OLMC Altar Server - Parent FAQ

Scheduling Website

Q: What is the scheduling website?

A: The scheduling website is a service that our parish subscribes to which handles scheduling altar servers, readers and EMHCs.

Q: I can’t find the link to the website, do you have it?

A: The address is: http://olmc1org.ministerscheduling.com/userProfile.php. Also, you can always find it in my email signature.

Q: How do I learn how to use the scheduling website.

A: The hosting company has three training videos that should help. Check the Scheduling Site page on the OLMC Altar Server ministry website.

Communication

Q: What’s the best way to reach you?

A: The best way is via email at olmcaltarservers@gmail.com. I suggest adding my email address to your address book. Or you may call my home phone, the number is listed in the bulletin.

Q: A friend told me that she received an email from you asking for servers but I haven’t received one myself. Am included on your distribution list?

A: I pull all contact information from the Minister Scheduling website periodically so it is important to keep that information current for each child you have serving. You should also add my email address and the Minister Scheduling administrator’s address to your address book or safe senders list. My address is olmcaltarservers@gmail.com and the site’s admin is olmc1org@ministerscheduling.com.

Q: We’ve moved and gave our new address to the parish office. Does that flow down to you too?

A: No, it does not. Please log in to your child’s profile at the Minister Scheduling website and update your contact information there.

Scheduling

Q: How do you schedule servers?

A: The schedules are computer generated quarterly via the Minister Scheduling website.

Q: How will I know when my child is scheduled to serve?

A: The parish office will send a postcard to each server listing their assignments for the upcoming quarter. Additionally, the system will send a reminder email a few days before the assignment.

Q: How often will my child be scheduled as an altar server?

A: In the Minister Scheduling system you have the ability to select the maximum number of times your child may be scheduled per month.

Q: What about school Masses?

A: Altar servers for school Masses are scheduled by the homeroom teacher.

Q: Will my child be scheduled for Mass on Holy Days of Obligation or other special occasions?

A: Holy Days are not automatically scheduled by the system. For those and other special occasions I will send an email to all families looking for servers.

Q: What about First Communion?

A: First Communion is handled the same way. However, I will apply some special criteria when selecting servers. I will select servers who 1) have a family connection and 2) are experienced. Typically I will only be able to select one server per family.

Q: My family is going on vacation over the summer, is there a way to block out those dates so my child will not be scheduled to serve?

A: Yes! This may be done via the calendar on your child’s profile. See the Scheduling Website section below.

Q: My son would like to serve with his best friend. Is it possible to schedule them together?

A: Yes, the scheduling website has the ability to schedule people together only if their serving preferences are completely the same. I recommend talking with his friend’s parents to coordinate his serving preferences.

Sub Requests

Q: What if my child is scheduled to serve but our family has a conflict?

A: If needed the Minister Scheduling site includes a “Find Sub” feature. This feature is available up to the Thursday before the assignment. Simply log in to your child's profile page at the scheduling website and click the "Find Sub" button in the calendar section of the page. Doing so will send an email to all of the trained servers and you'll be notified when another server takes the assignment. For more information on this feature check the "Scheduling Site" link on the left.

Q: I submitted a sub request but nobody has responded the request.

A: This happens sometimes especially if the assignment is several weeks in the future. If you’ve submitted a sub request that hasn’t been accepted and it’s been more than a few days simply log back in to the Minister Scheduling website and resubmit the request.

Q: I’m trying to make a sub request but the button is grayed out. What’s going on?

A: The Minister Scheduling website locks down the assignment roster two days out from the assignment. Likely you’re trying to do a sub request within that blackout period. If your child cannot fulfill this assignment try contacting friends you know who attend that to see if their son or daughter can fill in for you.

Serving

Q: My child is set for the 7a.m. Mass, can he serve as a sub at other Mass times?

A: Yes, every qualified server is welcome to serve as a sub at any Mass. Please be sure your child does not already have an assignment for that day before accepting the sub request.

Q: When do they need to arrive for their assignment?

A: At least 15 minutes before the start of Mass.

Qualifications and Training

Q: My son is moving in to 9^th grade. He has to quit, doesn’t he?

A: No. Altar Serving is open to young people from 5^th grade through 12^th grade.

Q: After the initial training is there other training required?

A: Refresher training will be held periodically as the need arises. Also, from time to time I will email updates and reminders for you to share with your child.