altar server
Liturgical ceremony helper
An altar server is a person, typically a young layperson, who assists a member of the clergy during religious services—carrying candles, holding books, preparing communion elements.
The role exists across Christian traditions, though the term is most common in Catholic and Anglican contexts.
Historically called altar boys, the gender-neutral term reflects the inclusion of girls in most churches since the late twentieth century.
Bend knee reverently
- processionFormal moving line
- recessionProlonged economic decline
- incensingCausing extreme anger
- bell ringingSounding tuned metal instruments
hand washing · candle lighting · bowing · kneeling · responding
Vessel for burning aromatics
- cruetsSmall condiment bottles
- chaliceOrnate ritual drinking vessel
- patenEucharistic bread dish
- candlesWax lights with wicks
lavabo · lectionary · missal · corporal · pall · charcoal · incense
Full-length clerical garment
Mustard family member
- sacristanChurch caretaker of sacred items
- torchbearerCarrier of a cause
- bell ringerOne who tolls
- master of ceremoniesEvent's lead announcer
minister · attendant · assistant · helper · trainee · volunteer · seminarian · deacon
Protected sacred space
- sacristyChurch storage and preparation room
- tabernaclePortable sacred dwelling
- amboElevated church reading platform
- lecternTilted stand for texts
Quantity of matter
- communionProfound shared closeness
- benedictionFormal spoken blessing
- vespersEvening devotional service
- funeral massLiturgy for the deceased
baptism · confirmation · ordination · midnight mass · adoration · feast day · Sunday service
genuflect
Bend knee reverently
- processionFormal moving line
- recessionProlonged economic decline
- incensingCausing extreme anger
bell ringing · hand washing · candle lighting · bowing · kneeling · responding
censer
Vessel for burning aromatics
candles · lavabo · lectionary · missal · corporal · pall · charcoal · incense
cassock
Full-length clerical garment
cotta · soutane · white gloves · cross pendant · lace trim
crucifer
Mustard family member
- sacristanChurch caretaker of sacred items
- torchbearerCarrier of a cause
- bell ringerOne who tolls
master of ceremonies · minister · attendant · assistant · helper · trainee · volunteer · seminarian · deacon · subdeacon
sanctuary
Protected sacred space
- sacristyChurch storage and preparation room
- tabernaclePortable sacred dwelling
- amboElevated church reading platform
lectern · nave · chancel · communion rail
mass
Quantity of matter
- communionProfound shared closeness
- benedictionFormal spoken blessing
- vespersEvening devotional service
funeral mass · baptism · confirmation · ordination · midnight mass · adoration · feast day · Sunday service
- Catholic ChurchVatican, papacy, cardinals, popes, papal
- CatholicismVatican, cardinals, pope, Holy Communion, popes
- churchnave, pew, pews, pulpit, pulpits
- ceremony participantsofficiant, celebrant, best man, maid of honor, bridesmaid
- American Catholicismarchdiocese, parish council, archdioceses, Catholic school, Catholic schools
- Catholic parishparishioner, rectory, parish council, parish hall, pew
altar servercongregant
Member of a worship assembly
parishioner · worshipper · spectator · layperson · churchgoer