​Altar Servers​

Altar servers help the priest during the Mass. Through helping the priest at Mass the altar servers help the congregation enter fully into the sacred liturgy. Altar servers should be reverent and respectful in carrying out their duties.

 

Servers at St Joseph's are affiliated to the Guild of St Stephen, the patron saint of altar servers. After some initial training and a time as a regular altar server, new servers are enrolled in the Guild with a Guild Medal. See here for more information about the Guild.

 

The dedicated team of altar servers at St Joseph's is diverse: from older servers with over 30 years’ experience, to very young servers who have only just made their First Holy Communion. Some churches operate a rota for altar servers, but this is not the case at St Joseph's; instead, servers are encouraged to serve at all Masses when they are present.

 

The mainstay of the altar servers' duties are around serving weekly Sunday Mass, including the preparation of the credence table and offertory gifts before Mass and clearing up and tidying at the end of Mass. In addition, servers will be on hand for special occasions such as baptisms, weddings, and funerals, and also events such as visitations from the Bishop, confirmations and other significant services throughout the year.

 

Recent special services have included the priestly ordination of Fr Long and Fr Pat’s Golden Jubilee celebration. For the second half of 2018, when we had no resident parish priest, our servers welcomed different priests and served for all of them with care and humility.

 

Altar servers wear a simple cream alb with red cord cincture.

 

Our MC, Edd Hogan, has been an altar server since 1985. He has been MC here in Malvern for the past 15 years. Edd leads regular training sessions for new servers and is always welcoming of those who want to give altar serving a try (no matter how old you are!) Please contact the parish office if you are interested or would like to know more on 01684 574 250 or stjoseph.malvern@rcaob.org.uk.

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Music Groups

Music at 11.00 Sunday Mass

Music at 11.00 Sunday Mass is a mixture of modern and traditional hymns, and is lead by different groups on a rota.

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On the first and fourth Sundays of the month Mary Taylor leads on guitar; Kathryn Burnham plays guitar and organ on the second Sunday; Liz Burger takes the third Sunday along with a group of young musicians and finally when there is a fifth Sunday Christian Dowle leads on guitar.

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They are all backed up by a small group of singers. New singers (who don't need to be able to read music) and musicians are always welcome to join, and with this rota you can help even if you can only commit to one Sunday a month.

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If you would like more information come and have a chat after Mass or contact Mary Taylor via the Parish Office on 01684 574 250 or stjoseph.malvern@rcaob.org.uk.

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Children's Liturgy of the Word

An opportunity for children aged about 3-8 years to unpack the key message of the Gospel at a level suitable to them. Held durung the Sunday 11am Mass most weeks. Parents of younger children are welcome to accompany their children.