Announcements
About serving at Our Lady of Victory Parish
Greetings to all: This is a follow up to our meeting on Mar29 and also the email responses and phone calls sent into the office. I am listing below dates for rehearsals for new altar servers. The days are Fridays @330- 500pm in the parish center and Saturdays 10-1130 am in the church..please check location listed below..I believe that each new server should make at least two sessions and they can come to more if they want. If they have any current servers in their families maybe you can bring them along and we can use them as instructors..... We are looking to have the new servers blessed at mass on the 29th of June. And prior to that they can receive their server assignments and schedules....Please if you have any question feel free to call me (508 362 3150) or email me. Also if at all possible please let me know what days you children can make the training sessions..... In the future we are looki ng to have notices posted on the parish web page for servers...Watch the bulletin Thank you and God bless Deacon Jim (DJ)
There will be several opportunities for new altar servers to be trained in the next few weeks. If you would like to be an altar server and have not signed up, please call the parish office and plan to attend 2 (two) of the following training sessions.
Friday May 16 (parish center) and May 23(OLV) 3:30-5 pm
Saturday May 17 (OLV) and May 24(OLV)10 – 11:30 am
Friday June 6 (Parish Center) 3:30 – 5 pm
Saturday June 14 (OLV) and June 21 (OLV) 10 – 11:30 am
How Do I Become an Altar Server?
Information about how to serve the church by joining the Altar server program for Our Lady of Victory Parish and Our Lady of Hope Chapel.
God asks us to Serve
One of the important messages God gives his people is to serve one another. By becoming an altar server, young people can begin to fulfill God’s request. Altar servers serve the congregation, the priests and one another in celebrating the Mass.
By learning to be an altar server, young people provide vital assistance to the church and help lead the congregation in prayer. They learn to respect God’s church but also learn to respect themselves. It also is a fulfilling way to start a lifetime of service to God, his church and his people.
Grades 3 and up!
Any boy or girl who has received their first communion can become an altar server. Regular attendance at church, an ability to make a commitment and a family that values worshipping together in the community are all required elements of a successful server.
Altar serving is an important and necessary job. It builds character and requires making a commitment. At the same time it teaches many of the principles we try to teach our children.
Altar serving promotes responsibility, accountability, leadership and above all, teamwork. It is also a chance for young people to get to know other catholic children which helps reinforce moral and ethical values our children need to face the difficult issues in today’s society.
Flexibility
Many families with children have challenging schedules.
The OLV Program offers parents:
- The opportunity to select the weekend mass times they want their children to serve.
- The opportunity to specify “vacation” dates when their child cannot serve due to other activities.
- Servers can be scheduled with friends or siblings.
- The ability to switch masses by swapping shifts with other altar servers.
- Servers generally are scheduled every other Sunday to allow for flexibility.
Fun and Fellowship
While there is work involved, this program is also fun. Periodically, during the year, bowling and pizza parties, cookouts, or other group activities will be organized to allow all of the servers to get together to update their training, communicate and promote fellowship.
The altar server program trains new recruits by asking experienced servers to help with the training. This gives those senior servers who need to demonstrate community service time for National Junior Honor Society or the scouting program.
Special Servers
For those servers who demonstrate commitment, responsibility and regular attendance, the opportunity to become a wedding server is available. Hand selected by the church to fill this important role, the wedding server requires extra training. This commitment over the spring, summer and fall months is offered to only a few, but in serving at weddings, a greater fulfillment of God’s call to us is made.
Finally, on holy days or feasts, the call for servers may include incense, special assignments or celebrating Mass with bishops and visiting priests. Trained servers are needed for these special events in the church’s schedule.
Altar Server’s Prayer
O Lord, let your light shine in my heart that I may always follow the right path. I know that you have a special plan for my life and I want to follow your way.
Help me to show respect and care for those around me. May I be an example of faith for others. Bless my family and bless all of the people of our parish as I serve you Lord Jesus.
“The altar server occupies a privileged place in the liturgical celebration. The altar server presents himself to a community and experiences firsthand that Jesus Christ is present and active in every liturgical act.”
Pope John Paul II, August 12, 2001
For more information about becoming an altar server at Our Lady of Victory Parish or Our Lady of Hope Chapel, contact the Church office during business hours.
(508) 775-5744
Training sessions happen periodically over the course of the year, depending on the level of interest and available recruits.