Altar Servers

REQUIREMENTS FOR NEW SACRISTANS

baptismal certificate
first communion
practicing Catholic and attends regular Sunday Masses

DIOCESE OF CABANATUAN

MINISTRY OF ALTAR SERVERS

PARISH BY-LAWS AND CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I

The name of the ministry is Name of Parish Ministry of the Altar Servers.

ARTICLE II – Purposes

1.To study and constantly grow in understanding, appreciating and living the faith and worship life of the Church.

2.To train young men to serve and assist during liturgical celebrations and other gatherings of the Christian assembly.

3.To form young men to become responsible Christians and nourish and strengthen the vocation of those called to the ministerial priesthood.

ARTICLE III – Membership

I. ACCEPTANCE TO THE MINISTRY

a. QUALIFICATION OF CANDIDATES

1.Good Catholic in faith and deed

2.Adequately literate

3.Physically and mentally fit

4.Has been adequately instructed on the importance of the Eucharist and has received First Communion

5.Age: 9–25 years old

6.Readily available to help in serving during the Mass and other activities in the parish

7.Residing within the Parish

B. AN EVALUATION / SCREENING COMMITTEE

a. Set up by the Parish Priest (at least three members).

b. Evaluates and examines the candidate for the ministry.

c. Gives the necessary recommendation to the Parish Priest.

c. DOCUMENTS NEEDED

1.Baptismal and Confirmation Certificate (to the screening committee)

2.Recommendation from the Parish Priest (prior to basic training)

3.Records from the School (Good moral character)

MEMBERSHIP

1.The regular members shall consist of young boys and men aged 9 to 25. The young ones should have already received their First Communion.

Trainee/Observers – must undergo training and regularly attend Mass for six (6) months

Junior Altar Servers – 9–13 years old

Senior Altar Servers – 14–25 years old

2.The special members (affiliate members) shall consist of:

a. Young boys below 9 years old who may already be trained but not yet considered as full members of the ministry. They may be given assignments but not on a regular basis.

b. Young adults above 25 years old may no longer be admitted as altar servers. With the permission of the Parish Priest, they may act as advisers, trainers, and animators of their younger brothers. They serve as a support group to the ministry (to its officers and members). Preferring to be in the background, they give chances to the regular members to serve the Lord in liturgical celebrations.

3.Altar girls are discouraged due to the following reasons:

a. Altar servers are a source of vocations to the priesthood. Since in the Church we only accept men as priests, we discourage having girls as altar servers.

b. For evangelization purposes. Women are easier encouraged to serve the Church than men. We are avoiding women from dominating the different ministries in the Church. These young girls are instead encouraged to join other ministries or organizations in the parish

(e.g. Lector, Greeters, Choir, Youth, Legion of Mary, etc.)

c. Current altar servers who are girls (at the start of DOCMAS) may stay. At the age of 20 they have to leave the DOCMAS. After them, girl applicants may no longer be accepted. This has been approved by the body of the clergy of the Diocese of Cabanatuan.

ARTICLE IV – Officers

1.The Officers are:

Coordinator

Assistant Coordinator

Secretary

Assistant Secretary

Treasurer

Parish Master of Ceremonies

2.The Coordinator is appointed annually by the Pastor, with the advice of the Parish Worship Commission and the Parish Pastoral Council. The Coordinator may be re-appointed by the Parish Priest for a maximum of three consecutive years.

3.The Parish Master of Ceremonies (MC) is also appointed annually by the Pastor. He should be knowledgeable of the different principles of the liturgy and has the responsibility of overseeing the proper execution of liturgical celebrations, especially in relation to altar servers.

d. The Secretary / Assistant Secretary keeps a record of important ministry files/documents, meetings, and service assignments and keeps an inventory of supplies (advising the Coordinator when orders need to be placed). The Secretary is also the property custodian. He is the head of the Liturgical Materials Committee.

e. The Treasurer keeps financial records and submits an annual written financial report. The Treasurer assists the Coordinator in the preparation of the annual proposed budget. He also plans and initiates fund-raising activities to finance the different programs/projects of the ministry.

ARTICLE V – Committees

1.The standing committees are:

a. Screening/Evaluation Committee

b. Formation Committee

c. Liturgical Materials Committee

2.The Screening/Evaluation Committee, appointed by the Parish Priest, screens applicants to the ministry and evaluates the performance of each member annually and makes the necessary recommendation to the Pastor. The committee also monitors the behaviour of the members especially during liturgical services and constantly reminds them of the proper decorum of an altar server. The parish officers will be part of this committee.

3.The Formation Committee initiates on-going study sessions and updates on liturgical matters as well as training on Christian doctrines and values. The committee makes sure that the officers and members of the ministry are given regular inputs on the doctrinal, moral, and worship life of the Church.

The Liturgical Materials Committee primarily takes care of the different liturgical paraphernalia (vessels, vestments, books, etc.) used during liturgical celebrations. The committee helps other ministries (e.g. Mother Butler, Sacristan Mayor) in maintaining and keeping these sacred things in good condition. The committee is also expected to make a regular inventory of materials of the ministry.

ARTICLE VI – Meetings

1.The regular monthly meeting is on: ________

2.Every May or other preferred month is considered the annual general assembly, during which annual reports are given and officers are elected. Parish Altar Servers’ Day, Outing, formation and updating program may also be held.

3.Special or Emergency meetings may be called by the Coordinator or the Pastor.

4.During regular meetings, the following procedure may be followed:

a. Opening prayer

b. Attendance

c. Devotions / faith / bible sharing

d. Study of certain topics

e. Reading of minutes of previous meeting

f. Officer’s Reports

g. Committee Reports

h. Business arising from the reports

i. Summary

j. Closing prayer

III. BEHAVIOR

Being primary servers of the Altar of Christ they should set an example for others that is they should be seen as true followers of Christ in and outside the church. The following should be seen among them:

i. Evangelical character of Christ

ii. Must be always available to serve

iii. Balances time in serving, school and family

iv. Good student in school

v. Obedient to Parents and authorities

vi. Proper Haircut. The coordinators should set a standard.

vii. Good Hygiene

viii. Proper Use of Computers and Social Media

ix. Not involved in fraternities

x. Materials in the Church must be put back in order after use

xi. All altar servers must be part in maintaining the cleanliness and orderliness of the church

xii. It should also be kept in mind that the things in the church are sacred. Mass wine and communion hosts are solely for the celebration of the Eucharist. Servers cannot take or play with them.

xiii. Servers must also participate in the mass. They should not stay in the sacristy when not needed.

xiv. Punctuality. Servers must be in the parish 30 minutes before the service.

xv. Brawl and physical attacks are serious offenses (refer to sanctions)restored, the offender has reformed and upon the discretion of the parish priest.

Leave of Absence

If the server cannot fulfil his duties for a long time, due perhaps to unforeseen circumstances, he must notify the Coordinator and write a leave of absence to the Parish Priest. If he wished to serve again, he should also express his desire to the Parish Priest.

Amendments

Parishes, in view of addressing issues and needs proper to their place, may create additional regulations and make minor amendments provided the following process is taken properly. Additional policies and amendment of by-laws may take place at any regular meeting of the organization with the approval of the pastor and by a two-thirds vote, provided that the amendment has been submitted in writing at the previous regular meeting. The DOCMAS should be informed and approve of these changes. After the approval, these regulations should be published in the parish, informing all the members and all those related to the ministry of parish altar servers.