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Altar Server Formation

for Saint Mary’s Cathedral Parish

Including Saint Mary’s Cathedral and Notre Dame Church

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Qualifications

  • Women, men, girls and boys
  • At least 7 years old and received First Holy Communion
  • Mature enough to understand
    • The responsibilities
    • To perform the duties needed well
    • To perform the duties with appropriate reverence

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Main Duty of an Altar Server

  • Assist the celebrant (Bishop LaValley or priest) and deacon(s)

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Pre-preparation

  • Rested
  • Clean
  • Appropriate dress
  • Appropriate attitude

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Do not be a distraction…

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Preparation

  • Arrive early – 20 to 30 minutes
  • Proper vesting: dress with matching white albs and proper colored cinctures
    • Alb should be ankle length
    • When you find the one that fits, note its size
    • Tying the cinture - lesson
  • Light candles - 15 minutes prior to Mass
  • Discuss who will be serving what roles!
  • Procession
    • A few minutes prior get the crucifix and candles

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Cincture color

  • White: high celebrations
    • Solemnities of Christ
    • Christmas and Christmas seasons
    • Easter and Easter season
    • Funerals
  • Green: Ordinary Time
    • Between Christmas season and Lent
    • Between Easter season and Advent
  • Red: Feasts of the Holy Spirit and Martyrs
    • Pentecost Sunday
  • Purple: seasons of reconciliation
    • Advent
    • Lent

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Tying the cincture

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After Mass

  • Return the crucifix and candles to their place
  • Extinguish candles with snuffer
  • Make sure missals and music books used by the servers are in their proper place
  • Carefully hang your alb and robe
    • Keep them in order to make it easier to find sizes and colors!

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Cathedral training video

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Reminders

  • Bells:
    • A short ring is optional before the consecration (generally when the priest extends his hands over the gifts).
    • Must be rang during elevations with 1 long ring or 3 short shakes

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Altar Linens

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Resources

  • See our website: www.ogdensburgcatholics.org, Ministry, Altar Servers
  • Training videos
  • Diocese of Ogdensburg Pastoral Handbook, Altar Servers 303.3, July 1, 2014