Altar Servers

Altar Servers’ Prayer

Loving Father, creator of the universe, you call your people to worship, to be with you and one another at Mass. I thank you for having called me to assist others in their prayer to you. May I be worthy of the trust placed in me and through my example and service bring others closer to you. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, who is Lord forever and ever. Amen.

Saint John Berchmans, Patron Saint of Altar Servers

The eldest son of a shoemaker, John was born at Diest, Brabant (Belgium). As a boy, he wanted to be a priest, and when thirteen became a servant in the household of one of the Cathedral canons at Malines, John Froymont. In 1615, he entered the newly founded Jesuit College at Malines, and the following year became a Jesuit novice. He was sent to Rome in 1618 to continue his studies, and was known for his diligence and piety, impressing all with his holiness and stress on perfection in little things. He died there on August 13. Many miracles were attributed to him after his death, and he was canonized in 1888. He is the patron of altar servers. His feast day is November 26.

The Altar Servers of Saint Michael the Archangel Church place themselves under the patronage of Saint John Berchmanns, and beg his intercession in their service at the Altar and in every moment of their lives.

Prayer to Saint John Berchmans

Saint John Berchmans, my most loving patron, model of charity, I rejoice with you at the ardent fire of charity, which kept your pure and innocent heart always at peace and united to God. I humbly pray thee, obtain for me such ardor of divine love that it may remove from my heart every inordinate earthly affection, destroy my evil tendencies, and cause me in all my actions to be prompted by the purest intention: All for the greater glory of God!

The Privilege of Serving at the Liturgy

The Sacred Liturgy of the Church—Sunday Mass, daily Mass, funerals, weddings, and other celebrations you may be serving—is the public prayer of the Church. The Holy Mass is an intimate moment of communion between Jesus and His people. In the Mass, we receive the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. We give honor and glory to God, and thank Him for the gift of His Son.

It is a great honor and privilege to serve at Mass. It is your most important activity of the week, for at Mass you come to spend time with God and receive Jesus in Holy Communion. As Servers, you have a special place close to the Altar. Servers must always come to Mass prepared to meet Jesus. We prepare our bodies by fasting (not eating or drinking anything except water and medicine) one hour before receiving Communion. We also go to confession regularly to prepare our souls to receive Jesus in the Eucharist. We come to Mass dressed modestly so as to give a good example to others. We act, dress, and talk in a way that is fitting for the church, which is God’s house. Outside the church, at home and in school, we always obey our parents and teachers, and treat others with love. Since we are servants of Jesus, we want to live always as He asks us to live.

Serving Mass is a very important responsibility. When we are scheduled to serve, the priest and the people are counting on us to be there. We must always be prompt for Mass. Servers need to arrive with enough time before Mass to help the priest set up. Servers need to be responsible for coming to serve when they are scheduled, or for finding a replacement and calling the Rectory Office to tell the priest. Servers should only miss serving Mass for a very good reason. Servers are to be examples to others at Mass. So, we should always know the responses to the prayers and join in singing the hymns. Servers have an important role in the Mass, and so we need to take that responsibility very seriously and always do our best to serve Mass well.

Saint Michael Parish values your service at the Altar, and thanks you for coming to give yourself to Jesus in this very special way. May God pour out His grace and blessings upon you always!

“Those who dwell in the House of the Lord,

praise the name of the Lord!”

—Psalm 135

Responsibility and Discipline

Be aware of when you are scheduled to serve Mass. Schedules are made usually for a six to seven week period. Servers are important for the celebration of Mass. When you are scheduled, please make sure you arrive for Mass. If for a good reason you cannot come, it is your responsibility to find your own substitute. Please call the Rectory Office and let Father know that you cannot come, and who your replacement is.
Please arrive at least 15 minutes before Mass. Sign in! (The sign-in book is on the sacristy counter.) Help the priest set up for Mass.
Stay after Mass to help the priest clean up.
Dress neatly and modestly for Mass. Boys should wear dress shirts or polo shirts and pants. Girls should wear blouses, long skirts/dresses, or pants. Gym shoes, sandals, flip-flops, shorts, t-shirts, and tank tops are not permitted!
Hair and nails are to be groomed neatly.
Jewelry is to be tasteful and not distracting.
If a server misses three times without finding a substitute, or fails to sign in on three occasions, this will result in removal from the server list.