ALTAR SERVER MINISTRY: An Essential Opportunity to Grow in Faith and Engage in the Mass

It is clear that altar servers have an important and special role in the Catholic Mass. In many ways, they “lighten the load” for our priests and deacons. As Pope Francis stated in a 2015 address, “Serving at the altar is a privileged way to draw closer to Jesus, which in turn enables you to open yourselves to others, to journey together, to set demanding goals and to find the strength to achieve them.”

Fr. Paul Timmerman appreciates all of the altar servers in the Holy Family Area Catholic Community. He looks forward to the day when COVID-19 restrictions are lifted and we can celebrate the Mass in a more normal way once again. He misses the procession, incense and bells, to name a few.

“The ministry of altar servers is so important because then we are able to celebrate our Masses with the proper solemnity and beauty that they deserve,” Fr. Paul says.

Sydney Hedman and Josue Matamoros have been altar servers for about six years at St. Joseph. Sydney serves for English Mass and Josue serves for Spanish Mass. As both look forward to their graduation from high school, they offered some reflection on their time serving in this important ministry.

Josue says he enjoys being an altar server because he loves to help and it has, in turn, helped him grow closer to the Lord. He steps in to help whenever Fr. Paul needs him.

“People should get involved to serve because you are serving Someone special and doing something amazing,” says Josue, who plans to study welding at Ridgewater College.

Sydney enjoys serving because it makes her more engaged in the Mass. Being an altar server all these years has also helped her understand the Mass more clearly.

“Serving is a lot of fun and you can make some great friends,” says Sydney, who plans to study social work and Spanish at the University of Mary in Bismarck, N.D. “I have met some great people over the years.”

Fr. Paul is so thankful to Josue and Sydney and their commitment throughout their years of service in this ministry. He also appreciates that they have shared their experience in the process of helping to train younger servers. When he wanted to add incense to the Mass, both were able to step up to the task with little instruction. He hopes more youth will consider stepping into this important ministry.

“Altar serving draws our youth into the deeper realities of what is happening at Mass on a spiritual level,” Fr. Paul says. “The Mass makes present, again, Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, and it is a foreshadowing of the worship in heaven. The Mass is the center of our faith, so to draw our youth into this beautiful mystery is always good.”

Fr. Paul also enjoys getting to know the youth of our parish. Altar serving is a great way for them to all get to know one another better.

“I tend to have the best rapport with our youth who serve Mass because we get the chance to get to know each other over time,” he says.

If your child is in fifth grade or above and would like to become an altar server, please call 320-269-5954.

(From left) Josue Matamoros and Sydney Hedman have both continued as altar servers at St. Joseph throughout high school. They graduate this year.