Altar Servers

Thank you for your willingness to serve! Our parish is deeply grateful for your commitment to service at the altar.  Your service and dedication are important to our parish.  Your role, through your actions and conduct, is to bring the assembly to a fuller understanding of the liturgy and a greater love for God.  You have a place of honor at Mass because you assist the priest in many ways.  As we are in the presence of Jesus our king, it is both wise and necessary for you to perform all assigned duties with attention, dignity, and reverence.

Your duties are so important that even Saint Pope John Paul II talked about it.  Here is what Saint John Paul II said to a group of Altar Servers in 2001:

”The altar server occupies a privileged place in the liturgical celebration. The altar
server presents himself to a community and experiences firsthand that Jesus Christ
is present and active in every liturgical act. Jesus is present when the community
comes together to pray and render praise to God.  

Jesus is present in the Word of sacred Scripture. Jesus is present above all in the
Eucharist under the signs and bread and wine. He acts through the priest who,
in the person of Christ, celebrates the holy Mass and administers the sacraments.  
Therefore, in the liturgy, you are much more than simple 'helpers of the parish priest'.

Above all, you are servers of Jesus Christ, of the eternal High Priest. Thus, you,
altar servers, are called in particular to be young friends of Jesus. Be determined
to go deeper and to cultivate this friendship with Him. You will discover that
in Jesus you have found a true friend for life."