Age of altar servers

[Brendan]

Wouldn’t it be better to pray for more Eucharistic Minsters and EMHCs because that would mean our churches are full to overflowing?

Think BIG!

The very best thing to do is to pray that each parish has sufficient Priests and Deacon to distribute Holy Communion, as well as all other ministries which are Ordinary to the clergy.

A side effect of that would be the need for EMHC’s will disappear, no matter how full the parish is, but that is OK, as they only exist BECAUSE of the lack of clergy.

No one should ever desire that our parishes suffer a lack of clergy in any respect, no matter what the justification.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

Are there any norms or guidelines on the age of altar servers? My 2 older sons ages 14 and 12 think they are too old. Just wondering if there are any guidelines? Our paris has a lack of them so losing the both of them would be hard.

As others have mentioned, there is no automatic age limit. My parish uses both children and adults and it works fine.

But your sons are growing up and are old enough to have (name removed by moderator)ut into their activities. If they don’t want to be altar servers, is there some ministry they would prefer? What are their skills or talents or interests? Perhaps one or the other would like to join the choir or become an usher or help with religious education or who knows what. I’d encourage them to find their place in the parish where they can both serve and find fulfillment.

 

[triumphguy]

The very best thing to do is to pray that each parish has sufficient Priests and Deacon to distribute Holy Communion, as well as all other ministries which are Ordinary to the clergy.

A side effect of that would be the need for EMHC’s will disappear, no matter how full the parish is, but that is OK, as they only exist BECAUSE of the lack of clergy.

No one should ever desire that our parishes suffer a lack of clergy in any respect, no matter what the justification.

If every Church lost 50% of their faithful then there would be enough Priests and Deacons. You have to be specific what you pray for.

Since EMHCs are perfectly acceptable then praying for so many faithful that we need both more priests and more EMHCs would seem like a perfectly good prayer to me

Think big, not small!

 

[doormouse73]

If every Church lost 50% of their faithful then there would be enough Priests and Deacons. You have to be specific what you pray for.

Since EMHCs are perfectly acceptable then praying for so many faithful that we need both more priests and more EMHCs would seem like a perfectly good prayer to me

Think big, not small!

give that man triumphguy a cigar,

 

[Brendan]

Since EMHCs are perfectly acceptable then praying for so many faithful that we need both more priests and more EMHCs would seem like a perfectly good prayer to me

Think big, not small!

By definition, if we had a sufficient number of priests and deacons, there would be no need for EMHC’s (by definition, since EMHC’s are only needed in cases of a lack of sufficient number of clergy)

So any prayer that would the Church having sufficient numbers of clergy, would necessitate the lack of need for EMHC’s

Your prayer, as you noted would simply be for MORE priests. Why not pray for ENOUGH priests (and deacons) to fulfill the roles that the Church has set out for them.

It is quite possible for the Church to have MORE priests, but still not have ENOUGH priests

I would even go so far as to pray for what most would consider to be a temporal SURPLUS of priests, but considering the Divine Origin of the calling, such a thing would be Objectively impossible. Kind of like how society might claim that a couple has ‘too many children’.

As you said, Think BIG!!

 

[powerlinemom]

At our parish, children must have had their First Holy Communion before they can be altar servers, so the youngest are 7-8 years old. My boys are 13 and 11, and they serve quite regularly. I would say most of the kids are in that 10-12 age range, but we do have a few 13-16 year olds. We do not have any adult altar servers now. We just had a new deacon ordained, and prior to his ordination he usually acted as a server. He attends the Spanish mass now that he’s ordained, so we’re back to just kids at the Mass we attend.

Things really run a lot smoother with the altar servers when some of the older kids are there to help guide the younger ones. They don’t do an especially great job of training the altar servers at our church, so they really do have to learn as they go. It is nice when the older kids can guide the younger ones and keep things moving along smoothly.

 

[KimberlyAnn0218]

As others have mentioned, there is no automatic age limit. My parish uses both children and adults and it works fine.

But your sons are growing up and are old enough to have (name removed by moderator)ut into their activities. If they don’t want to be altar servers, is there some ministry they would prefer? What are their skills or talents or interests? Perhaps one or the other would like to join the choir or become an usher or help with religious education or who knows what. I’d encourage them to find their place in the parish where they can both serve and find fulfillment.

Yes, that is the struggle. They are getting older. BUT as parents we guide them in other areas so I can also see guiding them in this area, too. We require them to do certain things, ch ores, etc, we could extend this as well. They have not come out and said they don’t want do they just complain if they fill in when not scheduled. The oldest actually kind of brags about what a good job he does and likes positive feedback about it. He claims to sign autographs after mass, lol. I think we will know when their time has come to stop and it may be right around the corner. I would like our pastor to address all the servers about the role and importance of service to the church, etc.

It’s good to know there is no age limit.

