As our nation and local diocese sees and feels the priest shortage hit our parishes, including St. Rita in the Desert Roman Catholic community, our parish will go in a different direction to foster a dynamic and creative way to bring young men to consider a vocation to the priesthood.

Here at St. Rita in the Desert Roman Catholic Community, we are going in an old but new direction to foster vocations by implementing an altar boys’ program to assist with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. We will address admitting girls to assisting at the altar sometime in the near future.  

Vocations are everyone’s concern not just the Church’s. When we consider the family, it is the school of learning where husbands and wives learn how to care and love for each other. Additionally, when children are born, it is a whole new and exciting dynamic of many possibilities.

Altar Boys are a very important part of the Sacred Liturgy as they assist the priest on the Altar during the Sunday Masses and Holy Days throughout the year. Boys who  received the Sacrament of First Holy Communion are eligible to serve in this Ministry.

Altar Boys are needed to carry items, set the Altar, and assist the priest throughout the Sacrifice of the Mass. They are expected to participate fully and joyfully in the Mass by praying, responding, and singing.

This program seeks, more than anything, to encourage the young men to fully engage their faith through service to the Church as ministers of the altar. Serving at the altar gives the young men a hands-on, personal experience of God’s work in the liturgy. It also is an opportunity for them to work alongside others and be edified by their witness of faith. It is also our hope and prayer that their experience would lead some young men to consider a call the to the priesthood, religious life, and the permanent diaconate.

As they grow in experience and in dedication to their ministry, altar boys will progress through ranks, that encourage and recognize their progress and allows them to take on more responsibility.

There will be both an experiential and an educational requirement for the altar boy to progress to the next rank. Each rank will have specific duties associated with it and will require more commitment from him and his family.

Some of the roles Alar Boys perform as they progress in experience are:

• Cross Bearer
• Candle Bearer  
• Missal (Book) Bearer  
• Thurifer (incense)
• Master of Ceremonies

Altar Boys will perform all these functions as they progress through the ranks of Altar Server.

If your child is interested in becoming an Altar Boy, please review the Altar Server Manual together and complete the application.

We look forward to ministring with you soon. May the good work that the Lord has done in you bring it to fulfillment! God bless you and your family. 

 

 Application

SERVER Manual