Question about Altar serving

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I’m currently 23 years old and wanting to get involved with my local parish. I’m thinking about helping out by becoming an altar server. I feel closest to Jesus at the Mass and to be up there near Jesus in the Eucharist would be so humbling.

I’m also in the latter part of RCIA and about to receive my sacraments of Confirmation and First Communion. I’ve also had some feeling that God may be calling me to the priesthood but still not sure if it’s a genuine call.

My question is, would I be too old to be an altar server during Mass??? I only ask this because all of the altar servers at the parish are much younger, like in elementary, middle, and high school.

Any answers would help. Thanks and God Bless.:signofcross:
 
There is absolutely nothing wrong with adults serving mass. It happens much more often than you think. I’ve been to plenty of masses in which 80 year old men served. Besides, more than anything, the young kids will look up to you.
 
joshnov17 said:
I’m currently 23 years old and wanting to get involved with my local parish. I’m thinking about helping out by becoming an altar server. I feel closest to Jesus at the Mass and to be up there near Jesus in the Eucharist would be so humbling.

I’m also in the latter part of RCIA and about to receive my sacraments of Confirmation and First Communion. I’ve also had some feeling that God may be calling me to the priesthood but still not sure if it’s a genuine call.

My question is, would I be too old to be an altar server during Mass??? I only ask this because all of the altar servers at the parish are much younger, like in elementary, middle, and high school.

Any answers would help. Thanks and God Bless.:signofcross:
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Adult as you are, you could find something else to do, which would demand greater responsibility. Just wondering…
 
In my experience, whenever I feel that “distinct longing” to serve the Lord in a particular way, it is because He is calling me to that service. How do I know that? Because whenever I have heeded that “still, small voice”, there has been much fruit from it in the end.

I serve at the altar myself, and I feel that same closeness to the Lord there that you describe. I, too, am older than all of the other servers during Sunday Mass (though we have MC’s on the altar that are about my age). In addition, I am a female–so I had serious reservations about that “deep longing” to serve at the altar. When I took them to someone I trusted, he allayed my fears and said, “If you feel the Lord calling you to this, don’t be overwhelmed by the kids. You will be a wonderful example and mentor to both them and the rest of the congregation to serve the Lord in this capacity.” I heeded his advice, and I do not regret it at all. Also, during daily Mass, we have at least two female servers who are well into their sixties!

I come from a large parish. We have two priests who encourage and foster servers of both genders and of all ages. Our parish is dynamic, very service oriented, and very fruitful in what we do for the local community, and I believe, resplendent in the light of Christ which we exude.

It is my view that the Lord is deeply touched by those who want to be near Him in this service. May He bless you and give you confidence to serve Him in this way.
 
There should be no problem/questioning as to your wanting to be an altar server. If you feel God calling you to do that, then you need to answer that. Anyone to deny you of that call is wrong. Talk to your pastor after you have been received into full communion, and I’m sure he’d be more than happy to let you serve. Since you’re older, you might be “in charge” of certain things that other servers may not be able to do, like lighting the Easter candle. I can never do that. :o 😃

Good luck on your journey to the Catholic Church!
 
Yes
You can serve as an adult at 23. Well at least you can in the Anglican church. I was 19 when first had a go but didn’t take to it then. Just a few years ago the priest looking after us in interregnum got me back into it again and get along this time.

I sing aswell as serve which the new priest has got me into supported both of which I am very happy with because it meant I could rejoin the choir and not give up serving.

Spritual, I don’t feel any closer to God for serving than not serving. But being 43 year old I may have more insight there anyway. The main thing that serving has done for me is that we our new priest arrived I knew I had to say some things about me, before he heard any gossip so he got them direct from me. It took courage because I didn’t know him then at all. However, it started the road of trust and I have own way of communicating stuff with him and totally (and healthily) trust him.

I will support what Paffanoffhen is trying to say. Serving is a good way forward to start to begin to discern any calling from God. But I hope you will talk to your priest. He may be able to set up some challenges fand reading or you and see how you respond etc. The church of England Website has a great resource list for anyone thinking about priesthood. I wonder if Roman Catholics have one available to them too? Ours explains the whole process as well as points to think about.

You are just at the end of the classes. The priest might be willing to give you a small bible study group for you to lead or help lead? or whatever needs to start happening in your parish? You could think about leading a prayer group? Don’t take too much on but be ready to respond to what your priest may suggest? Work with him well because he will be able to put you forward etc when he thinks you are ready etc? Though if anything like Church of England, you probably can put yourself forward to the Bishop but much better if you have the support from the parish priest.

Have a think about what various roles there are in the church and see if you can try them too. Get to know about the PCC etc and how the church is organised. You will need to as a priest anyway.

