ALTAR SERVERS: Assisting the Liturgy and Serving Christ

There are many roles to fill for the lay people of the church. Many of those include assisting at Mass. From greeters and lectors to Eucharistic ministers, there is something for just about everyone. But there is a special role that is held by the youth of the parish. Being an altar server is a role for children in fifth grade and older who have received their First Communion. It is a special way to be involved in the Mass.

For Simon and Max Marthaler, serving on the altar has become second nature. Simon, who will be a high school senior this fall, started altar serving in fifth grade. Max has been serving for the last three years alongside his brother.

“I was asked if I would become an altar server,” Simon says. “I thought it sounded interesting so I tried it out. It has been fun so I have continued to serve.”

There is something uniquely different about how you experience the Mass when you are involved in it compared to when you are sitting in the pew. Assisting at Mass is a great way to learn the different parts of the Mass. As St. Peter Julian Eymard said, “You cannot do anything to glorify God more, nor profit your soul more, than by devoutly assisting at Mass as often as possible.”

When we assist with the liturgy, we not only aid in glorifying God through this prayer, but we also learn how and why things happen as they do. Why does the priest wash his hands at that time? Why are the bells ringing? Why are special cloths used for different purposes? These are all things that altar servers learn from being an important part of the Mass. For Simon, serving at Mass is both spiritual and practical. “Assisting with Mass makes it go quickly,” he says. “It is easier to pay attention and hear the readings. It is fun to work and be involved. It is more hands-on than when you just sit there.”

Max became an altar server after several years of watching his brother serve.

“I like serving because I pay attention and learn more when I do,” he says. “My favorite part is setting up the altar for Communion.”

It may seem a little intimidating to become an altar server — there are many things to remember and being up on the altar means that you are in front of the entire congregation. Despite this, Simon encourages others to become altar servers.

“They train you and then you serve alongside other altar servers who have been doing it for a while,” Simon says. “You learn as you go.”

“If you feel like Mass goes slow, I would try it,” Max adds. “It is hands-on and it is also fun to get to know the priests and just be involved at the church.”

For those interested in learning more about becoming an altar server, contact your parish:

St. Donatus, St. Francis de Sales, Sts. Peter and Paul — parish office, 320-254-8218

St. Alexius — Jessica Minette, 320-266-6069, stalexiuschurch@gmail.com

Our Lady of the Angels — Michael Doubek, 320-761-8255, mdoubek@icloud.com; or Melinda Doubek, 320-761-8233, mmdoubek@me.com

St. Paul’s — Mark Haskamp, 320-492-8282, lettucehead34@hotmail.com

Simon Marthaler, who will be a high school senior this fall, started altar serving in fifth grade. Max Marthaler has been serving for the last three years alongside his brother.

Assisting at Mass is a great way to learn the different parts of the Mass.