Here are 7 reasons to become an altar server.
 
1. You learn why we do everything in the Mass.
Sure, swinging the censer is kind of fun, but why is it that we do it?  It is a symbol of the prayer of the faithful rising to heaven. By becoming an altar server you begin to learn these things and it makes all the symbols of the Mass so much more understandable and interesting.
 
2. You get fully involved in the Mass and get more out of it. By serving at the altar you pay more attention to the whole Mass to help you remember where your part fits into it. By focusing and understanding what’s going on, the Mass can then lead you into a much deeper relationship with God and you feel the impact of Mass far greater
 
3. You make some great friends. By becoming an altar server you’ll be meeting up with many of the same people every time you serve at Mass. With a great range of ages and experiences, you’ll meet some fantastic people you’d probably meet nowhere else.  As your friendship develops, you’ll end up having many friends who all share your faith and this can lead to great memories.
 
4. You learn some fantastic life skills. Communication, teamwork, perceiving what needs to be done and doing it, punctuality, self-confidence, and the list continues. Serving on the altar is a great place to start building these skills. You’re supported by all your fellow servers, you have quite a large responsibly and rules to guide you. Even if you do something wrong, nobody in the congregation notices.
 
5. You become more involved in the community. By taking up a responsibility at Mass you start to recognize more and more people in the church in general. This slowly changes your experience of the church community, from a group of random people you stand next to at Mass, to a large and diverse family who you can meet and chat with every time you go and make you feel truly at home in your church.
 
6. It helps you discern (recognize or find out) your vocation better. The best reason to do altar serving is that it helps you discern your vocation better. Every vocation (whether marriage, religious life or priesthood) is awesome and leads us to a greater and deeper understanding and relationship with God.  Altar Serving is a great way to begin to see that beauty more fully in both priesthood and religious life.
 
7. It gives you a greater appreciation of the priesthood. Even if you are not discerning priesthood, by altar serving you learn so much more about the priest with whom you will work.   This is great because it allows you to both fully appreciate his human side while also appreciating much more the sacramental grace he’s been given in holy orders!

8. Since altar service is community service, becoming a server will help you to fulfill some requirements needed for a person to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Also, this kind of community service would aid in applications to attend certain high schools, colleges or universities. 

9. To become an altar server, you should be in grade 4 and up. We also have a need for Adult Altar Servers to assist at funerals. 
 
So what do you say? Are you interested? If you would like to find out more, please call the parish office at 724.226.4900.