The service of the altar is essential to the worthy presentation of the Traditional Mass, and it is a great privilege to assist the priest in this intimate way. Serving Mass, whether Low, Sung, or Solemn, and Benediction, requires practice, and the training of men and boys to serve accurately and devoutly has always been part of Catholic life. The training necessary to serve Low Mass can be done mainly 'on the job' if it is possible to serve regularly (at least once a week) for a good number of Masses alongside a more experienced server, ideally in a private Mass or at least when there isn't a large congregation. The service of Sung Mass, Solemn Mass, and Pontifical Mass, with all their variations, cannot be done in this way, however, both because of the greater complexity of the ceremonies and the reletive infrequency of these Masses - and their importance when they do occur.
For this reason the Latin Mass Society has established a sodality for Altar Servers, the Society of St Tarcisius, to arrange training events and also to create a sense of community among servers, and address the important issue of the spirituality of altar service. The spiritual development of the server, and not simply the mechanical accuracy of what he does, must be kept in mind.
The Society's Secretary is David Forster, who is also the Secretary of the Latin Mass Society; its Chaplain is Fr Andrew Southwell. Membership is free, and is not exclusive to members of the LMS.
Society of St Tarcisius: Launch and Oxford Training Day
Training at the Priest Training Conferences
On the 12th May 2010 the Society of St Tarcisius was launched at a full day's 'Server Master Class' in Blackfriars in Oxford. Fr Armand de Malleray FSSP began the proceedings with a short address on the importance of the service of the altar. 
About 25 people signed up for the course, and we had to divide into two groups for the training. Some people had come long distances - one as far as Preston in Lancashire! 
The two training groups each had an experienced MC and a cleric to help them: the group for the less experienced servers was led by Fr Armand de Malleray and David Forster; the more experienced group by Br Lawrence Lew OP and Mr Richard Hawker. 
The day was interspersed with prayers and ended with Benediction. See a slideshow of photos here.
Many people on the course completed application forms, and said a prayer of dedication, to join the Society of St Tarcissius.
The St Catherine's Trust Summer School was the occasion for the first formal enrollments into the Society of St Tarcisius, in a special ceremony which included the giving to each server a medal (of the Sacred Heart) which had been specially blessed.
As always, the training of altar servers was an important part of the Summer School, and bore immediate fruit as boys could adopt new roles in the daily Sung Masses, as acolyte, thurifer or Master of Ceremonies.
The picture above shows our budding MC practicing incensising the celebrant, below he is doing it 'for real'. 
There are blog posts on serving at the Summer School here and here.
Another opportunity for the training of servers is at the Latin Mass Society's regular Priest Training Conferences. A good number of servers is needed to serve the priests' private Masses, and they are also needed for the Sung and Solemn Masses, and Benediction, which take place on these occasions. It makes sense for the Conferences to be used to bring servers up to speed on the necessary roles.
This is Fr Francis Wadsworth instructing a group of trainee servers in Downside's great sacristy. Many of the servers on this occasion were from Scotland.
| Membership
1. Full membership will be open to any Catholic boy or man who is able correctly and devoutly to serve low Mass in the traditional rite. Where applicants for membership are not known to the Secretary, a reference may be required to ensure that this condition is fulfilled. 2. Those not yet able to fulfil the requirement for full membership, but in training, may be admitted as probationary members. 3. Others who wish to may join as supporters. |
The Society is also seeking to invite experienced servers to become MCs of the Society. These will be the liturgical "experts" of the Sodality, charged with upholding standards, assisting with training of other servers, and countersigning applications for membership. If you would like to nominate anyone for an invitation to become an MC, or volunteer yourself, then please contact the Secretary.
Although the Society has been inaugurated in England, members from other countries are equally welcome.
There is no fee or subscription for membership, though donations will be gratefully accepted.
Membership is on application to the Secretary.
Download a membership leaflet and application form here: PDF file or Word file.
Society of St Tarcisius: blog
Email the Secretary, Mr David Forster: secretary@saint-tarcisius.org.uk
Server's card (1 server) (PDF)
