Saint Frances Cabrini Parish

Altar Servers

Contact Information
Terri Specht: 724-728-5258

Altar servers can be girls or boys, men and women, beginning in grade four. New servers generally meet in January for training, but individual training can take place upon request. Periodically, servers receive additional training to review liturgical functions. Training includes one evening and then individual practice at a weekday evening Mass.
Servers assist the priest at Sunday and Holy Day Masses, as well as weddings and funerals.
Schedules and rosters are distributed on a quarterly basis, so that servers can arrange replacements if they are unable to serve. Servers may request specific Mass times.
Social events will be planned for the future, including outings and trips to amusement parks. A trip to Kennywood is planned each summer on Catholic Youth Day.

Prayer from the Rite of Institution of an Acolyte

Because you are specially called to this ministry, you should strive to live more fully by the Lord's sacrifice and to be molded more perfectly in its likeness. You should seek to understand the deep spiritual meaning of what you do, so that you may offer yourselves daily to God as spiritual sacrifices acceptable to him through Jesus Christ. In performing your ministry bear in mind that, as you share the one bread with your brothers and sisters, so you form one body with them. Show a sincere love for Christ's Mystical Body, God's holy people, and especially for the weak and the sick. Be obedient to the commandment which the Lord gave to his apostles at the Last Supper: "Love one another as I also have loved you."

A Server’s Vocabulary

Altar:
A table on which the sacrifice of the Mass is offered. It is the center of importance in the place where the Mass is celebrated. Also called the Table of the Lord. The priest and servers bow to the altar as a sign of respect. The priest kisses the altar as part of the Entrance Procession.
Vestment:
The ritual robes worn by members of the clergy, acolytes, or other special liturgical ministers.
Alb:
The white linen robe worn as a vestment.
Chasuble:
The sleeveless, colorful vestment worn over the alb by priests, bishops and Pope when celebrating the Mass.
Cassock:
A non-liturgical, full-length, close-fitting robe for use by priests and other clerics under liturgical vestments; usually black for priests, purple for bishops and other prelates, red for cardinals, white for the Pope. Keanu Reeves wore a cassock as a costume in the movie the Matrix.
Stole:
The vestment worn around the neck by all ordained ministers. For priests, bishops and Pope, it hangs down in front (under the chasuble); the deacons wear it over their left shoulder crossed and fastened at the right side.
Sacramentary:
The book used by the celebrant, containing all the prayers for the liturgy of the Mass.
Liturgical Colors:
Colors used in vestments and altar coverings to denote special times in the Church. Green symbolizes hope and growth and is used in ordinary times. Red denotes feasts of martyrs or the Holy Spirit. The color purple, a color of royalty, denotes times that we are sorry for our sins. White, the brightness of day, is used for joyful occasions including Christmas, Easter and some saints’ days.
Sanctuary:
That part of the church where the altar is located (the blue carpet).

Altar Servers Calendar - PDF

The summit and source of the Church's life is the Eucharist, which builds up the Christian community and makes it grow. It is the responsibility of altar servers (acolytes) to assist priests and deacons in carrying out their ministry. Servers carry the cross, the processional candles, hold the book for the priest celebrant when he is not at the altar, carry the incense and censer, present the bread, wine, and water to the priest during the preparation of the gifts or assist him when he receives the gifts from the people, wash the hands of the priest, and assist the priest celebrant and deacon as necessary.

Back to Ministries

A Pennsylvania Charitable Trust

115 Trinity Drive
Center Twp., Aliquippa, PA 15001 724-775-6363 Phone
724-775-3848 Fax