Altar Server
Who is a Altar Server ?
An altar server is a lay assistant to a member of the clergy during a Christian religious service. An altar server attends to supporting tasks at the altar such as fetching and carrying, ringing the altar bell, helping bring up the gifts, and bringing up the liturgical books, among other things. Altar servers are sometimes called acolytes in the Roman Catholic Church.
Formerly, only men and boys could serve at the altar but canon 230 of the Code of Canon Law promulgated in 1983 allowed local ordinaries to permit girls and women to do so.
The 1983 Code of Canon Law altered the juridical situation: without distinguishing between male and female, it declared: “Lay persons can fulfill the function of lector in liturgical actions by temporary designation. All lay persons can also perform the functions of commentator or cantor, or other functions, according to the norm of law.” On June 30, 1992, the Pontifical Council for the Interpretation of Legislative Texts issued an authentic interpretation of that canon declaring that service of the altar is one of the “other functions” open to lay persons in general, without distinguishing between male and female. In reference to this authentic interpretation, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments sent on March 15, 1994 a circular letter to presidents of episcopal conferences, clarifying that the canon in question is of permissive character. It permits the use of female altar servers but does not require it.
To serve at the altar for liturgical celebrations is a great opportunity to increase your faith and knowledge of the Sacrifice of the Mass. The Sacrifice of the Mass is the greatest event in the world and your job as an altar server is to assist the priest so that Sunday Mass runs smoothly and parishioners can pray and worship better and with less distraction.
Duties at Mass:
Servers are to act as thurifer with burning incense (if incense is used at the Mass), as bearers of lighted candles flanking another carrying the cross, as other participants in the entrance procession. Processional: Servers carry the thurible, incense boat, processional cross and candles (flambeaux).
Servers hold the liturgical books for the celebrant when he is not at the altar and is proclaiming the presidential prayers with outstretched hands. They bring and hold such things as books, thuribles, lavabo bowl and towel, patens, communion bowls, and microphones.
Proclamation of the Gospel: At the preceding Alleluia or other chant, the thurible is presented to the priest for him to put incense in it.
Beginning of the Liturgy of the Eucharist: Servers arrange the corporal, the purificator, the chalice, the pall, and the Missal on the altar, and then assist the priest in receiving the bread and wine and perhaps other gifts that are presented to him. They present the cruets of wine and water for the priest or deacon to pour some into the chalice. If incense is used, the thurible and incense are presented to the priest. a server then incenses the priest and the people. When the priest then washes his hands standing at the side of the altar, a server pours the water over them.
Consecration: A server rings a bell as a signal to the people shortly before the consecration and, where it is the local custom, rings the bell also when the priest displays the consecrated host and chalice to the people. If incense is used, a server incenses the host and the chalice while these are being shown.
- Sign of Peace: The servers receive the sign of peace from the priest or deacon within the sanctuary.
- Recessional: The servers accompany the priest as at the entrance procession.
- Communion: Follow priest with paten in hand and hand over breast for the Communion.
If a bishop celebrates Mass solemnly, two servers, wearing vimpas, hold the mitre and the crosier and present them at the appropriate times.
Vestments used by Altar Servers:
Albs or any other appropriate attire, such as a cassock and surplice, may be worn by servers.
Altar Boys Animators:
Mr. Chetan Mendonca
Animator
Mrs. Rimla Jacob
Animator