Holy Trinity Parish-Webster County welcomes all students grade 5 and older and who have received the Sacraments of Confession and First Holy Communion to train for and serve as a Knight or Lady of the Altar.  These students serve Our Lord at the altar and assist the priests at weekly Masses, Funerals, Weddings, Feast days and various special liturgical events throughout the year.  Special training is provided before they begin serving at the altar.

The Need for Servers

When vocations were abundant in the early 20th century, most men who entered the priesthood had been altar servers at the Traditional Latin Mass in their youth.  It was a sacred privilege and honor.  In 1905, speaking to altar servers, the Archbishop of Westminster, Bernard Cardinal Griffen said, “To serve at the altar…is, next to the priesthood, the highest privilege which a human can enjoy.”

Traditionally, altar servers have been recruited, trained, and nurtured in their faith by the priests of the parish who prepared the students to serve at the altar.  Students saw and felt the holiness, reverence, dedication, and humility of their clerical mentors and many boys received their priestly vocation as a result.  We are blessed to have equally good and holy priests in our parish today, yet the Church in our diocese and throughout the world is faced with a serious shortage of priests.

Serving at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass with a holy priest will help foster an increase in vocations.  We invite students to consider becoming altar servers and to speak with Fr. Ross, Deacon Jeff Stanek, or Brian McClain about it.  Parents are encouraged to discuss the benefits with their student and prayerfully to encourage them to consider this great service to the Church.

Benefits of Becoming an Altar Server

In addition to a possible vocation, there are many benefits to becoming an altar server.  The altar server is given a divine privilege, one above all earthly honors, in being permitted to serve within the sanctuary at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.  The sacred duties of the altar server requires of him/her the greatest reverence in the sanctuary, the deepest attention to his/her duties, and the most zealous preparation for all his/her liturgical actions.  He/she must always strive to conduct themself worthily in this position, a position to which even the angels of heaven cannot aspire.  Serving in this capacity and in this manner, he/she

1. edifies the congregation which looks to him/her as an example of the proper disposition for assisting at Mass,
2. develops a strong devotion to Our Lord, the Mass and the Holy Eucharist and
3. becomes well disciplined with a strong sense of responsibility.

If your son or daughter is interested in joining us, please complete the following form: