Acolyte
SJD Youth
What is an Acolyte?
Long ago the Church decided that priests should be assisted by specially trained persons when Christians gather to worship. Leaders in the church were called elders or presbyters (priests), overseers (or bishops), and deacons. As early as the fourth century priests were being assisted by people who had such titles as subdeacons, cantors, readers, and doorkeepers. Not long after that came acolytes--people trained to carry the cross and candles in procession and to assist the other worship leaders during the service. Some say that acolytes have an even longer history--that Samuel, who assisted Eli in the Old Testament temple, was really the first acolyte. The word acolyte means ‘follower’ or ‘attendant’, and that is what acolytes do in the worship service.
Acolytes carry the processional cross, torches, and banners, and assist with Communion and other aspects of the worship service. All acolytes are divided into six teams. Each team serves on a rotation so that typically an acolyte will serve twice a month. Each team has an Adult Advisor who coordinates duties on Sunday mornings.
Interested in becoming an acolyte? You must be 12 years old, or going into the 7th grade. Registration and training for new acolytes begins in August.
Click here to view the Acolyte Fall Schedule.
Right-click to download team roster and customary
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