Thank You to Our Dedicated Altar Servers: We currently have 50 Altar Server families on our roster with about 30 youth serving each month.  Eligible servers are students in 3rd Grade up to High School, who have made their First Communion and attended a parish training session.

If you have a child who would like to serve at the 5pm Vigil, 9am, 10:45am or 12:30pm Sunday Mass, please contact our Altar Server Coordinator for youth at our English-speaking Masses: Julie Wagner at 503-641-3646.
 

New & Current Altar Servers: Please see below to review and study the training guide and watch the videos provided (with parents). 

Scheduling: Parents are encouraged to sign up their child for one or two slots per month via our online scheduling tool, SignUpGenius. Contact Julie Wagner to be added to the SignUpGenius email list.

Our Parish is deeply grateful for your acceptance and commitment to be Altar Servers. Your service and dedication are important parts of our Parish life. The place of the Altar Server in liturgical celebrations remains one of prominence and distinction. As you are destined in a special way for the service of the altar, you should learn all matters concerning liturgical worship and strive to grasp their inner spiritual meaning.

To serve at the altar and to offer oneself to Our Lord, is a great privilege given by the Catholic Church. Willingly you have come forward to take up this exalted office, to enjoy the privilege which Holy Mother Church grants you of wearing the sacred dress of a cleric, namely, cassock and surplice, and performing duties in the Sanctuary.  You are often going to be in a holy place, performing sacred duties and you will appear very publicly in the sight of all the congregation.  To fulfill such an office worthily you will need to be holy in your life, and edifying always in the sight of other people.  Your great help will be Prayer, Holy Mass and the Sacraments.

It is possible for servers to trace their lineage to a young boy who also offered himself to Our Lord. The Gospel, according to Saint John, reports the story of this young boy: When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, he said to Philip,

"Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?" One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him, "There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?" Jesus said, "Have the people recline." . . . So the men reclined, about five thousand in number. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted. When they had had their fill . . . [they] filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves… (John 6:5-13)

Sacred Scripture does not reveal the name of the boy with the barley loaves and fish. Yet, it is known that his service was offered to and accepted by Our Lord. Similarly, servers offer to the High Priest, Jesus Christ, their service at the Altar. They assist him through his ordained ministers: Bishops and Priests. As a result, servers are witnesses to the miracle of bread and wine becoming the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. Thus, they have the privilege of being close to Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist and providing a service to him.

"The Eucharist is the source and summit of the bond of friendship with Jesus. You are very close to Jesus in the Eucharist, and this is the most important sign of his friendship for each one of us. Do not forget it." - Pope Benedict XVI, Address to Altar Servers, August 2, 2006
 
Altar Servers must remember that everything that they do is for the Glory of God. They do it out of love for His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. St. Ignatius of Loyola called this attitude "AD MAJOREM DEI GLORIAM". This means "All for the Honor and Glory of God". It is the motto of a heart of service. 

God bless you and Mary keep you!