Altar Servers Called to Reflect the Sacred Beauty of the Eucharist, Says Archbishop Machado

Bengaluru, January 20, 2026: Altar servers hold a unique and privileged place in the life of the Church, Archbishop Peter Machado of Bangalore said while addressing hundreds of young servers during Altar Servers’ Day held on January 18 at St. Peter’s Pontifical Seminary.

Speaking during the Eucharistic celebration, the Archbishop reminded the participants that their ministry brings them “incredibly close to the Eucharistic Lord.” He noted that by serving at the altar, altar servers offer themselves to Jesus and to His Church, making their service both sacred and missionary in nature.

The day-long programme, organised by the Archdiocese of Bangalore, brought together around 450 altar servers—boys and girls—from 32 parishes. The event was inaugurated by Fr. Richard Britto, Rector of St. Peter’s Pontifical Seminary, who welcomed the participants and encouraged them to remain faithful and joyful in their ministry.

In his homily, Archbishop Machado highlighted that the altar and the Eucharistic celebration are the spaces where the role of altar servers finds its deepest meaning. He explained that in assisting the priest or bishop, altar servers are truly serving God and His people. Their discipline, reverent silence, gestures, and prayerful posture, he said, bring order, dignity, and beauty to the Holy Mass and help reveal the sacred mystery of the Eucharist.

The Archbishop further emphasised that the ministry of altar servers goes beyond practical assistance. By helping the community enter into worship, he said, they become instruments through whom the faithful encounter the living presence of Christ. Comparing their role to that of John the Baptist, he acknowledged their quiet yet powerful witness in pointing others toward the Lord.

The programme included practical training sessions on altar service and vocation promotion, conducted separately for boys and girls. Cultural activities added to the festive spirit of the day, and certificates were distributed to all participants in appreciation of their commitment and service.

The celebration concluded with renewed encouragement for altar servers to grow in faith, humility, and love for the Eucharist, strengthening their vocation as young ministers at the heart of the Church’s liturgical life.

By Fr. Richard Britto