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St. Joseph
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ADULT ALTAR SERVING
Unique Opportunity for More Active Participation in the Liturgy
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hen she was a young girl, St. Joseph parishioner Erma Camp had always wanted to be an altar server. A that time, however, girls were not permitted to serve in this capacity. So, when she later was asked to begin serving upon the altar as an adult, Erma jumped at the opportunity. “It was just something I had always wanted to do,” Erma says. “I love to be up there on the altar, assisting Father with the Mass. I just feel that it is such a gift.” Now, more than 20 years later, Erma continues to serve faithfully along with her fellow adult servers. Serving for funeral liturgies, the Sunday 8:30 a.m. Mass, and during summer holidays, adult servers help ensure that the liturgy runs smoothly
during times when our youth servers are unavailable. “Nowadays, we mostly serve on Sunday and then for funerals and Holy Days,” Erma says. “Sometimes, we’ll step in for weekday Masses, as well, if there is no one there to serve. Sometimes, the kids will have testing at school or will be on a field trip and are unavailable.” This ministry is open to any adult who is both a practicing Catholic and is willing to make a commitment. Servers are scheduled approximately four times a year, serving one month at a time. This makes remembering their assigned Sundays easy, though substitutes are available when needed. Though the Altar Server Ministry is meant to be one of service given, continued on back cover
Parishioner Erma Camp says she loves serving the Lord as an adult altar server.
“It’s the fact that you’re that involved. You are there actively helping the priest. When you are sitting back in Mass watching, it’s different than being involved personally. You feel so much more a part of the Mass. And as a server, you have to be aware of what is going on so that you know when you need to do things like bring Father the book or wash his hands.” — ERMA CAMP page 7