WHY BECOME AN ALTAR SERVER?

• Serve God and grow in your relationship with Jesus
• Be part of a SPECIAL TEAM!
• Grow in respect and understanding of the Mass
• Learn life skills
• Learn about vocations

1. Recruitment

1. Develop a team of team of 3-5 adult Altar Server Coaches
2. Personal phone call to parents with children age 10-18.
3. Explain that our parish needs their help and their role is essential.
4. Explain the benefits & skills children acquire participating
5. Be prepared for their objections.
6. Ask for their commitment to attend a parent meet and greet. Assure parents the parish will train/coach/mentor/engage/evangelize their children as Altar Servers.

2. Training

1. Fr. Stoll and/or Fr. Pelzel to provide detailed training instruction to Altar Server Coaches.
2. Altar Server Coaches & Priest’s, if available, provide semi-annual training sessions.
3. Attempt to incorporate training with some type of gathering or outing.
4. Altar Server Coaches meet with Altar Servers after Mass on occasion to discuss areas of performance, always with a positive & supportive/mentor tone, of good performance and areas of improvements.

3. Retention and Engagement

1. Develop Altar Server levels/ranks based on time of service and/or number Masses served. Potentially some type of incentive program or shirt showing their rank in the “Mater Dei Altar Server Team!”
2. Develop a mentor program with older/seasoned servers, paired up with a younger server to assist with training/coaching.
3. Provide servers with a polo shirt or T-shirt that can be worn under their Alb with the Mater Dei logo and stating that they are part of “Mater Dei Altar Server Team!” 
4. Have annually or bi-annually outing.  Need to make sure it is engaging/exciting.
5. Allow all Altar Servers present at a Mass to participate by wearing an Alb and sitting together either on the alter or in a front pew. Encourage Mass participation; create positive peer pressure.
6. Send monthly emails and/or text messages to Altar Server parents with schedules and encouraging their support! Encourage them to call or email with questions or concerns.

4. Life Skills

1. During coaching/mentor sessions after Mass discuss the following life skills.

• Teamwork
• Self-Confidence
• Communications
• Leadership
• Situational Awareness …… anticipating what needs to be done next.

5. Evangelization

1. Altar Server Coaches, when present, have a Pre-Mass (Game) prayer and encouragement of performing their duties reverently, timely and with a Big Smile.

2. Discuss the importance of their role within Mass and how their role is serving God and our Church.
3. Encourage them to focus on the Mass!

6. Vocation Discernment

1. This is the advanced level and is only for older high school aged kids.
2. Challenge them what they think their future looks like? 
3. Discuss the vocations of marriage, singlehood, and the religious life or priesthood.
4. This will take some development and scrutiny.