Model Constitution

The Constitution and By-Laws of the

Ministry of Altar Servers
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
1. The official name of the group is MINISTRY OF ALTAR
SERVERS[1] (M.A.S), a ministry of young men dedicated to
serve at liturgical services in the parish and to promote
Christian brotherhood through spiritual formation.
2. The Ministry of Altar Servers is a subordinate of the Worship
Ministry and is directly under the Parish Priest.
3. The Ministry of Altar Servers is compliant to the norms and
guidelines set by Universal Law (Canonical and Liturgical) and
of the Diocesan Ministry for Liturgical Affairs of the Roman
Catholic (Arch)Diocese of ______.
GENERAL OBJECTIVES
4. The Ministry of Altar Servers aims to:
5. Form young men as responsible stewards of liturgy and of the
parish.
6. Prepare them as future servant-leaders of the Church.
7. Instill in them love for God and for the Church through
formation series.
8. Foster brotherhood and unity with fellow servers.
9. Imbue vocation promotion and awareness as priests, religious,
and consecrated lay.
QUALIFICATIONS
5. A bonafide altar server must be:
6. A good Catholic in faith and deed.

7. Willing to commit himself to perform his duties and

responsibilities as Altar Server.
8. Willing to grow spiritually through this ministry by his
participation in diocesan and parish formation programs.
9. Physically and mentally fit.
10.

A recipient of the Sacraments of Baptism and Holy

Eucharist.
11.

Recommended and approved by the Coordinator and/or

by the Officers after having passed evaluation or observation.

12.

The aspirant must first fill up an application form, and

afterwards will be interviewed by the Coordinator.

13.

The aspirant must undergo fifteen (15) days of

observation during weekday Masses.

14.

The aspirant will be evaluated and screened by the

Officers.
15.

A bonafide resident parishioner.

16.

If he has been previously inactive, but wishes to join

formally the ministry, he has to undergo evaluation as

prescribed by the Coordinator. He will be approved only after
passing the evaluation and interview.
17.

If he lives outside the parish but wishes to apply as altar

server, he needs to secure first Permission Letter from his

domicile parish priest. Upon approval and referral by his parish
priest through explicit writing, he will be then allowed to apply.
Failure to present recommendation letter from the parish priest
will forfeit his application.
18.

If he transfers residence outside the parish, he will be

allowed to remain as altar server for a maximum of three (3)

months of transitory period starting from the date of his

transfer. After his transitory period, he has to secure Permission
Letter from his domicile parish priest before being allowed to
serve.
19.

An applicant lacking in any of the given qualifications, as

the Coordinator may deem necessary, may be denied

admission to the ministry.
20.

The aspirants parents must sign the application or

membership form of their child as a sign of their consent in

permitting him to join the ministry.
TERM OF SERVICE
12.

The term of an altar server is one year in consonance with

the Ministry Year.

13.

A server may renew his membership for the next Ministry

Year, as determined by the Officers, and if he attended the

formation program given by the Diocesan Ministry for Liturgical
Affairs.
14.

The term of Officers, including the Coordinator, is one

year following the duration of the Ministry Year. Their term of

office may be extended depending on the discretion of the
majority of all the members or of the Parish Priest.
LEADERSHIP
15.

The Parish Priest is the head and final authority in the

ministry, in its activities and guidelines. As spiritual father and

chief adviser, he is entailed to cater the spiritual and holistic
growth of his servers through regular monitoring and formation
series as provided by the parish. Moreover, the Parish Priest
has the foremost right to be informed of and to grant

permission to any activities or guidelines being observed or

proposed in the group.
16.

Assisting the Parish Priest in providing formation series

and assistance to the ministry is the formator, a competent

individual who undergo liturgical formation from recognize
institute of liturgy.[2] They can either be a parochial vicar,
guest priest, deacon, assigned or visiting nun, religious
brother, seminarian, or any lay person as requested or
instructed by the Parish Priest. There can be more than one
formation in the group, depending on the need or function to
assist in.
Another role of the formator, or one of them in the group, is to serve
as Spiritual Director to guide the spiritual life of the members,
helping them to be more close to Jesus and to instill love for the
Church, Family, Studies, and Charity. He will also help lead the
members in celebrating more sincerely the Eucharist, go to
confession, and attend to spiritual direction. He must possess good
and orthodox Catholic foundation-formation.
Former seminarians are, in whatever case, are not permitted to
become formators or advisers for spiritual, emotional, moral and
security reasons.
17.

The Ministry of Altar Servers will have a set of Officers

who will supervise the activities and discipline of all the

members.
18.

The Coordinator is the official head of the ministry.

19.

He directs and oversees the activities and guidelines for

all the members.

20.

He serves for a term of one year unless he resigns or is

removed from position by the Parish Priest.

21.

He has a full mandate from the Parish Priest and the

Parish Pastoral Council.

22.

He attends the meetings of the Parish Pastoral Council

and of the Worship Ministry. He may invite two (2) officers at

most to join him in attending such.
23.

He presides over General Assemblies and other important

meetings for the group.

24.

He may sanction, suspend, or expel any member pending

the decision of the Officers.

25.

He attends meetings with other altar servers

coordinators in the diocesan and vicariate level. He attends

meetings of the Liturgical or Vocation Ministry
(diocesan/vicariate/parish level).
26.

He approves the membership of any aspiring candidate

as altar server.
27.

He supervises the tasks and responsibilities of the

Officers and of the other servers. Himself as Officer, he also

fulfills the same duties as with other Officers.
28.

He is chosen or elected from among the Officers of the

ministry, pending the approval of the Adviser.

18.

The Officers assist in the supervision of the ministry. With

the Coordinator, the Officers implement policies directed to the

entire ministry. They assist in the function of the Coordinator.

19.

The Officers may be elected or nominated by a majority

of all the servers.

20.

The Officers function as consultative group of the entire

ministry regarding norms, activities, and schedules.

21.

The number of Officers is determined by the Coordinator.

22.

The Coordinator can be selected only from among the

Officers.
23.

The Officers safeguard the discipline and order of the

ministry especially during meetings and liturgical services.

They may reprimand or call the attention of erring servers.
24.

The Officers assess the conduct and deficiencies of the

servers. They may consult or report to the Formators and the

servers parents/guardians about the conduct of their children.
25.

The Officers has the duty to teach or review basic

liturgical training to all servers and aspirants.

26.

The Officers have authority over the evaluation and

approval of aspirants (including formerly inactive members)

with the final approval of the Coordinator.
27.

The Officers oversee the maintenance of the sacred

vessels and liturgical vestments of the servers.

28.

The Officers attend monthly parish formation series, and,

a must with the Coordinator, attend doctrinal, moral, liturgical

and spiritual formations in different institutes of formation or in
the diocese or parish level.
FORMATION AND ACTIVITIES
Mandated Schedule
29.

All servers who are approved for membership for the new

ministry year must attend Commissioning or Renewal Mass

after having attended the basic and renewal formation

program conducted by the Diocesan Ministry for Liturgical
Affairs.
30.

In the Commissioning Mass, aspirants receive and wear

for the first time their official liturgical attire from the start of
the celebration.
31.

The new Coordinator and the new set of Officers have

their Oathtaking.
32.

Servers must attend all prescribed (Arch)diocesan

renewal seminars and meetings as scheduled from the diocese.

Failure to attend is a grave matter. Hence, the Adviser or the
Coordinator has the right to cancel membership of those who
fail to attend the seminar.
33.

All liturgical services are considered mandated schedule.

Frequent unexcused absences are considered grave matter and

subject to proper sanction or disciplinary action by the
Coordinator.
34.

Should there be an absence in a schedule, the individual

server should make up for his absences through volunteer

service and/or present an excuse letter from
parents/guardians.
35.

There will be a General Assembly (G.A.) for the entire

ministry.
36.

The General Assembly is held every 1st and 3rd Saturdays

of the month. All members are obliged to attend.

37.

The Coordinator, assisted by the Officers, presides over

the session. He must invite the Parish Priest and the formators
to attend.

38.

The General Assembly takes place within the parish

vicinity.
39.

The General Assembly follows a prescribed format

40.

Opening Prayer to be led by a scheduled member

41.

Sunday Gospel Reading to be read by the Coordinator

42.

Sharing of Any Member and Any Officer brief sharing on

the Gospel
43.

Summary of Past Meeting the agenda discussed in the

previous G.A. are read by any Officer

44.

Attendance the Secretary, chosen among the officers,

checks the members who are present and absent. He

distinguishes those absent servers with (a) valid reason or
excuse and those (b) who are unexcused.
45.

Agenda Concerns for the session and for any upcoming

activities are discussed by the Coordinator

46.

Open Forum Servers are free to raise questions or

suggestions at the Officers

47.

The Parish Priest or Formators gives short lecture on a

certain topic.
48.

Closing Prayer to be led by a scheduled server. If a

priest is present, he gives his Final Blessing to the servers.

49.

The Officers, especially the Secretary, record the minutes

of meetings for every General Assembly.

Core Group Meeting
37.

The Officers, who comprise the Core Group of the

ministry, conduct for themselves a meeting to plan and

deliberate upcoming activities, especially evaluation on
present members and on attendance in liturgical services.

38.

Either the Coordinator or Parish Priest summons the

meeting for Officers either once every two weeks or as needed.

39.

The Core Group Meeting may adapt the same format of

the General Assembly, with the discretion of the Coordinator.

40.

The Core Group Meeting may be held either within the

parish vicinity or in another suitable venue (e.g. house of an

Officer)
Formation Series
41.

Spiritual formation is at the core of the ministry. Spiritual

talks, inputs, seminars, or prayer workshops may be provided

for the group at least once every two months, or as prescribed
by the Parish Priest or the Formators.
42.

The Officers with the Formators may program basic and

ongoing liturgical and catechetical seminars for the servers, as

prescribed by the Parish Priest or the (Arch)diocese.
43.

Servers must participate in seminars or workshops held in

the parish, vicariate or in the diocese.

44.

Frequent absence in formation programs is considered a

grave matter and is subject to disciplinary action by the

Coordinator.
Role of Parents and Guardians
45.

Parents and guardians play a crucial role in the spiritual

and holistic formation of their children-servers. Hence, they

must remind and encourage their children to attend to their
respective liturgical services and other schedules in the
ministry.
46.

Parents and guardians are encouraged to provide

opportunities for their children to deepen their spiritual growth

and participation in parish life, such as personal prayer time in

the family, attendance in parish formation series, or even in
instilling vocation awareness to their children.
47.

Parents are obliged to attend Parents Meetings when

scheduled by the Coordinator.

48.

Parents are encouraged to help in financial needs of the

ministry when needed.

TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
49.

The primary purpose of being an altar server is to serve

God and the Church through the liturgical celebrations (see

GIRM 100; 187-193, except distributing or assisting in Holy
Communion), and to become a better Christian and person.
Hence, his purpose for serving is not out of mere desire to earn
recognition at school or work, or of peer pressure or any selfish
motives.
50.

A server undertakes both liturgical service and spiritual

growth. If he serves at Mass but doesnt or seldom attends

formation series, he is driven of impure motive for serving and,
hence, his attitude is subject to poor evaluation.
51.

A server is a man of God. He is expected to live a morally-

decent life. Hence, he exemplifies good Christian character

whether inside or outside the parish. He is committed to
spiritual formation and personal spiritual growth in love for God
and for Mary.
52.

A server is a man for the Church. He serves out of love

and dedication for the Church. He respects and lives out the
teachings of the Church. He respects, observes, and submits
himself to the direction and guidelines of the diocese and of

the parish. He gives his total self and commitment in service.

