Wednesday, July 18, 2007

New Altar Server

Kenzie is sooo excited. Altar server training class was scheduled for tonight and she's been anxiously awaiting this day for months now. Needless to say, she came home from the class beaming. =)

Alex came home from youth group tonight talking about a white water rafting trip that is scheduled for the middle of next month. That got Connor thinking because his youth group is also able to go on the same trip so it looks like we will be losing both boys for a couple days next month. ;)

5 comments:

Michelle-ozark crafter said...

I just love the stories about your kids! So sweet!

Martha said...

I'm not too familiar with the Catholic church. What does an altar server do? I'm assuming it has to do with communion.

Andy said...

If they arrive to church early enough, the altar servers make sure all the candles get lit (and blown out at the end). Altar servers assist the priest in the entire Mass. They lead the entrance procession (the priest(s) follow), carrying candle(s) and/or a crucifix to the Sanctuary. Sometimes, an altar server holds the Sacramentary (the big book the priest reads his opening prayers from) while the priest reads from it. During the Mass, with candle(s) and/or crucifix, they lead the Offertory procession to the Sanctuary. They prepare the altar (like setting the table)just prior to the Consecration of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ. After Communion, they help put away all the vessels used for Communion. One time, Alex received an 'emergency field promotion' :o) and actually distributed the Blood because of the lack of Eucharistic Ministers at the Mass he served at. Another time, Alex was pressed into service at the altar to actually clean the cups, which is usually a job done by the priest or deacon. At the end of Mass, the servers again lead the priest(s) to the exit in the recessional procession. Also, at any time during the Mass, if the priest needs anything, like an extra purificator (a cloth used to clean up) or whatever, the altar server becomes his go-fer.

Altar servers also help out at other times, too. They are part of the procession through the Stations of the Cross during Lent; they help at special events like Confirmation, or when the Bishop visits; he always needs someone to hold his staff and pointy hat at various times during Mass and special ceremonies.

I'm probably missing some stuff, but now that I look back, they really do seem to do a lot. This doesn't include the Latin, or Tridentine, Mass, which is much more complex and includes Latin, which my kids don't speak so they won't be serving any of those Masses, which our parish doesn't do anyway, but they are really cool to attend, even if you don't speak Latin. (I know that's a major run-on sentence).

Martha said...

Hmmm... seems like a lot to keeep up with. I was raised in church, just not Catholic. Thanks for the info.

Martha said...

PS. The Apsostle Paul wrote run-on sentences too.)

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