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You will find a variety of resources located on this site that will help you in your duty as altar server.
- Sign-Up Page
- Altar Server Manual
- Altar Server Prayer
- Training Videos
- Register for Remind
- Altar Server Room Changes
Announcements
Important Upcoming Dates. If there are any questions please email altarservers@stlaurence.org
- September 15 - October 20 - Training Masses on weekend masses
- November 2, 9:30 - 11 am - Advanced Altar Server Training (Church)
- February 1, 9:30 - 11 am - Spring Training (Advanced Altar Server Training; Parish Hall & Church)
2 walk-in spots are available for each weekend mass.
Things to remember
- Processional
- Crucifer or thurifer sets the pace. Not too fast; not too slow; a reverent pace
- Prayer hands do NOT wait for candle holders at the tabernacle. Prayer hands genuflect and the candle holders will follow them.
- When candle holders have placed the candles at the altar they turn crisply to the right and diagonally down the stairs and need to get to the bottom of the stairs just before the presider's chair. Then move to the tabernacle to genuflect and sit.
- When crucifer goes to place the cross on the stand NEVER cross in front of the presider's chair. Bow your head at the foot of the stairs, turn right, and go up the stairs behind the presider's chair.
- Candle holders - Gospel Acclamation
- Stand up and begin moving when the second reader is done and begins stepping off the ambo.
- Left candle holder will lead the reader around the choir side of the ambo and circle back to the altar side of the ambo. Right candle holder will be the pivot of the wheel and post up on the choir side of the ambo
- Offertory
- The cue for the servers to get up is when the kid swarm ends and the presider stands up. Servers need to immediately get up and move to receive the gifts.
- If there are 5 servers on the team then 4 servers go to receive the gifts (1 per server) and 1 remains behind to do the bells
- If there are 4 servers on the team, then all 4 get up. Same as above.
- If there are 3 servers on the team, all 3 go to receive the gifts and one is going to need to make two trips back and forth to the altar. Do not make the presiders carry the gifts and go up the stairs.
- If there are 2 servers on the team then both are going to need to make two trips or carry 2 gifts each.
- Ringing of the bells
- When the presider raises the host/chalice and he reaches the highest point, ring the bells. When he BEGINS to lower the host/chalice, stop ringing.
The optimal length is mid-anklebone AFTER tying the cincture. That’s important. Don’t measure before tying up.
If it’s too big you can bloom the alb over the cincture to pull the bottom up. If you are smaller than the smallest alb or in between sizes (it happens!) this is what you do.
So - grab a bigger size, tie the cincture, see if it goes to mid anklebone. Repeat as needed.