A group of knights pose in front of a WWII plane during the
servers outing at the Thunder Over Michigan air show

“Serving the Lord is our privilege.”

At a very important time in Jesus’ life, He accepted the services of a young boy. This young boy provided five loaves and two fish for that very momentous miracle with which Jesus launched his teaching on the Holy Eucharist. The Sacred Writers do not tell us the name of the young boy, only his deed, and his act of service. Altar servers also perform a great deed of service.

St. Dominic Savio and another boy Joseph Bongiavanni were close companions at St. John Bosco’s Oratory. Together they founded the Immaculate Conception Sodality for the purpose of frequenting Holy Communion. He and Joseph exchanged ideas for a special sodality for servers before Dominic’s death in 1857. Joseph shortly thereafter formed and served as the first president of an auxiliary of the Blessed Sacrament Sodality, the Knights of the Altar.

Don Bosco recorded in his publication, Catholic Letters that the new sodality of the Knights of the Altar served their first Mass on January 31, 1858, on the occasion of the feastday celebration of St. Francis de Sales. January 31 is now the feastday of St. John Bosco himself. Don Bosco celebrated the Mass and officially commissioned the Knights of the Altar in Divine Worship on February 2, 1858.

Why the name Knights?

Medieval Knighthood, in the service of manor lords, calls forth such ideals as honor, loyalty, justice, chivalry, and respect for all. In the use of this term, 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 a good personal life, defending always the rights of God and His Holy Church. In the names page and squire, the server is reminded again of the years of patient practice and study that went 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 chevalier was a traveling knight, which should remind the server that he should be ever traveling toward his heavenly goal.

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 enkindle 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.


Knights of the Altar Handbook

(PDF File)
Printed August 2005

Email: servers@stjosephschurch.net

Sunday Serving Schedule

August 2008
Main Servers Only

7:30 a.m.

9:30 a.m.

11:45 a.m.

Jay Diehl
Bobby Bennett

Ben Tibai
Chris Jefferies

 Don Colpitts
William Sentman

 

Any man or boy who would like to learn how to serve may join.
Simply e-mail us for more info!

Knights of the Altar Handbook

(PDF File)
Printed August 2005

How to serve Low Mass

OLD NEWS

Christmas 2007

Serving practice will be held for ALL Midnight Mass Christmas servers on December 8th following the 9:30 a.m. Mass and on December 22nd at a time yet to be determined. All servers MUST attend these practices!

Practice will also be held for everyone EXCEPT the torch-bearers on Saturday December 16th at 9:00 a.m.

Thurifer
 Bobby Bennett
MS 1
 Ben Tibai
MS 2
 Robert Skylis
Acolyte 1
 Zach Jefferies
Acolyte 2
 Matt Burnor
Cross-bearer
 Richard Sentman
Boat-bearer
 William Sentman
Torch-bearer 1
 Tommy Sabella
Torch-bearer 2
 Joey Ryniak
Torch-bearer 3
 Philip Lessnau
Torch-bearer 4
 Philip Skylis
Torch-bearer 5
 Joey Chicos
Torch-bearer 6
 Ryan Sentman

Holy Week 2007

3/26/07

Dear Knights of the Altar,

As we approach Holy Week it is important to recall that the ceremonies are very sacred and that you have a responsibility before God to act reverently in the sanctuary and sacristy at all times. You are privileged to serve and it is an honor reserved to a few. I want you to always do your best because you are serving God. The rubrics of Mass are so important that if a priest purposely omits one, he commits a sin. Rubrics for servers don't have the same penalty, but it shows a weak faith if you are lax and distract people in church.

Have a great Holy Week and Easter and thanks for serving. God bless you.

Fr. Francisco Radecki

View the serving schedule for ALL
of the Holy Week Ceremonies!

View the rubrics for ALL
of the Holy Week Ceremonies!

Holy Week Practice Schedule
(Subject to change)

Below is the basic outline for Holy Week.  
Listed are the dates and times for the ceremonies, and the FINAL practice for those events.

Day

Palm Sunday
April 1st

Holy Thursday
April 5th

Good Friday
April 6th

Easter Vigil / Midnight Mass
April 7th / 8th

Ceremony
Time

7:00AM - 8:30AM

6:30PM - 8:00PM

12:00PM -
3:00PM

10:15PM - 1:30AM

Final
Practice

March 31st
9:00 AM

March 31st
9:00 AM

Good Friday
10:00AM
(Optional breakfast
at 9:00AM)

Saturday 9:00PM
(Easter Vigil Practice ONLY)

NOTE
**Some of these practices may be shortened or cancelled completely, depending on**
how well we know the material, so be sure to study your part.  We have cancelled practices in the past, and we can do it again.

Anyone who would like additional or individual practice or if there is a problem,
email Bill at: servers@stjosephschurch.net

 

 

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