Kim

 

[smndtupidisaftr]

Seeing the ages some people mention of altar servers actively serving is inspiring. I would love to do this! But again, it’s Los Angeles, and I think the only route for that would be to become a deacon, which I don’t think I can do concurrently while I’m in school and in a few years planning to start a family.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

Seeing the ages some people mention of altar servers actively serving is inspiring. I would love to do this! But again, it’s Los Angeles, and I think the only route for that would be to become a deacon, which I don’t think I can do concurrently while I’m in school and in a few years planning to start a family.

Being in the Los Angeles Archdiocese is not an impediment to being an altar server. My parish is also in the archdiocese and we have at least as many adults – maybe more adults – than children.

If you’re interested in being an altar server then volunteer! Perhaps you will be told that it is reserved for children and/or teens. But perhaps they will be delighted to have an adult who will serve at the altar!

 

[TimothyH]

I am a professional altar server. Trust me!

How so?

-Tim-

 

[smndtupidisaftr]

Being in the Los Angeles Archdiocese is not an impediment to being an altar server. My parish is also in the archdiocese and we have at least as many adults – maybe more adults – than children.

If you’re interested in being an altar server then volunteer! Perhaps you will be told that it is reserved for children and/or teens. But perhaps they will be delighted to have an adult who will serve at the altar!

Where is that? I’ve grown up thinking that it is a service only for children because that’s all that I have ever seen. And when there are no children around, then there have been no altar servers.

 

[sw85]

Are there any norms or guidelines on the age of altar servers? My 2 older sons ages 14 and 12 think they are too old. Just wondering if there are any guidelines? Our paris has a lack of them so losing the both of them would be hard.

There’s no official guidelines that I’m aware of. I occasionally attend a TLM at which several “altar boys” (all college age) assist, and which is overseen by a master of ceremonies who in his 40s or 50s.

Personally, though, I think 12/14 are good ages for altar boys. Tradition has often seen altar boys as kind of “apprentice priests,” i.e., at least potential candidates for the priesthood who are being given greater exposure to the liturgy by being allowed to serve the priest at the altar. So, naturally, it would seem that those formative years when boys transition into men would be the ideal time to have altar servers.

 

[triumphguy]

By definition, if we had a sufficient number of priests and deacons, there would be no need for EMHC’s (by definition, since EMHC’s are only needed in cases of a lack of sufficient number of clergy)

So any prayer that would the Church having sufficient numbers of clergy, would necessitate the lack of need for EMHC’s

Your prayer, as you noted would simply be for MORE priests. Why not pray for ENOUGH priests (and deacons) to fulfill the roles that the Church has set out for them.

It is quite possible for the Church to have MORE priests, but still not have ENOUGH priests

I would even go so far as to pray for what most would consider to be a temporal SURPLUS of priests, but considering the Divine Origin of the calling, such a thing would be Objectively impossible. Kind of like how society might claim that a couple has ‘too many children’.

As you said, Think BIG!!

OK now I’ll buy what you’re selling:thumbsup:

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

Where is that? I’ve grown up thinking that it is a service only for children because that’s all that I have ever seen. And when there are no children around, then there have been no altar servers.

Why don’t you talk with your pastor about becoming an altar server? It sounds like they could really use someone like you. Perhaps if one person steps up, others will follow!

 

[smndtupidisaftr]

Why don’t you talk with your pastor about becoming an altar server? It sounds like they could really use someone like you. Perhaps if one person steps up, others will follow!

Here’s what I get looking up the altar server ministry page of the most conservative parish that I know of:

“To All Children in 5th Grade and Higher: We Welcome You…”

And maybe it sounds petty, but it would seem awkward asking given the association of the ministry with children. Maybe I can volunteer to be a sacristan or something behind the scenes.

 

[Aran_Houlihan]

I’m 22 and and been serving for 14 years and I am the MC and I see no problem with having older servers.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

We have lots of high school boys serving at this parish. They mostly start in 3rd grade. The priest does have a “graduation” party for the altar boys when they graduate from high school, but we’ve had a few who went to school locally and continued serving.

Obviously Mass at a college chapel uses college aged servers.

 

[smndtupidisaftr]

We have lots of high school boys serving at this parish. They mostly start in 3rd grade. The priest does have a “graduation” party for the altar boys when they graduate from high school, but we’ve had a few who went to school locally and continued serving.

Obviously Mass at a college chapel uses college aged servers.

Or they do what they did at my college which is use no altar servers. But, to be fair, this was a church that decided that we should stand during the consecration, have everyone come up for the washing of the feet on Holy Thursday, use very crumbly bread to consecrate, have women do the homily, etc.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

Or they do what they did at my college which is use no altar servers. But, to be fair, this was a church that decided that we should stand during the consecration, have everyone come up for the washing of the feet on Holy Thursday, use very crumbly bread to consecrate, have women do the homily, etc.

Thankfully not the case at my daughter’s college. There is a wonderful chaplain there who is very orthodox and reverent.

 

[St_Hilary]

Are there any norms or guidelines on the age of altar servers? My 2 older sons ages 14 and 12 think they are too old. Just wondering if there are any guidelines? Our paris has a lack of them so losing the both of them would be hard.