An Altar Server Formation Program for High School Boys
Templars forms young men in your parish into Catholic gentlemen through fraternity built on altar serving, brotherhood, service, and prayer. It is a program for boys ages 14 to 18, led by lay mentors called confrères. Templars teaches boys how to serve Mass.
Today there are 50 chapters. If you are a parent, pastor, or youth leader looking for a proven way to keep high school boys at the altar, this is where to begin.
Message us for the free Launch Kit
A brotherhood built on the altar
Serving at the altar is the heart of Templars. The young men learn how to serve Mass, and they do that work together as brothers. Around it they build a simple rhythm of prayer, charitable service, and fraternity — what Templars calls the Work of the Order.
What life in a chapter looks like
A chapter's rhythm is steady and clear:
- Monthly chapter meetings
- Serving at the altar, ideally every week
- Quarterly service and fraternal activities
Led by lay mentors
Chapters are led by confrères: lay adult mentors who support the pastor, chaperone when needed in accordance with safe environment policies, and serve as worthy men to imitate in walking the Christian life. They are mentors and role models for the Brother Templars during the life of the chapter.
If you are a pastor, Templars is designed to enlist lay adult men in your parish to run the program. It will take a few of your hours during the launch stage, but lay adult men in the parish will be the chief contributors.
How a chapter begins
- Commission lay adults. These adults — we call them confrères — will serve as mentors and role models for the Brother Templars.
- Recruit Templars. Start with a list of the male teenagers in your parish who you believe would be interested in joining. Brother Templars are 14 to 18 years old. It is prudent to recruit eighth graders during their second semester, as recruiting them then is often more successful than recruiting them in high school.
- Launch the chapter. The chapter begins to serve at the altar, build the brotherhood, offer charitable service, and pray together.
Many successful chapters have started with five members. It is ideal to have 7 to 10, but in Year #1, five members is enough to get started.
What you get when you start
Message us to request the free Launch Kit. Once you have it, one of our Chapter Success Coaches will contact you to discuss the details of your parish launch. The kit includes:
- Rule of the Order (2)
- Chaplain & Confrère Manual (2)
- Pocket Guide to Christian Masculinity (15)
- Launch Event Invitation Cards (15)
- QR Code Sign-Up Cards (30)
- Templars Brand Poster (2)
You also receive GoTemplars, our chapter management software, and ongoing support, including regular quarterly check-ins. All chapter materials are 100% free for your parish and families. After a successful launch, you're invited to pay it forward to help another community start their journey.
Message us for the free Launch Kit
A free guide you can download now
The Pocket Guide to Christian Masculinity is a simple guide for Templars to embrace the spiritual life. It also serves as a great tool to introduce others to the Templars Honor Code and Work of the Order. The digital download is free.
Where the program began
The program began in 1999 in a diocese in Indiana, under the name Knights of the Holy Temple. Templars is a program of Unfinished, a Catholic 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Today, 50 chapters carry on that work in parishes across the United States.
What People Are Saying
“Templars is a proven and fruitful model of formation and maturation for its male teenage membership.”
— Most Rev. James S. Wall, Bishop of Gallup
“Since joining, I have felt a deeper call to prayer, a strong sense of belonging, and the most clear vision of the man I'm meant to be that I've ever had.”
— Jason K., Brother Templar
“For me, joining the Templars order has been one of the best decisions of my life.”
— Lael A., Brother Templar
“The most important thing that Templars has brought to our parish is an increased level of reverence and awe at each Mass.”
— Joe B., Confrère
“They are proud young Catholics that are very much setting great examples for the young and the old. I couldn’t be more proud.”
— Tara K., Mother of a Templar
FAQ
Who is Templars for?
Templars is a Catholic program for male high schoolers, ages 14 to 18. Parents, pastors, and youth leaders use it to form those young men through altar serving, brotherhood, service, and prayer. It is prudent to recruit eighth graders during their second semester.
Does Templars teach boys how to serve Mass?
Yes. Templars teaches boys how to serve Mass. Serving at the altar is the foundation of the chapter's life, together with brotherhood, service, and prayer.
What is the time commitment?
Chapters hold monthly meetings, serve at the altar (ideally weekly), and take part in quarterly service and fraternal activities.
Who leads a chapter?
Lay mentors called confrères lead the chapter and support the pastor. They chaperone when necessary in accordance with safe environment policies, and they serve as worthy men to imitate in walking the Christian life. The pastor serves as chaplain; lay adult men in the parish are the chief contributors.
How do we start a chapter?
Message us to get the free Launch Kit. A Chapter Success Coach will follow up to discuss whether your parish is a good fit and whether the time is right. When the answer is yes, recruiting lay adult men to serve as mentors is the first step. Many successful chapters have started with five members.
Is there a cost to start?
The Launch Kit is free — message us to request it. All chapter materials are 100% free for your parish and families. Templars operates on a pay-it-forward model: after a successful launch, you're invited to help cover the launch of the next parish.
Get the free Launch Kit
If you are ready to start a chapter, or you simply want to learn whether Templars is a fit for your parish, message us. We will follow up about the free Launch Kit and your next step.