Altar Servers Ministry

Serving the people of God while we worship in the church is a way of growing closer to God. We cannot see God. But when we do something for God’s people, we give worship and honor to God and encounter the living God. Serving at the Altar is a special privilege. An Altar Server is a lay assistant to the priest during the mass or other members of the clergy in other religious functions, including Benediction and Eucharistic Adoration.

Filipino Community as existed in St Mary’s Parish Church, Dubai has its distinct Altar Servers known as Acolyte serving the Community as well as in the Parish level of St Mary’s Church.

This ministry is open to anyone who has received their First Holy communion normally who entered the 4th grade or older and serve the church until reaching their 16 years old. Being an Altar Server is a liturgical function, therefore one must be a baptized and Eucharistic Catholic.  It is out of one’s baptism into the Body of Christ that they are called to this ministry. So, they are the baptized Christian and belong to the parishioners of St Mary’s Church being trained and inducted by the church to serve in altar server ministry. They voluntarily give their time and talents for the service with the help of their parents who used to be working here in Dubai.

Other than serving at Masses, the Altar Servers have monthly meetings, attending formation teachings, and are involved in all church activities to enrich the liturgical knowledge of its members and to build bond and unity among fellow Servers. They are also involved in all Filipino Community activities within the parish and serving during Missions for Filipinos, Way of the Cross during Lent, Filipino cultural activities like May Flower Festival, Sto Niño Festival and others, and the highlights of December which is the Simbang Gabi for Filipino Community.