Altar Server Ministry Requirements 

Parishioners that have completed the fourth grade, have received their First Holy Communion, are members of a family that is registered in our Parish, and are at a maturity level appropriate for serving at the Altar of our Lord are eligible to enroll in the Altar Server Ministry.

 Additional requirements include, but are not limited to, the following:

·        Arrive at least 20 minutes prior to the beginning of Mass each time when serving.

·        Attend both Mass and Faith Formation (CCE) each week when Faith Formation is in session.

 ·        Provide email address to Ministry Coordinators and be willing to communicate via email on a regular basis.  

·        Serve at the Masses where most needed, regardless of Mass time preference.  

·        Find and confirm an appropriate replacement for the Masses to which assigned when unable to serve at those Masses.  Send email to Ministry Coordinators and to replacement to confirm the arrangements. 

·        Provide telephone number to membership and be willing to serve as a replacement for another Server when available. 

·        Servers must have a very short, clean-cut hairstyle or (if hair is on the ear or longer), must style hair in a bun and place hair bun in a white beaded bun cover.  There is to be no hair hanging in front of the shoulders or about the face.  

·        Gentlemen must wear solid black slacks.  Ladies must wear a dress or skirt/blouse combination.  DRESS LENGTH MUST NOT EXCEED THE LENGTH OF THE ALB.    NO JEANS.    NO SHORTS. 

·        Gentlemen must wear solid black socks and solid black dress shoes.   Ladies must wear solid black dress shoes with appropriate flesh-colored hosiery.         NO TENNIS SHOES.    NO SANDALS.    NO SHOES THAT ARE OPEN AT THE TOE, SIDE, OR HEEL. 

·        ALL SERVERS must wear SOLID shirts or blouses.  (Designs and/or lettering are visible through the alb.) 

·        Have no visible piercings except for (ladies only) piercings to the ear lobe.   

·        Have no facial hair unless it can be kept trimmed very close to the face/neck. 

·        Wear no jewelry, or only a very limited amount of jewelry.  

·        Wear no make-up or very light make-up.  

·        Have no visibly bleached hair (such as bleaching only hair on top of head, hair striping, etc.). 

·        Clean hands immediately prior to serving.  NO FINGERNAIL POLISH. 

·        Provide payment for initial alb to Ministry Coordinators at time of enrollment.  

·        Arrive at Mass with a clean, pressed alb each time when serving.

 ·        Ensure that alb hangs to ankle length at all times.

 ·        Attend annual training session (as needed).

 ·        Arrive one (1) hour prior to the beginning of Mass for practice when serving at Saint Anthony of Padua for the first time.

 ·        Follow all instructions from the Ministry Leaders and Senior Acolytes and support all rules of the program.

 ·        Participate in prayer before and after Mass.

 ·        Participate quietly, respectfully, and reverently throughout the Mass.  

·        Provide Ministry Leaders with notice of leaving the Ministry (90 days preferred) and continue service through September (when most training of new members occurs) unless relocating to another city/state.