Altar Servers

Being a server means serving God and God's People at Mass

That is what makes serving Mass worth doing and worth doing well! Mass servers are welcome members of the liturgy’s “team,” along with greeters, musicians, presider, lectors and Eucharistic ministers.  All registered parishioners in 4th grade or older, including teens and adults are welcome to serve at St. Paul the Apostle. Altar Servers must have received their first reconciliation and Holy Communion and attend Mass regularly.  

Servers are:

• Trained once a year
• Expected to arrive 20 minutes before the liturgy
• Assigned to various masses throughout the year
• Need to serve at least 6 times a quarter 
• Responsible to find a replacement when not able to serve at their assigned liturgy

All registered parishioners in 4th grade or older, including teens and adults are welcome to serve at St. Paul the Apostle. Altar Servers must have received their first reconciliation and Holy Communion and attend Mass regularly.  If interested, please download the registration form and hand in to the Parish office, or send to Jennifer Kozakowski.  Please see “How to Join” for more information.

The primary role of the altar server is to assist the priest in the celebration of the liturgy during Mass. Servers carry the cross, the processional candles, hold the book for the priest, assist when he receives the gifts, wash the hands of the priest, manage the incense, and assist the priest, deacon, and thurifer as necessary.

The Altar Server ministry is led by a sub-committee of the Liturgy Committee.

Altar Server Coordinator: Jennifer Kozakowski.
Additional Committee Members:  Katie Kozakowski, Fr. Gilbert Martinez, C.S.P., Fr. Jerry Tully, C.S.P., Virginia Ostrin, and Lisa Wellik.

Going Deeper

“Why does the priest need servers to help him at Mass? From the early days of the Church people have thought that the priest shouldn’t do every thing at Mass, and so different kinds of people have helped him: deacons, readers, and acolytes. Today, servers do some of the tasks that acolytes did in the past (such as preparing the altar and sanctuary before Mass, and saying the responses along with the assembly. Hundreds of years ago, an acolyte would carry the chalice, candles, and other items need for Mass in a sack slung over his back. He would prepare everything for the Mass and then help the priest at the altar. When Mass was over, the acolyte would pack everything up again and carry it out.”

From “The Ministry of Servers” by Michael Kwatera O.S.B.