Category: Spiritual Reflection

Pastoral Assistant: Let those who are called for the first time to serve our parish community in the ministry of Serving at the Altar of God, please come forward …

Pastoral Assistant:   After careful training and preparation these young members of our parish family are presented to you, our pastor, and to our whole community that you may commission them in the name of the Servant Jesus, asking the Holy Spirit to guide them, so that they may serve the Sacred Liturgy for our community, especially our Celebration of the Eucharist

Priest:       Do you know them to be prepared, trained and ready 

to be trusted with such a ministry among God’s People?

Pastoral Assistant:     Knowing that God accepts us just as we are, and always wants to draw young people closer to Himself, I can confirm that these young brothers and sisters have a love for God, listen to His Word and are willing to serve. They are to be judged prepared and ready for this ministry.

Priest:       Relying on the wisdom and grace of God, 

in the name of our parish community, we choose these brothers 

and sisters for the Ministry of Serving at the Altar of God

ALL:           THANKS BE TO GOD!

MARY HOPPER Let those who are called to be recommissioned to continue serving our parish community in the ministry of Serving at the Altar of God, please come forward …

Priest:       As Servers, you are called to assist the priest and deacons at God’s Altar on behalf of all our parish community. You are to be thoughtful, prayerful and attentive as you serve, knowing that the whole community relies upon you. Know that you touch sacred things and that you are very closer to Jesus who came not to be served but to serve. Grow to be more like Him, serving with a generous heart, a willing readiness and an alert mind. Pray the Liturgy that you serve and listen carefully to God’s Word.

In this way you are to deepen your love for our God, our Church and this community. Perform the sacred duties entrusted to you with care and prayerfulness, with understanding and humility, and above all with love. 

Know that the Holy Spirit is with you to guide you. Know also that you can rely on the prayer, support and affection of our parish family, who will encourage you in your journey of faith and service.

So, to those who are being Commissioned for the first time, I ask you: are you willing to accept before God and our community this Ministry of serving at God’s Altar, with all the faith and love God places in your heart?

SERVERS:    I AM WITH THE HELP OF GOD 

AND MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS

Priest: To those who are being Re-Commissioned today, I ask you: are you willing once again to accept before God and our community this Ministry of serving at God’s Altar, with all the faith and love God places in your heart?

SERVERS:    I AM WITH THE HELP OF GOD
                             AND MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS

Priest:       I now invite each Altar Server to come forward, to receive the Sign of the Cross as a sign that you seek to serve as Jesus served and by your serving proclaim the Death and Resurrection of Jesus to our parish family through the Liturgy.

Meanwhile we all sing No 873 …

Priest: (To each Server):

    I COMMISSION YOU TO THE SERVICE OF THE BODY OF CHRIST
AS A SERVER AT GOD’S ALTAR.
    MAY HOLY SPIRIT FILL YOU WITH LOVE FOR GOD, FOR THIS COMMUNITY
AND FOR JESUS WHOM YOU MEET AND SERVE IN THE SACRED LITURGY.

[the Bidding Prayers now follow, after which whole Community prays over the Servers before they return to their places.]

PRIEST: Do you believe in God,  the creator of all that is,
whose name is ‘Abba, Father’, and who has chosen you
to be both beloved child of His and partner with Him
in the creation of our world and its future?

ALL: I DO BELIEVE IN MY FATHER WHO CALLS ME BY NAME.

PRIEST: Do you reject any evil that destroys creation’s beauty and harmony?

ALL: I DO REJECT EVERY ENEMY OF CREATION.

PRIEST: Do you believe in Jesus Christ,  Son of God and Son of Creation,  King of Heaven and Earth,  yet Servant and Brother:
who is the Way to God and one another;
the Truth that liberates all humanity;
the Life of the Kingdom that is Justice, Love and Peace;
and whose death and resurrection loves and heals our world ?

ALL: I DO BELIEVE IN JESUS,  OUR KING WHO REDEEMS ME.

PRIEST: Do you reject the evil that oppresses our sisters and brothers
with poverty and despair,  diminishes their humanity and freedom,  and dismembers our world in violence and war?

ALL: I DO REJECT THE EVIL WHOSE NAMES ARE OPPRESSION,
POVERTY AND WAR.

PRIEST: Do you believe in the Holy Spirit:  the Fire of Divine Love
renewing the face of the earth;  the Mighty Wind that casts out
every fear and fills our lives with Power and Gifts of Love;
the Well-spring of Life in all its fullness;
who sends the People of God in Mission to proclaim the Kingdom and build the new heaven and the new earth?

ALL: I DO BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO EMPOWERS MY LIFE.

PRIEST: Do you reject the evil of inequality,  in both world and church:
that hides the divine dignity of every human person;
and the evil of disunity:  that distorts the face of Christ in the Church,  and robs us of the power for Mission?

ALL: I DO REJECT EVERY INEQUALITY AND INHUMANITY THAT IS
A SIN AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT.

PRIEST: This is our faith … this is our commitment:  to Christ our King,
and to his Church, called to be sign and servant of His Kingdom.

ALL: WITH JOY I AFFIRM AND RENEW MY DEDICATION
TO THE LOVE OF GOD – SOURCE OF MY LIFE;
TO THE SERVICE OF CHRIST MY KING AND BROTHER;
TO THE WORK OF THE SPIRIT AND
THE PROCLAMATION OF THE GOSPEL:
MAY THE KINGDOM COME!