Question about Altar Servers

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Can anyone give me brief descriptions about the differences in practices among altar servers in countries other than the United States? The only altar servers that I have every seen outside of the U.S. were adults (probably seminarians). Admittedly, I haven’t traveled that much, but I am curious if the practice is different. Any information would be great.

Pax
 
Altar servers in Canada are the same as in the US: boys and/or girls of grammar school and/or early high school age. I don’t recall ever seeing servers who looked to be college age, except on a college campus.

In Byzantine Catholic Churches the altar servers seem to be adults, from my limited experience.
 
scott122 said:
Altar servers in Canada are the same as in the US: boys and/or girls of grammar school and/or early high school age. I don’t recall ever seeing servers who looked to be college age, except on a college campus.
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Depends on the parish and the Mass. Dad became an altar server at the age of 12 and served until he was 39. Then when he retired he started serving again at the weekday Masses he attended and did so until he was in his late 70s. The servers at Sunday Masses were school-aged.

In my present parish there are school-aged altar servers at the Sunday morning Mass. There might be one at the anticipated Mass on Saturday but usually one of 4 adults will go up to prepare the altar and assist Fr. at the preparation of the gifts. At the daily Mass, if one of the 4 above-mentioned adults is there he/she goes up otherwise Fr. does for himself.
 
My uncle began serving when he was about 12. He is now in his 70’s and still serving…in the same church.
 
I have seen changes within my Church. Both my Grandfathers were alter boys at the time they were in Catholic School.Both of them grew up Pre Vatican II and they went to neighboring parishes, although not twinned. Back then mass was exclusively Latin and my mom’s dad remembered the Latin vary well. Both went 8 grades at the Catholic School. My dad was born Pre Vatican II and went to school when Vatican II was in progress and finished Post Vatican II. At that time all servers were still boys and mass for him was half English and half Latin. Mom was born during Vatican II and went to school post Vatican II, but grew up with Pre Vatican II values. She wasn’t allowed to serve at mass. I grew up Post Vatican II (born 1982) and when I went to Catholic School only boys were allowed to serve mass. I went six grades as my father did. My father started St. Mary’s when it was still eight grades and then it went down to 7 grades then to 6. He was the first class to only go 6 grades as our town erected a new Jr. High. My sister is 3 years behind me and she was allowed to serve a couple years while at St. Mary’s and continued through high school just as I had. A couple of years ago we started adult servers. I became one in 2008. Our parish doesn’t allow boys/girls before the 4th grade to serve mass. The hand gesture at mass for the adults(once a month) is different from children. The adults hold more of a traditional hand gesture as I learned for communion whereas the kids fold their hands together and hold them down by there waist.
 
BSHoop96 said:
oh, I love that!
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Thanks! I think it’s pretty cool too. He has some great stories from the “old days.” During the late 40’s - early 50’s, there was an auxiliary bishop assigned to his church. This bishop really liked my uncle and often praised him for his abilities as an altar boy. The downside was that he wanted my uncle to serve for him at the 6:00 AM Mass every day before school. According to my uncle, the Baptish church around the corner was starting to look VERY inviting.
 
rick43235 said:
Thanks! I think it’s pretty cool too. He has some great stories from the “old days.” During the late 40’s - early 50’s, there was an auxiliary bishop assigned to his church. This bishop really liked my uncle and often praised him for his abilities as an altar boy. The downside was that he wanted my uncle to serve for him at the 6:00 AM Mass every day before school. According to my uncle, the Baptish church around the corner was starting to look VERY inviting.
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:rotfl: :rotfl: Sometimes it’s hard being Catholic isn’t it? Obviously, he stuck it out. Good for him.
 
What are the requirements on being an alter server ? Does an alter server have to be baptized and have received 1st communion before becoming an alter server ?
 
uniden said:
What are the requirements on being an alter server ? Does an alter server have to be baptized and have received 1st communion before becoming an alter server ?
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I would say being baptised is an essential requirement. In our parish altar servers have received first communion. They range in age from about 8 to teens. That’s the usual age range I see. Adults may occasionally be seen serving at weekday Mass.
 
Matthew_Holford said:
I would say being baptised is an essential requirement. In our parish altar servers have received first communion. They range in age from about 8 to teens. That’s the usual age range I see. Adults may occasionally be seen serving at weekday Mass.
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Adults are the majority at my Parish, and just today at Mass Father used the Gospel Parable of the Talents to request more parishoners step up to serve. We had a shortage this morning.🙂

And fyi, here is the link to the USCCB page concerning Alter Servers:
usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/resources-for-the-eucharist/guidelines-for-ministers/guidelines-for-altar-servers.cfm

Pax Christi
 
My only experience is with the EF and the most obvious differences in practise that I have seen from different videos of Mass would be that North American servers seem to kneel for the Credo whilst over here we stand. There’s also a lot more bowing in North America. Servers bow every time the celebrant bows where as over here we bow at the Gloria Patri, Confiteor and the Holy Name.

As for age ranges… Sunday Masses generally have their rabble of kids, weekday Masses a deacon if your lucky or no one.
 
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