Hence, he also prioritizes service above any of his busy
schedule. He continues to serve regardless of his other
personal commitments outside the church.
53.

A server is a man for others. He initiates and fosters good

fraternal relationship with his fellow servers. He shows humility

and respect to his fellow servers, his Officers, and to other
parish workers, even ordinary parishioners or churchgoers.
Above all, he is a good model of service and modesty to others,
especially in his community.
54.

A server fulfills his liturgical service in accordance to the

following:
55.

A server attends the following mandatory schedule:

56.

Scheduled liturgical service

Sunday Masses
Weekday Masses
Funeral Masses (as requested)
School Masses
Street, Area and barangay Masses
Formation series
Regular spiritual formation series in the parish
Annual summer diocesan basic and renewal seminar
General assemblies
All Stations of the Cross (a number of servers hold the vessels,
the rest joins in the procession)
All Holy Week Activities (a number of servers attend to their
designated schedule while the rest simply attend the rites)

 Processions of the Solemnity of Corpus Christi and Christ the

King
Simbang Gabi/Misa de Gallo
All Fiesta activities
1. A server should be decent in outlook during liturgical services.
Hence he must avoid from wearing:
2. Earrings and bracelets
3. Long or customized hair or fingernails
4. Slippers or rubber shoes
5. Denim/Maong, jeans, any colored pants other than black slacks
6. Wristbands or other distractive ornaments
7. Former (including inactive), or expelled servers, unless fully
admitted, are not allowed to serve nor wear the liturgical attire
for present members.
8. Suspended members are not allowed to serve until they are
fully allowed by the Coordinator to serve again
9. Servers who have been removed from the ministry are not
allowed to serve during the Ministry Year for which they are
removed unless they are readmitted for the next Ministry Year
which they apply for.
10.

No server can function as Master of Ceremonies without

explicit permission from the parish priest, priest-presider, and

he must undergo liturgical formation from a institute recognize
by the diocese or formation under the diocese.
11.

Aside from the head sacristans, servers must ensure that

all preparations for Mass are set (e.g. number of hosts, bell and
other vessels). After the Mass, they must help clean and return
the vessels to their respective place of storage.

12.

A server handles all vestments, vessels, and parish

properties with care.

13.

A server is time-bound and sensitive in every schedule he

is obliged at. He must attend all the required schedule in the

ministry, whether in the parish or in the diocese for his
formation series or liturgicaI services. If he has valid reason for
not attending a meeting or service, he or his parents must
inform his Coordinator and Adviser at least 6 hours ahead of
his supposed schedule. If he cannot serve, he must make up
for the number of services he missed. He must find a
substitute server in his absence. Failure to comply with this
procedure frequently or having frequent unexcused absences
is subject to serious disciplinary action, as decided by the
Coordinator.
14.

A server must have received the Sacrament of

Confirmation by the end of his third year high school.

15.

In case he will not be able to fulfill his duties ahead of

time because of certain reasons such as vacation leave, special

classes, or family schedule, a server may take a proper leave
of absence.
16.

The server and his parent must sign a leave of absence

addressed to the Coordinator, and must indicate specific length

of time (i.e. date of leave and return) for his absence.
17.

The parent must inform the Coordinator through call or

appointment concerning the request for leave, and must

provide a valid reason.

18.

A server who takes a leave but fails to present a letter or

have his parent talk to the concerned persons will be subject to

serious disciplinary action as decided by the Coordinator.
19.

A server who refuses to obey and respect the Parish

Priest, Adviser, Coordinator, or any Officer is subject to severe

disciplinary action and, if repeated through explicit aggression,
may face sanction of cancellation of membership or expulsion.
20.

A server must not have a grade lower than 80 (or

equivalent of this) in his report card. Failure of this rule will lead
him to suspension in service until he improves his grade in a
particular subject.
LITURGICAL ATTIRE
68.

