Altar Server training with the Fellowship of Blessed John Henry Newman.

-
A week ago Saturday, three boys were accepted into the Guild of Altar Servers after a two-and-a-half hour training session which included:
  1. the meaning of ritual gestures: posture; bows and genuflections; hand position.
  2. liturgical movement and pacing for four processions: Entrance; Gospel; Sanctus; Dismissal.
  3. an introduction to prayers: vesting prayers; sacristy prayers.
  4. the character of the altar server and spiritual formation.
After the formal part of the training, when the new servers were encouraged to pray for each other, their families and the priests, one of the young lads confidently proclaimed that, "when I become an adult, I will be a priest". His comment was humbling and moved us all deeply.

The training session focussed on the Sung (Sunday) Mass and was led by two instituted acolytes and our pastor. All clergy and adult instituted acolytes function in complete compliance with a safe environment policy. All adult supervisors submit to police background checks. Ordinariate clergy and assistants must complete the Virtus® program.

The ministry of altar server in the Fellowship is reserved for males. After Mass, two long-serving women care for the vessels, altar breads, wine and altar linens. The women, core members of the Altar Guild, are ably assisted by a dedicated crew of young girls, guided by their grandmother, and are models of piety and service. The girls retrieve Mass booklets and sheets from the pews, and assist in storing kneeler cushions after Mass, among other essential tasks. Eventually, the junior members will be entrusted with additional Altar Guild responsibilities.

At the discretion of the Master of Ceremonies, in consultation with the pastor, the altar boys will graduate to additional responsibilities in the sanctuary.

Levels
  1. Primus (Apprentice): boat boy; torchbearer.
  2. Secundus: crucifer; patener.
  3. Tertius: cruet(s) and lavabo bowl/manuterge/ewer bearer(s); bell ringer; thurifer.

Comments

Post a Comment

Your comments will be appreciated and posted if 1) they are on topic and 2) preserve decorum.

Stand by your word. Do not be anonymous. Use a pseudonym.

Popular Posts

Life At The Altar Rail: 22 Behaviours Categorized

-
Image
Cantius/NLM [ 4 min read ] Some communicants make things interesting (...tricky, delicate, awkward, awesome...) at The Communion. Now don't get the wrong idea. Spoofing one's brothers' and sisters' behaviour is not meant to be proof of one's own moral or spiritual superiority. There's always a need to keep in mind the heart of another when lampooning (or celebrating) the externals, as curious or as laudable as those externals might be. The Moving Target: either the head or the tongue is moving a mile a minute. A good patener knows how to tame the fidget. See also #18: The Rubberneck. The Obstacle Course: fingertips touching the chin or mouth making it difficult for the patener to place the paten beneath the chin. The Curtain: face is completely covered with a veil. The NOFB (Not Open For Business): closed eyes, closed mouth; despite the need for a gentle prompt, typically a deeply reverent person. The Taker: wants to steal the Host from the priest. Note to commu...
Read more

You Know You're In A Progressive Catholic Parish When... .

-
Image
... you rarely (if ever) hear the following phrases. "Party like it's A.D. 1570!" "We should sing more plainchant at this parish." "I'd like to thank the choir for their sublime rendition of the Mass For Five Voices by William Byrd." "I just love the way the four torchbearers process in with such dignity." "People treat the Host like a snack. I think it's time we went back to communion on the tongue." "My entire family goes to Confession every week." "We need a central Tabernacle on the altar." "The altar servers' lace cottas are so beautiful." "I just love Father Steve's sermons about the Real Presence and living a Eucharistic life." "People are leaving in droves for Saint Pius X Parish and the reverent Mass there. Do you think we're doing something wrong here at Harvey Milk Parish?" "I'm thrilled that the design for the new church includes a choir loft....
Read more

Review: Saint Gregory's Prayer Book

-
Image
Two copies of the St. Gregory's Prayer Book (SGPB) arrived a few days ago. It is a lovely work replete with beautiful devotions drawn from the English Patrimony. Both Ordinariate and diocesan Catholics would do well to acquire a copy to access its riches. The SGPB is "a collaborative venture" of the three personal ordinariates and the Anglicanorum Coetibus Society . A blurb from the Ignatius Press site where one can go to purchase copies: https://www.ignatius.com/St-Gregorys-Prayer-Book-P3228.aspx The St Gregory's Prayer Book is a beautifully produced leatherette prayer book compiled by the Ordinariates established by Pope Benedict XVI and drawing on the riches of the Anglican liturgical heritage and the exquisite Cranmerian language of the Book of Common Prayer to further enrich the panoply of Catholic liturgy and devotion. The text includes ancient English collects, introits and hymns available together for the first time for the whole Church...
Read more

You know you're a REAL altar server when... .

-
Image
In a movie theatre, you genuflect before entering the aisle to take a seat. Riding a bus, sitting in class or at the doctor's office, and/or when watching TV, you rest your hands palms down on your thighs, finger tips at your knees. You can identify each and every variety of incense used in the Mass simply by its scent. You habitually wear black socks and black dress shoes... even when wearing shorts for gym class or at the beach. You turn a perfect right angle when entering a building. You have nightmares about serving Mass at the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress. You hear a bicycle bell ring and you drop to your knees. You can't resist the urge to lift a curtain from the bottom. You have a copy of Ceremonies of the Roman Rite Described by Adrian Fortescue on your smartphone for recreational reading. You have a copy of Ritual Notes (11th Edition) on your smartphone for recreational reading. As a torchbearer, you can carry a processional candle without spilling one dr...
Read more

TRUE PARTICIPATION IN THE MASS

"I was gathered into the offering of the Son to the Father. I participated in the self-offering of God today."
Every effort is made herein this blog to conform to the teaching of the Church - Quod ubique, quod semper, quod ab omnibus creditum est. Comments are welcome.