Alter Server

Alter serving

Lately, I have been training for the position of Alter Server in our parish. The role includes being the priest’s personal bookstand, helping with the offertory, and extinguishing the candle. I started training at the beginning of Term 4 and was blessed as an Alter Server at hymn practice in Week 7. This is what I have to do.

At the beginning of Mass, during the opening hymn, I have to be part of the procession. I will either carry the cross or just walk reverently down the centre aisle. When the cross bearer has placed the cross in the appropriate place, the Alter Servers separate from the priest and sit for a while, waiting until we’re needed again.

When the priest stands up with his book, one of the servers comes up and goes to the priest to hold the book for him. The other one stays at the pew. When the priest finishes, the server goes back to the pew.

After the prayers of intersession, the servers go to the alter again. One server extinguishes the candle, and the other one goes and takes the wine and a cloth (for the priest) to the alter.

The servers then go to the back of the church, where the people helping with the offertory are waiting with the bread, the wine, and the candles. They then follow the servers to the alter. The servers split when they reach the priest, one on each side of him. The offertory people pass the bread and the wine to the priest, who hands them to the servers. The offertory people then go back their seats. The servers then place the bread and wine on the alter and move back while the priest says a prayer, talking about the last supper. One server picks up a finger bowl for the priest to wash his hands in, the other brings a towel. After the priest has finished with them, one brings a small jug of water to the priest (handle first). The servers then step to the side and the ministers come up. They then receive communion, then the servers go back to their pew.

A little while later, near the end of Mass, the priest needs a bookstand again. The server that wasn't the bookstand earlier does it. When the Mass is over, the servers exit with the priest. They stand in a semicircle, bow to the cross (a server gets it before they leave) and then depart.

So that's the Mass plan. I hope I have inspired you to become an Alter Server too.

Written by Bella