Altar Servers
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“Serving the Lord through Faith, Worship, Witness, Example and Service”
St. Peter the Apostle has some of the best servers in the Archdiocese. They are a committed, dedicated and reverent group of young people. If you would like to part of this great group, let us know.
MISSION STATEMENT:
The Ministry of Altar Servers at St. Peter the Apostle in the Archdiocese of Galveston/Houston, respond to God’s call of service. Guided by our Baptismal Call, we actively participate in the liturgy.As faithful stewards to our surrounding community, we, like the other members of our parish, sacrificially give our time, talent and treasure always showing our love, support and acceptance for our brothers and sisters in Christ.
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Who Are We
As members of the faith-filled community of St. Peter the Apostle, the Altar Servers answer the call to service that we all receive. The members of the Ministry of Altar Servers assist in the celebration of the sacred liturgy through the sharing of their talents and contribute to the spirit of prayer through the reverent way they perform their tasks. Service to the parish community is a way to live out the life Jesus promised us in the sacrament of baptism.
At SPA, the Altar Servers serves the people of God in a variety of liturgical celebrations, including:
- Saturday Vigil Mass
- Sunday Masses
- Holy Days of Obligation
- Weddings
- Funerals
- Stations of the Cross
- Prayer Services
- Penance Services
- Parish Revivals
Other Liturgical Services
To be an altar server is an honor and a privilege. As Blessed Pope John Paul II stated, Your commitment to the altar is not only a duty, but a great honor, [and] a genuine holy service. The purpose of this ministry is serving at the Table of the Lord, assisting the presider in the celebration of the Eucharist as well as other sacraments or liturgical activities.
Like basketball, the liturgy thrives on teamwork, the more of it the better. No basketball team is only composed of a guard or a center, and the liturgy similarly looks for many different ministers, especially during grand celebrations. Part of the responsibility of Altar Servers is to help set the pace for all those who participate in the liturgy. The servers help other people to understand the Mass better and make their love for God stronger.
If you would like more information on the Ministry of Altar Servers, you are asked to contact one of the Altar Server Coordinators or call the Parish Office 713-747-7800.
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- Altar Server Qualifications
- Altar Servers: Preparations before a Liturgy
- Altar Server Checklist
- Entrance Procession
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Altar servers must:
• Be a member of St. Peter the Apostle.
• Have received the sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation, and Eucharist.
• Have commitment to the ministry and be able to act reverently.HOW MANY SERVERS?
Normally 3 servers are scheduled to serve. The lead altar server is the crossbearer, or
crucifer. The crossbearer is the leader of the altar server team and is the minister who
carries the cross in procession. The crossbearer must know the responsibilities of each
member of his or her team and ensure the duties are completed properly. The other
two servers are called candlebearers.• During Solemnities a fourth server will be assigned. The fourth server is called
the Thurifer because (s)he carries the incense in the entrance procession.• When the bishop comes, two more servers will be assigned. These two servers have special jobs: one takes care of the bishop’s staff (crosier) and the other takes care of the bishop’s hat (miter).
If you are not scheduled to serve and there are less than 4 servers, you are welcomed and encouraged to serve with those already there.
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Altar Servers: Preparations before a Liturgy
1. Altar servers should be at the church no later than 15 minutes before the celebration is to begin.2. When you arrive, sign in on the “sign-in” sheet posted in the server closet (on the inside of the door.)
3. Introduce yourself to the priest. If he is a visiting priest, ask him:
- if he has any special instructions.
- if he has a specific way he wants the Roman Missal held.
4. Put on your vestment(s) and make sure your hair is neatly combed and your hands are clean. Long hair must be tied back (to avoid being accidentally caught on fire when lighting or extinguishing the candles.)
a. You should choose an alb that is just above your ankles.
b. Tie your cincture around your waist with a butterfly or square knot.- Green cinctures are used at all Masses during Ordinary Time.
- White cinctures are used at funerals and on some feast days.
- Red cinctures are used during…
- Feasts of the Lord’s passion, Blood, and Cross
- Feasts of the martyrs
- Palm Sunday
- Pentecost
- Purple cinctures are used
- Season of Advent
- Season of Lent
Tie cinctures around your waist, over the alb. Do not tie the cincture over the over-garment. It falls straight down.
5. Put an altar server cross around your neck, but under the hood of the alb.
6. Once dressed, start preparing the altar under the direction of the deacon. The crucifer will provide guidance on where to deliver the vessels, when to light the candles, etc.
7. When everything is ready, wait quietly and reverently in the sacristy or at the back of the church until it is time for the ministers to pray before starting the entrance procession.
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- The gold chalice with paten, pall, corporal and purificator and celebrant host are on the credence table, along with the water cruet, lavabo bowl, pitcher of water, and towel.
- One wine cruet and ciborium with host are on the gifts table.
- The Roman Missal (book with the prayers for the Mass) is on the table behind the clergy chairs.
- The candles around the ambo and the tabernacle are lit. Use the lighter/snuffer to light the candles. The lighter/snuffer should be extinguished by drawing it into the stem and then extending it back out of the stem. Do NOT leave the wick inside the stem because it will get stuck there as the wax hardens .
- If incense is to be used, the charcoal should be lit about 15 minutes before Mass. The thurible and incense boat should be hanging near the servers’ table behind the sanctuary (if not being carried in during the entrance procession).
- A butane lighter in the sacristy can be used to light a wick that in turn will be used to light the charcoal. It takes about 10 minutes for a coal to get white hot. Make sure that the supplies (charcoal, lighter, wick, tongs) can be reached without interrupting the flow of the liturgy at the altar. Also, be sure there is adequate incense in the incense boat.
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1. The crossbearer/crucifer (CR) leads the procession. The CR holds the cross with the figure on the cross facing toward the congregation (facing toward the altar) and high enough for the congregation to see it. The CR sets the pace for the procession. Walk at a moderate to slow pace.
Notes:
An incense bearer, or Thurifer (TH), may lead the procession on days when a Solemnity is celebrated. While leading the procession, the Th holds the thurible in his/her right hand and gently swings it forward and back (or from side to side).
Solemnities are celebrated for feast days and holidays:
Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of God The Body and Blood of Christ The Epiphany The Assumption of Mary Palm Sunday All Saints Day Easter Sunday / Season Christ the King The Ascension of the Lord Immaculate Conception The Holy Trinity Christmas Pentecost Sunday Annunciation of the Lord 2. The candlebearers (C1 and C2) walk evenly (i.e., side by side) with each other but about one step behind the CR. Hands and palms should be placed together.
3. The deacon walks behind the servers and in front of the priest. The deacon will be carrying the book of the Gospels.
4. The procession should be a constant flow. Pace yourself so you do not have to stop. CR and candlebearers proceed up into the sanctuary.
5. The CR puts cross into the stand facing the congregation. The candlebearers put the candles on either side of the tabernacle.
a. All servers bow to the tabernacle and proceed to stand in front of their respective chairs.
6. Unless serving the priest or performing a task, all servers stand or sit at the same time as the congregation.
Hands are folded together in a praying position when standing and not in use. When sitting, bodies are erect, hands are resting in laps, feet are flat on the floor, and eyes are on the action taking place at the altar. There is no talking among the servers unless someone needs a reminder of something that must be done.
7. Altar servers participate in all of the prayers or hymns that they know. As the closest persons to the altar after the priest and deacon, altar servers must show reverence in all that they do in front of the congregation.