2 minute read
Adult Altar Serving: Unique Opportunity for More Active Participation in the Liturgy
When 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.”
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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, Erma says that she ends up receiving far more in return. It elevates her liturgical experience, making her a more active participant in the Mass. It’s also enabled her to learn so much more about the liturgy itself and the rich meaning behind every ritual and action.
“It’s the fact that you’re that involved,” Erma says. “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 also finds tremendous joy in assisting with funeral Masses, viewing it as a concrete way to support bereaving members.
“I think they appreciate the fact that adults are willing to be there like that,” Erma says. “We are there for the families to support them in their time of grief and assist the priest.”
Describing St. Joseph Church as her “home away from home,” Erma loves being able to give back as an adult altar server. It’s her way of pitching in — belonging to a family.
