How to Do Altar Boys (Servers) Right

Father Longenecker of Standing on My Head has another great post on the subject of Altar Boys at More on the Servers of St Mary's .

Basically more really good tips on how the whole Altar Boy thing should be run from the people you choose to the dress. Good points. He also goes through the whole purposes of Altar Servers. Also like me he is not a fan of what he calls "most awful liturgical garment ever designed: the cassock alb".

I think there is a lot of good points here

Such as
Servers should arrive at least fifteen minutes before Mass starts. Once in the vestry they should immediately change into cassock, and any functions before the start of Mass in the sanctuary should be done by a server wearing a cassock. It's amazing how the cassock immediately changes the boy's body language and carriage for the better. Ever notice how a guy looks and behaves better when he's wearing an Army dress uniform?..

So true. Also lets face it and I think guys can relate. A lot of teenage boys (till that wonderful college Freshman year where one sort of fills out) are sort of still a tad goofy looking in some aspects. I know I was. So not only does the above help the perception from the pews it does a lot for a kids self esteem and his own confidence when you are in front of Literally God and everyone else.

I also liked this:

One other point: make belonging to the guild of servers something special. In arranging the liturgy try to avoid the AmChurch temptation to plop everybody possible into the procession. The lector, the person who reads the prayers of the faithful, the lady who did the flowers the person who runs the nursery, the choir director and the director of the soup kitchen are doubtless all worthy souls who are doing a wonderful service to the church. That doesn't mean they need to be in the procession. Servers and clergy only in the procession. The reasons for this would warrant another post.

Finally, it is my experience that many boys and young men like to belong to a guild of servers where the standard is high, the expectations are strict, the training is rigorous and the camaraderie is encouraged. They like to belong to a group of other boys who take their faith seriously, and who are expected to meet a rigorous standard of behavior.

I think that is very true. Notice he keep talking about guys here. He promises a post coming up when you have "altar girls". I am not a big fan of altar girls for various reasons going from the theological to the practical. In fact I am curious about Father's future post because I seem to recall he would prefer altar servers just be male also. However sometimes it cannot be advoided

However the main reason beyond the theological is that Catholic boys really needs what he mentions above. The Catholic Spirituality of the young Catholic males is one of those things that really needs to developed and I think has sadly been ignored. I think having a Altar Boy guild like what Father describes is a good thing.