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To all Parents of Altar Boys - August 2011

Dear Parents of Altar Servers,

The Altar Boy teams and schedule are attached. The teams are comprised of boys in Grades 3 to 9 (no 10th graders are serving this year).  As in the past few years, in many cases, we no longer have cousins on the same team.  This has been done to enable teams to have an equal mix of experience, and to keep the teams with approximately the same number of members.  This will also enable the boys to get to meet and better know other boys in the Church, which is beneficial since we are all one Parish family.

We didn't have an Altar Server signup sheet this year. As a result, we assumed those who served last year and met the attendance requirements would like to serve again this year. Please contact the Church Office if that isn't the case for your son(s).

Please note that for some services, all Altar Servers are invited to serve, and for Holy Week services that run late into the evening, all Altar Servers in Grades 6 to 10 are invited to serve. If a boy cannot serve when his team is scheduled, he cannot serve another day to make it up.

If this is the first year your son will be serving, the Altar Boy Manual is enclosed.  Please go over it with him before his first time serving.  If you no longer have the Altar Boy Manual, and would like another one sent, please call Susan in the Church Office, and she will mail one to you.

We are discussing possible new ways of recognizing those who served faithfully as Altar Servers.  Whatever the approach is, both good conduct and attendance will be of utmost importance for those who serve.

Only those Altar Servers who have served at least 50% of the time scheduled and have attended Sunday School at least 50% of the time during the previous year (Sep 2010 to May 2011) have been assigned to Altar Boy teams.

We will conduct a workshop on September 18 at noon to train the Altar Boys and all must attend this session.  In addition, the Altar Servers should be knowledgeable about the Divine Liturgy (which they learn about in Sunday School), since they play such a significant role in the service.

We ask four things of you to help make this year a success:

1. Please convey to your son(s) the importance of serving God as an Altar Boy.  Being an Altar Boy is not something to take for granted.  It is a great privilege to be able to serve in the Sanctuary, the most sacred part of the Church.  They can witness the miraculous preparation of Holy Communion up close, and actively participate in the Divine Liturgy by assisting our Clergy; they (and the Deans of Altar Servers) are the few Laity given this privilege.  We need your help to explain what an important role they have, and motivate them to come and serve.  Please read with your son(s) the enclosed article from The Word magazine entitled The Altar Server Ministry.
2. Please get them to Church on time (at least 15 minutes before the service begins.  Their robes must be blessed, Holy Bread cut, censor and candles lit, etc. before the start of the service.  They will be awarded two points for arriving on time, one point for arriving by 10:00 am, and no points for arriving after 10:00 am.
3. Please explain to your son(s) the importance of good conduct while serving.  The Sanctuary is very sacred, and serving there requires the utmost respect.  Also, the other Clergy and I can not be distracted when serving the Liturgy.  Soft whispering is only allowed when it is completely essential.  Up to two points will be awarded for conduct.  To earn an award, an Altar Server must have both exceptional attendance and conduct.
4. Please have your son(s) attend any practice sessions.  This is especially important for the younger boys.

John Najjar will once again serve as Dean of Altar Servers.  Fred Hamwey, David Haddad, Drew Callahan, and Nathaniel Teebagy will serve as his assistants.

Thank you so much for your family's support in the past, and we greatly appreciate your continued assistance in the future.  If you have any questions or suggestions please call John Najjar.

Sincerely,

Fr. John Teebagy