How to Join

HOW TO JOIN

If you are currently in the 4th grade or older (including teens and adults) and are interested in becoming an Altar Server please do the following:

1. Complete a registration form available here and submit to Jennifer Kozakowski at the Parish Office or via email at jkozakowski@sp-apostle.org

2. Attend the next training session scheduled. You will receive an email confirming receipt of your registration form and notifying you of the next training session. Training will include basic elements of the Liturgy as well as duties of the altar server.

3. Upon completion of training, you will need to sign up to shadow during regular Masses. Once the altar server coordinator and you feel comfortable, you may sign up on the regular schedule. There is no minimum or maximum on the number of shadows required.

4. Once you complete your shadowing and are ready to serve, you will be given access to the regular schedule to sign up. You can always ask a more experienced server or the altar server coordinator to be there with you as first start serving.

EXPECTATIONS FOR ALTAR SERVERS

For more detail, please refer to the Altar Server handbook located below.

1. Responsibility: When you are scheduled to serve, mark it on your calendar and prepare to get to church 20 minutes before Mass time (for special Masses, you may be asked to arrive at least 30 minutes before Mass time. If you cannot serve when you are scheduled, please email ‘need a sub’ and send a note to the altar server coordinator. Please make every effort to find a substitute. For your convenience, a contact list of all servers is available here. Please respect the confidentiality and privacy of the information on this list and use only for purposes of the altar server ministry. Please let the altar server coordinator know who your sub is or if you are unable to get a sub by end of day Wednesday the Sunday before you are scheduled to serve. After Mass, help the other ministers and sacristans clean up, hang up your alb and cincture, and if asked, stay for a quick debrief (no more than 5 minutes).

2. Reverence: Show respect for God and others by having a good attitude when you come to serve, walking with dignity, listening attentively and carrying out your duties with care. Please do not talk on the altar or play with your cincture.

3. Personal Appearance: Before you leave home, make sure your hair is combed, and that you are wearing pants (for boys) and dress shoes—please no sneakers. Since you will be wearing an Alb, please try to wear a light-colored shirt (or dress) with no logos. Please see dress code in the altar server handbook.

4. Participation: You are expected to verbally respond, pray and sing, the same as everyone else at Mass. Always pay attention to what is happening at Mass.

5. Teamwork: You will be serving as part of a team of servers, with specific tasks to do. As individuals and as a team, the service you give at Mass is very important to the prayer of everyone present. Your team may have younger or older school aged children, teens, and/or adults.

SIGN IN PROCEDURE

1. If you are a scheduled server, print your name legibly on the line in the second column on the same line across from your printed name.

2. If you are a substitute or switching, write your name on the line in the second column on the same line across from the printed name of server you are subbing/switching for. Cross off the person you are filling in for.

3. If you are neither scheduled or subbing/switching but a walk on, print your name on the blank line.