• Reinstituting the Ministry of Altar Serving at St. Joan of Arc

  Dear Parish and School Families,
  
  We are excited to announce the reinstitution of altar serving at St. Joan of Arc Parish and School for students in grade 3 and older. This vital ministry is a wonderful opportunity for our young people to take an active role in the celebration of the Mass, deepening their faith while serving the Lord and our parish community.
  
  Altar serving is a special ministry that allows children to assist the priest during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. It requires attentiveness, reverence, and a genuine commitment to understand and honor the sacredness of the liturgy. In addition to learning the practical aspects of serving at the altar, children will grow in their understanding of the Mass and their role in the Church's worship.
  
  Parental involvement is key to the success of this ministry. Your encouragement and commitment will help foster the dedication and consistency required for your children to serve well. Serving is not only a responsibility for your child but also a family commitment to support their growth in faith and service.
  
  We want to emphasize that this is not a light obligation. Altar serving is a year-round commitment which must take precedence over other commitments in which our children are involved. Although altar serving does not require ongoing practice, as with sports participation, school Mass and Sunday Mass obligation happens every week. While altar servers are not scheduled to serve every week, they must be ready to serve as scheduled or find a substitute. Given the busy schedules of us all, serious consideration should be given to not overloading our children. Those who commit to becoming altar servers will be required to attend formal training sessions to ensure they are well-prepared to serve with reverence and respect for the Mass. Training dates and times will be provided soon.
  
  Altar servers need to have made their first communion and are accustomed to receiving the Eucharist and attending Mass on a regular basis.Additionally, students who wish to serve at school Masses must also be willing to serve at weekend Masses at St. Joan of Arc or their home parish. This reinforces the idea that serving at the altar is a privilege and a commitment to the broader life of the Church, not just the school.
   
  We hope you will prayerfully consider encouraging your child to become a part of this important ministry. Together, we can help form a new generation of faithful, responsible, and reverent altar servers, dedicated to the beauty of the Mass and service to our parish.
   
  God bless,
   
  Fr. Bob

  [email protected]
  

• Sign-up Deadline for Fall Training is Monday Nov. 4. There will be several available training dates (to come).