 The honor of becoming an altar server , was , in the past , a privilege only available to boys but has since become coed . Altar servers wear long , white , plain robes and assist the priest in his duties during the Mass . At Mt . St. Peter Church , there are four altar servers at every Mass . One is the book bearer and is in charge of bringing the Bible to the priest at the times during which the priest reads from the Bible during the Mass . The cross bearer holds a large , wooded crucifix and commences the procession in which the priest enters the church . Also present in the procession are the acolytes , and the book bearer . He or she also leads the procession out of the church at the end of the Mass . The last two altar servers are acolytes and are in charge of lighting the candles in the church prior to the beginning of the Mass and extinguishing them after Mass . 
