St. John Nepomucene Altar Servers - Cabiao, Nueva Ecija

The Knights of the Altar is an organization of boys and men who serve Our Blessed Lord at His altar at a very important time in Jesus’ life, He accepted the services of a young boy. This young boy provided five loaves and two fish for that very momentous miracle with which Jesus launched his teaching on the Holy Eucharist. The Sacred Writers do not tell us the name of the young boy, only his deed, and his act of service. Altar servers also perform a great deed of service. In past centuries, only priests or those ordained to the office of Acolyte were allowed beyond the Communion rail to assist in the Worship of God. The Order of Acolyte is a step toward the priesthood. It is the highest of the four minor orders, before a man seriously commits himself to the priesthood with the three major orders. As seminaries grew, the Order of Acolyte became for the seminarian a step to the goal of Priesthood, and thus not as many remained Acolyte to assist priests in the Sacred Services. Therefore the Church allowed lay men to perform the duties of that office. As it became more necessary for men to work steady hours to fulfill their duties as fathers and breadwinners, and young men were called to serve in war time, boys were taught to take on the responsibilities of assisting the priests in their service of God.