But certainly 23 is not too old to be an alter server:)
 
I see nothing wrong with it. I served last night with my 5th and 7th grader. My parish has many adults serving at mass with their children. Since there isn’t a catholic school within 60 miles of our town the adults are needed to be on form for funerals.
 
joshnov17 said:
I’m currently 23 years old and wanting to get involved with my local parish. I’m thinking about helping out by becoming an altar server. I feel closest to Jesus at the Mass and to be up there near Jesus in the Eucharist would be so humbling.

I’m also in the latter part of RCIA and about to receive my sacraments of Confirmation and First Communion. I’ve also had some feeling that God may be calling me to the priesthood but still not sure if it’s a genuine call.

My question is, would I be too old to be an altar server during Mass??? I only ask this because all of the altar servers at the parish are much younger, like in elementary, middle, and high school.

Any answers would help. Thanks and God Bless.:signofcross:
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You are not too old to be an altar server. Welcome to the Church.

God Bless.
 
Our last bishop encouraged many men to become instituted acolytes and our diocese now has a large number of them. All are adults (and male), of course, and if you were to enter seminary, you would be instituted as a lector and then as an acolyte in your first years of theology.
 
In our parish, the adult servers out number the children. This is true of some other parishes I have attended as well.

I cannot think of anything else that has more responsiblity than assisting the priest at mass.
 
There is nothing wrong with an adult serving at the altar.

The proper place for this question though is to your pastor.

It would be up to the pastor to decide if he would allow adult altar servers just as it is up to him to decide who will serve period.

You must also take into account the local customs of your parish.

So while you can ask here if it is feasible for an adult to serve at the altar, we can not really answer the question of whether or not you can server at the altar at your parish.
 
Cavaille-Coll said:
Our last bishop encouraged many men to become instituted acolytes and our diocese now has a large number of them. All are adults (and male), of course, and if you were to enter seminary, you would be instituted as a lector and then as an acolyte in your first years of theology.
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Arlington? I will get blasted here but acolytes are normally a transitional role. Additionally acolytes are lectors first. I am an acolyte but I am on my way toward ordination 5.5 years down 1.5 to go.
 
errr you guys handle things very different to us it seems

I am an acolyte most sundays I serve. Its just a term for carrying the candle aint it? Thrurier carries the thrurible… We do whatever when who ever aint there…?
 
joshnov17 said:
My question is, would I be too old to be an altar server during Mass??? I only ask this because all of the altar servers at the parish are much younger, like in elementary, middle, and high school.
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Selection of altar servers is up to the pastor. As people have mentioned, there is nothing wrong in principle with a person of any age serving at the altar, but if the pastor wished to restrict service to, for instance, students at the parish school, that would be within his rights to do. So just ask! I’ll bet they will be thrilled that you’re interested.
 
joshnov17 said:
I’m currently 23 years old and wanting to get involved with my local parish. I’m thinking about helping out by becoming an altar server. I feel closest to Jesus at the Mass and to be up there near Jesus in the Eucharist would be so humbling.

I’m also in the latter part of RCIA and about to receive my sacraments of Confirmation and First Communion. I’ve also had some feeling that God may be calling me to the priesthood but still not sure if it’s a genuine call.

My question is, would I be too old to be an altar server during Mass??? I only ask this because all of the altar servers at the parish are much younger, like in elementary, middle, and high school.

Any answers would help. Thanks and God Bless.:signofcross:
Click to expand...
Speak to your pastor. He is the one who makes the rules regarding servers at his parish. As an adult with a more flexible schedule, he may welcome you to serve daily Masses or for weddings and funerals.
 
CatholicZ09 said:
There should be no problem/questioning as to your wanting to be an altar server. If you feel God calling you to do that, then you need to answer that. Anyone to deny you of that call is wrong. Talk to your pastor after you have been received into full communion, and I’m sure he’d be more than happy to let you serve. Since you’re older, you might be “in charge” of certain things that other servers may not be able to do, like lighting the Easter candle. I can never do that. :o 😃

Good luck on your journey to the Catholic Church!
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The pastor determines who can serve at his parish. A call to be an altar server, EMHC, reader, etc comes through the pastor. We need to remember that no lay person has a “right” to serve as anything during Mass and so we cannot be wronged by a denial to serve.
 
rhiannonh said:
errr you guys handle things very different to us it seems

I am an acolyte most sundays I serve. Its just a term for carrying the candle aint it? Thrurier carries the thrurible… We do whatever when who ever aint there…?
Click to expand...
No, in the Catholic Church an acolyte is an adult male who has been instituted to the ministry by his bishop. It is a step toward the priesthood or diaconate. That said, now that it is a ministry, rather than a minor order of cleric, it can be a permanent ministry in the countries and dioceses where the bishop allows it.

The word acolyte has often been used to signify “altar boy” because the altar boy performs many of an acolyte’s duties while serving at the altar. However, there are some of an acolyte’s duties that an altar server cannot perform: teaching the faith, purifying the sacred vessels, being the first choice if an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion is needed, etc.
 
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