Altar Servers & Knights of the Altar
Mission and Purpose
If you have a son in grades 3 and up, he is eligible to become an Altar Server. We have ongoing training for new Altar Servers. If you are interested in enrolling your son, please stop by the Pastoral Center to fill out a registration form. You will be notified by our Altar Server Coordinator regarding the training dates.
Serving at the altar is a tremendous privilege for a child. It allows him to:
develop a closer relationship with God
have a better understanding of the Mass
learn reverence and discipline
learn to have a spirit of cooperation with others
get to know the parish priests and consider a priestly or Religious vocation
overcome shyness and fear of being “in front of others.”
Service at the altar is to remember the Last Supper. Our Lord was there with the Apostles. However, there were others who were there as well and who assisted: those who prepared the meal, those who served it and those who cleaned up. What a privilege it must have been for them to be so close to Our Lord and the Apostles and serve them on such a momentous night! In a similar way, our Altar Servers are those who serve Our Lord in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and are so close to the Holy of Holies. Let us encourage our children to take part in this “most beautiful thing this side of Heaven.”
Please stop by the Pastoral Center to fill out a registration form. You will then be contacted with the training dates.
Knights of the Altar
The origin of the Knights, in the service of Holy Mother Church, calls forth such ideals as honor, loyalty, justice, chivalry, and respect for all. In the use of the term Knight, the Altar Server is reminded of his duty to serve the Lord of lords with fidelity and honor, to treat others with respect and justice, and to live an upright personal life, defending always the rights of God and His Holy Church. In the names apprentice and Knight in training, the server is reminded again of the years of practice and study that goes into the training of a Knight and should consider with what devotion and perseverance he should attend to his own training in the service of the Altar. The Master Knights are those young men who have proven to be true to the service of this society over the course of years.
Purpose of the Society
To form a worthy guard of honor to our Divine Eucharistic King in whose service we willingly assume the dignity and honor of becoming Knights of the Altar.
To render faithful, reverent and edifying service to God by assisting His visible representatives, the Bishops and Priests, in offering the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and in all other liturgical and devotional functions.
To kindle in the hearts of the faithful whom we represent at the altar, greater piety and devotion by reverently performing the duties of our holy office and by giving good example in our daily lives.
Finally, to insure the continued and efficient function of the Knights of the Altar as a society by attending meetings and giving of our service to the Church.
This ministry is for young men high school and above who take the leadership roles during our liturgical services and act as Masters of Ceremonies. In addition to this, however, they are also formed in an informal fraternity which includes social activities as well as spiritual and doctrinal formation.
Any young man from high school and above is eligible to join. For further information please contact Fr. Marcos Gonzalez at frmgonzalez@standrewpasadena.org or call the Parish Center at (626) 792 - 4183