Altar server recruitment ideas please

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mel_Stones
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Anne1964 said:
Our Bishop is sponsoring a picnic for all altar servers in the diocese, which I think is a great idea.

At my parish we have only boys serving and our priest will allow any boy to serve who has made his First Communion. We normally have 10-14 servers at Sunday masses. Every server has a part, no matter how small. The younger ones of course have less responsibility than the older ones. The older ones train the younger ones and help during Mass if they get confused.

All of our altar boys wear a cassock and surplice and they always look nice. No tennis shoes are allowed.
Click to expand...
That is pretty much how it is at our parish, except that we will have 40+ on a given Sunday am Mass ( see the video in one of my previous posts)

Though our pastor will let boys serve as young a 5, often 6.
 
Brendan said:
Why not? Someone has too 😉

Remember that the priest would have recently Consecrated the Host, so his hands might have particles of the Blessed Sacrament on them. In this way, the priest hands can remain in contact with the Sacred Vessels alone until he has had a chance to purify them.
Click to expand...
I was just curious if it was proper or not. I know for example that a server cannot elevate the chalice like a deacon can.

I’m also curious how an altar server can reach the pall in some cases when they should be kneeling?

As far as particles of the Blessed Sacrament if would make no difference if they were “knocked” off by handling one of the vessels, a purificator or the pall. In fact some priests keep their thumb and forefinger together even when they replace the pall which sometimes requires both hands.
 
Brendan said:
That is pretty much how it is at our parish, except that we will have 40+ on a given Sunday am Mass ( see the video in one of my previous posts)

Though our pastor will let boys serve as young a 5, often 6.
Click to expand...
Do you happen to know if your parish’s servers handle the pall during Mass?
 
Our pastor likewise personally invites every boy after he has made his First Holy Communion to become an altarboy (and yes, our parish is an altarboy only parish).

The parish also has an annual picnic for the altarboys at a nearby small amusement park.
 
Lennox said:
I was just curious if it was proper or not. I know for example that a server cannot elevate the chalice like a deacon can.

I’m also curious how an altar server can reach the pall in some cases when they should be kneeling?
Click to expand...
They step up, place the pall and resume kneeling.
As far as particles of the Blessed Sacrament if would make no difference if they were “knocked” off by handling one of the vessels, a purificator or the pall. In fact some priests keep their thumb and forefinger together even when they replace the pall which sometimes requires both hands.
Click to expand...
Our priests keep their fingers either together or directly above the Sacred Vessels. Turning pages of the Sacramentary precludes both.
 
In our parish, we have found the most successful way to recruit for any area of service is by personal invitation. This is always more effective than a message in the bulletin or the announcements.

Generally speaking, it has been my experience that kids are very eager to serve, and it is their parents who are reluctant to commit. When we have had a large volunteer drive, it is awesome to see the children dragging mom or dad to the sign-up table. I firmly believe that this is the time when we instill in our children an openness to vocations! 👍
 
I think the answer is in the responses: the priest needs to make an effort and parents have to be supportive.

I really don’t think the several arguments and appeals to dressing, being up front, candy, wedding tips, exemption from classes or trips is the key. They are more like lagniappe.

One thought, don’t just rely on children. If you don’t have enough young boys, ask the adult men to serve. Maybe that will get the youngsters interested? In any event, if your priest is not committed, you’ve got a tough row to hoe.
 
Why not convert adult men who are converts and never had a chance to be an “altar boy” as a child? Like me?

DaveBj
 
I like the idea of the top ten reasons. I have a fall training session comming up in early September and I think that I’m going to use that as one of our small group activities. Have each group come up with their own top ten list.

I find that our biggest problem is retention. Sometimes I think part of the problem is that we recruit too early. We start accepting servers in the 3rd grade. Then we seem to lose them once they are old enough to become members of the CYO.

We are planning a dinner for our older altar servers with the pastor next week to get their feedback on how we can improve the program to keep older servers interested.

catholicaltarserver.blogspot.com/
 
Our parish just uses adults when there aren’t enough kids.

Personally, if we had children I wouldn’t feel comfortable letting them serve…just a bad experience that happened at a parish I belonged to when I converted back in the 90s…😦
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top