The ministry complies with the prescribed liturgical attire

for altar servers as prescribed by the Institutio Generalis

Missalis Romani Nos. 336 & 339[3].
69.

For his basic attire, he wears

Black leather shoes

Black socks
Black slacks or pants
White undershirt
69.

Only present members wear the official liturgical attire.

70.

Former or inactive members, unless fully admitted, are

prohibited from wearing the official liturgical attire for present

members.
71.

Servers vestment must be distinguished from the

vestment of a seminarian or habit of a religious brother.

72.

Aspirants undergoing evaluation period must wear at

least white polo.

SANCTIONS
73.

A server who violates any of the guidelines as written

herein or instructed shall be given a corresponding sanction or

disciplinary action depending on the gravity of the offense, as
follows:
74.

Oral reprimand and/or report to parents, if offense is

committed once, twice, or thrice or if a server commits up to

three violations.
75.

Suspension from service, if offense is committed more

than three times or if a server commits more than three

violations.
76.

Either cancellation of membership or expulsion, if the

server continuously violates the by-laws and guidelines even

after his suspension period, if there has been no improvement
in his character, or if he openly disobeys or blatantly shows
disrespect, rebellious attitude, malicious and scandalous acts
such as public or sexual immodesty, blasphemy, or repudiation
of authority or of the Church teachings, or other grave offenses
as decided by the Officers.
77.

The following are the policies concerning Suspension

Policy:
78.

A server who is suspended is not allowed to serve during

the given Suspension Period as prescribed to him by the

Officers.
79.

Suspension Period may range from at least three weeks to

three months.

80.

A server who is suspended from liturgical duty is

expected to fulfill his obligations such as going to Sunday

masses or helping in his family chores.
81.

A server who is suspended is not exempted from

attending general assemblies, formation series, or other

important meetings.
82.

The Parish Priest, Formators, Coordinator, or a majority of

the Officers may impose suspension on an erring server.

83.

After the end of his Suspension Period, the server is

subject to approval by the Officers whether he can serve again

or be given extension of his sanction.
84.

If there has been no improvement in the character of a

server, after having been given parental or fraternal correction

and even suspension, or when he commits repeatedly grave
offenses or scandalous acts as discerned by the Officers, he is
entailed to either of the following
85.

Cancellation of membership he is removed from the

ministry but he may apply either for the next Ministry Year or
after one (1) full year, depending on the discretion of the
Coordinator. A server who is removed from the ministry is
subject to evaluation by the Officers before he can be allowed
to apply for the next term of service.
86.

Expulsion A server is banned for an indefinite length of

time from the ministry. Only the Parish Priest can lift the
expulsion.
87.

Frequent unexcused absences during services or

meetings may be counted as grave offenses and are subject

either to suspension or cancellation of membership.

AMENDMENTS
81.

These by-laws shall take effect immediately upon their

adoption and approval of the Parish Priest, all the Officers and
Members of the Ministry of Altar Servers.
82.

When effective, these shall supercede all guidelines which

may have heretofore have been addressed to the ministry.

83.

Any proposed amendment to any of these by-laws may be

initiated by a majority of Officers and shall be subject for

approval from the Parish Priest. The Parish Priest may overrule
any proposed amendment to these by-laws.
[1] Cf. GIRM 100.
[2] Cf. SC 15.
[3] 336: Vestis sacra omnibus ministris ordinatis et institutis cuiusvis
gradus communis est alba, circa lumbos cingulo astringenda, nisi
tali modo confecta sit, ut corpori adhreat etiam sine cingulo.
Antequam vero alba assumatur, si hc habitum communem circa
collum non cooperit, amictus adhibeatur. Alba cum superpelliceo
commutari nequit, ne quidem super vestem talarem, quando casula
vel dalmatica vel, iuxta normas, sola stola sine casula vel dalmatica
induenda est.
339: Acolythi, lectores, aliique ministri laici albam vel aliam vestem
in singulis regionibus a Conferentia Episcoporum legitime probatam
induere possunt.

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