Rites of Initiation and

Investiture of Altar Servers of

Blessed Sacrament Catholic
Church – Abelenkpe.

COMPILED BY: EMMANUEL MAWULI TSIGBEY

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As We Worship

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 RITES OF INITIATION AND INVESTITURE FOR ALTAR SERVERS
 
 
The mass shall begin with the procession of the priest/s and all altar servers and with the
other ministers needed in the Eucharistic Celebration. The Holy Mass will commence in its
ordinary form until the part of the homily. After the homily, the rite below is included.
 

I.              RECOGNITION AND EXAMINATION OF THE CANDIDATES

 
Altar (MC): May I request all altar servers to please stand and step forward once your name is
called.
 
Altar (MC) will call out the names of all altar servers.
 
Altar Server: (aloud) Here I am Lord, ready to serve you.
 
Altar (MC): Reverend Father………………, before you and the community of believers are the
altar servers and who wish to be officially recognized as members of the Knights and Ladies of
the Altar. These altar servers are now qualified to become certified members to serve at the
Eucharistic Celebrations based on the formation program they had prior to this rite.

Priest: Our beloved young men and ladies of the altar, your

presence before God and the people of God affirm your
willingness and commitment to serve Jesus as Knights and
Ladies of the Altar. Do you know what this means?
 
Altar Servers: Yes, we do know that our presence signifies that we desire to commit ourselves
to serve Jesus at the Eucharistic Table, in serving the community through the Holy Catholic
Church and by living out our baptismal promises through good examples to our fellowmen.
 
Priest: Will you give and show your faithfulness and loyalty to
the Parish Priest and Church Authorities?
 
Altar Servers: Yes, we will.
 

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Priest: Are you ready and willing to commit yourselves and
your time to serve wholeheartedly to this kind of service and
with full responsibility?
 
Altar Servers: Yes, we are ready.
 
III.           PLEDGE AND COMMITMENT
 
Priest: Now, you are all ready and certified to serve at various
Church Liturgies. Make your pledge and commitment of service
before God and this community of believers.
 
 
THE PLEDGE
I ………………………. Knight/Lady of the Altar, promise solemnly that I will do my
best to be a close follower of Jesus Christ, our Lord and savior. I promise to be obedient
to his representatives on earth, our parish priest, our bishop and our Holy Father, the
Pope.
With the help of the intercession of Mary I will try to promote friendship and co-
operation, especially among my fellow Knights/Ladies.
I also pledge allegiance to my country, Ghana, and I will do whatever I can to promote
prosperity and peace in the country. I will obey and support the lawful authority in their
efforts to promote the well-being of all citizens.
I will especially try to help the priest to make the church services worthy celebrations for
the greater honour and glory of God.
 
Priest: Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, we have witnessed
the love of these knights and ladies of the Altar to our Lord
Jesus and in His Church. May they be truly live out their
promises and be good examples to the community. Let us
rejoice and agree with them in their endeavors.
Let us give them a big hand of applause!

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 II.            VESTING AND OFFERING OF SELF
 
Assisting Altar Servers will now give the new vestments to all altar servers.
 
Priest: (BLESSING OF LITURGICAL VESTMENTS)
 
Father, all-powerful and ever-living God, you have appointed
Your Son to be the Mediator of the New Covenant. Pour forth
the gifts of Your grace upon Your chosen ministers of Your
sacred mysteries, so that by wearing these vestments while
officiating at Your holy altars, they may serve Your people by
presenting the Word and Bread of Life; they may distinguish
themselves through their integrity of faith; and they may be
conspicuous through their observance of the Gospel precepts
through Christ our Lord, together with the Holy Spirit, forever
and ever. Amen.
 
The priest will now bless the vestments with holy water and incense.

Altar (MC): A senior server will now assist the altar servers in vesting their new vestments in
the sacristy.
 
After vesting, the Altar Servers will now show themselves to the congregation as the people clap
their hands as a sign of their commitment of service to Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. They shall go
back to their seats quietly as the Eucharistic Celebration continues.

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