a directory is provided in order to recruit your own substitute.   Call the Director of Liturgy to submit the name of the substitute to be included on the Sign-In Sheet.  Please allow adequate time for yourself when finding a sub!

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 Liturgy. It is the responsibility of the family to update their Ministry Scheduler Pro (MSP) account each month with dates they are not available to serve.  Once the schedule is posted, if the server can no longer make that date, it is their responsibility to find a subsitute.

Any changes regarding addresses, phone numbers, or moves need to be reported to the Liturgy Office upon occurrence or updated in MSP. 

Once the schedule is created, printed, and distributed, your assigned times to serve are your responsibility.  

Should an emergency occur and prevent you from fulfilling your commitment to serve, please contact the Liturgy Office at 512-454-0384 ext. 213 with the name of the substitute who will take your place, or email [email protected]. 

You are responsible for recruiting your own substitute.  A directory will be provided for that purpose in MSP.

Parents of new observers are asked to indicate on the Information Sheet the preferred times to serve.  The Sign-In Sheet will reflect your choice of service time.  Please remember to have your child sign-in on the IPAD each time they observe!!  Remember 10 Masses are needed to be elevated.

The Office of Liturgy will do everything possible to allow each server to be scheduled for the minimum Masses required. 

Note: due to the high number of preferences for the 9:30 and 11:30 Sunday morning Masses, some servers at those times may not make the minimum requirement.  We do not have room on the altar for a dozen or more servers, nor do we have enough vestments for such numbers.  Therefore, we cannot simply increase the number of servers at these Masses. We ask that families please be flexible and open to serving at other Masses times, especially during the observation period.

• Choose to serve at the Saturday 5:00 p.m. Vigil or the Sunday 7:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. (Spanish), or the 5:00 p.m. (Spanish) Masses.
• Choose to serve any of the daily Masses, any funeral Masses, or special feast day Masses.

Server Position Descriptions

Primary Torches

APPRENTICES & SERVERS

Lead in the procession, lead out the recessional, stand in front of altar during Communion, and wash hands

Secondary Torches

APPRENTICES & SERVERS  

(Always Using Primary Torches) Proceed with the Gospel, and proceed with the Offertory

Tertiary Torches

APPRENTICES

Process and Recessional, and standing in sanctuary during communion 

American Flag

Bring water cruet to altar before and after Communion, Help with clearing the altar at the preparation of Communion and after Communion is over, and 10 Minutes prior to Mass, light candles

Juniors

Papal Flag

Ring bells at Consecration, and 10 Minutes prior to Mass, light candles 

Juniors

Banner

Help American Flag with duties

Juniors

Crucifer

Assists the Priest with Roman Missal 

Seniors

Thurifer

SENIORS

Boat

Assists the Priest with incense

Any Level

Sacred Vessels & Appointments

Serving At Mass

Before Mass                                                                         

DRESS

The server gets vested in cassock and surplice.  Servers should pick a cassock that is not too long, not too short; the cassock should come to the server’s shoe-top. 

Altar Servers wear black dress shoes when serving on the altar.  There can be found dressed black shoes in the Sacristy to wear in order to observe this requirement. 

Servers are to arrive 30 minutes before their assigned Mass.  They need to wear church clothes.  Hair should be clean and combed.  Girl altar servers should have their hair pulled back away from their face.  Fashion accessories are discouraged while serving on the altar. 

After all set up is complete the servers may put on their Surplices.  The Surplice size should match the Cassock size.

PREPARATION OF THE VESSELS AND BOOKS

Senior servers or acolytes prepare the cruets: one with fresh water, the other with wine. The PATEN or CIBORIUM should be prepared; one large altar-bread should be put on it (this duty is usually performed by the acolyte on duty).  Servers place the cruets, wine flagon, and the Paten or Ciborium on the offertory table at the rear of the church. 

The necessary books should be in their proper places in the sanctuary:  the Lectionary should be on the Ambo, unless the Lector processes in with it; the Sacramentary along with the Presider’s (priest) binder should be on the arm rest between the crucifer and priest chairs.  Hymnals/song sheets should be at each of the servers’ seats.

About ten minutes before Mass begins, the servers light the candles on or near the altar:  two, four or six candles are lighted.  The two candles near the tabernacle where the Blessed Sacrament is reposed are also lit. 
 

AT MASS

When the priest is ready, the Crucifer leads the servers, lectors, acolytes, deacon, and the priest to the altar in procession.  The servers process two by two, with hands folded upward in front of their chests unless they are carrying the processional cross, candles, flags or banners.    The entrance usually begins from the side chapel. 

If the servers pass by the tabernacle on the way to the altar, they stop and genuflect facing the tabernacle.  No genuflection is necessary for servers carrying items.  All servers continue to their designated sitting places.

After the washing of the hands, the servers return the pitcher and water basin to the sacristy, pour any remaining water out; place the towel in the towel bin and return the basin and pitcher to the assigned cabinet. 
 

After Mass

CLEAN UP

The servers extinguish the candles.  The hymnals or worship aids used during the Mass need to be removed from the altar server chairs and returned to the sacristy.  The processional cross, flags and banners need to be returned to their proper storage areas.

Altar servers then remove their surplice and cassock (or alb and cincture) and carefully hang them on hangers in the proper place.  Make sure that your vestment (surplice and cassock) is carefully hung and stored in the proper closet.