Altar Servers
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St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church offers young Catholics an opportunity to grow in their faith and become more active in the Mass by serving as Altar Servers. Altar Servers are young people who assist the priest and deacon during Mass.
While assisting at the weekend Masses and other liturgical celebrations, it is important that servers be active participants in the liturgy and that they listen, sing, and pray with the entire assembly. Boys and girls who have received their first communion and are in the 4th grade are invited to become Altar Servers.Altar Server Formation is on-going.
October 21, 2018 will be the training for all current Altar Servers. If you would like to become an Altar Server, the next training will be January, 2019.
May God Bless you for your past and continued service at Mass!
If you have any questions, you may contact our Liturgy & Event Facilitator. Thank you!
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Next Training
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Manus Dei (Hands of God)
In order to promote vocations to the priesthood, we have established a senior altar server program. The participants are being trained in advanced altar serving skills such as incense preparation, processions, benediction and serving for longer and more complex liturgies, including those with the Bishop. Those who are confirmed will also be trained as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.
Father Albert selects team members based on reverence, focus on the altar, teamwork and leadership abilities. High-school aged servers will have the first opportunity; Jr. High servers will be considered on an as-needed basis.
The servers must be able to serve for all Holy Week Masses (Palm Sunday 11 AM, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Vigil, Easter Sunday 11 AM), Corpus Christi 8:30 AM Mass and Procession, Pentecost Sunday and Confirmation Mass with the Bishop. If the Bishop comes for additional Masses or services, they will be asked to serve.
Other activities will include opportunities to learn more about the life of a parish priest, special rehearsals and social time with meals provided in the rectory. In recognition of their level of training and dedication, they will have a special surplice for their service. -
Resources:
It is a great honor and privilege to serve at the Altar of our God as Pope John Paul II's indicated in his inspiring address to altar servers on August 1, 2001. In that address the Pope encourages altar servers to understand the responsibility they have in this service to the Church. He said, “The altar server has a privileged place in liturgical celebrations. Those who serve at Mass present themselves to a community. They experience from close at hand that Jesus Christ is present and active in every liturgy . . . In the liturgy you are far more than mere “helpers of the parish priest”. Above all, you are servants of Jesus Christ, the eternal High Priest.”
1. Sophia SketchPad: The Eucharist (Video 6:38)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcB7Uem00n4
2. Prayer Hands: Be a Better Altar Server (11:39)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKEk3sNc-hw
3. That Catholic Show #001: Sit, Stand, and Kneel (5:08)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMy1Ko_AEME
4. Do You Know When to Kneel During the Mass? (5:24)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vMpI1sXkCI