Altar Servers
Serving at Sunday Mass
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Before Mass
- Arrive AT LEAST 15 minutes before Mass.
Chalice and Ciboria in Sacristy
- Go to the Servers’ Sacristy and vest in an alb. (Make sure that it goes down to your ankles.)
- Light the candles with the metal candle lighter.
- Place Father’s chalice on the credence table and put the key in front of the Tabernacle. (NOTE: MAKE SURE TO GENUFLECT AFTER YOU PLACE THE KEY IN FRONT OF IT.) Make sure that the bowl for washing the priest’s hands is on the table with the finger towel opened and the pitcher filled with water.
- Take the collection basket, the ciboria, and the cruets of water and wine to the Gift Table in the back of the church.
Gift Table
- When you are finished, be seated on your benches in the Priests’ Sacristy.
During Mass
Entrance: About 5 minutes before Mass, Father will tell you to get the cross and the candles and to go to the back of the church. Remember: walk respectfully to the back. Stand side-by-side on the edge of the light blue carpet, cross in the center with a candle on each side. The lector, deacon and Father will stand behind you. When the cantor is announcing the opening hymn, move up to the glass doors: cross bearer, then two candle bearers side-by-side behind. Wait there until the cantor begins singing, then process slowly toward the altar. The procession should appear as follows:
Cross Bearer
Candle Bearer — Candle Bearer
Lector
Deacon
Priest
When you reach the end of the aisle, pause briefly, and then turn and go the side doors near the sacristy where you place the cross and candles in their holders. Then, take your position at your pew.
Opening Prayer: While the people are saying the “Lord, have mercy”, the cross bearer should be ready to take the Sacramentary to Father. When he says “Let us pray,” take the Sacramentary over to Father, passing between the altar and the tabernacle. Rest the book on your chest. When you arrive in front of Father, point the ribbons in Father’s direction, and he will open the book while you hold it. When he is finished with the prayer, he will close the book and you may return to your pew, putting the Sacramentary in its stand.
Liturgy of the Word: Remain seated and pay attention to the first reading and the psalm. At the beginning of the second reading, the candle bearers get their candles and stand single-file next to the credence table. When the organist plays the “Alleluia,” go side-by-side in front of the altar and stand at the far edge of the carpet. When the deacon or priest steps down from the altar with the Book of the Gospels, process slowly side-by-side to the pulpit. Stand on each side of the pulpit, facing the people. After the people have said, “Glory to you, O Lord,” turn and face each other. Stand “at attention” during the gospel. Also, make sure that you are holding your candle evenly in height with your partner. When the deacon/priest kisses the book, you may return the candles to their stands. Make sure to blow them out.
Return to your seat and listen to the homily. Make sure to say the “Creed” with the people and to respond to the petitions.
Offertory: When the ushers begin to take up the collection, the cross bearer takes the Sacramentary and its stand to the altar, placing it on the left side of the corporal. One candle bearer takes the chalice to the altar and places it on the right side of the corporal. Return to your pew and be seated. When Father goes to the center aisle to receive the gifts, ALL THREE SERVERS come and help him: one takes the collection basket and places it next to the altar. Another takes the wine and water, and the other takes a ciborium. The one with the ciborium goes the altar and then hands it to the deacon or priest. The water and wine are taken to the credence table, and the server removes the tops and proceeds immediately to the altar. Stand at the edge of the blue carpet behind the altar with the cruets in both hands. Make sure to hold them so that Father or the deacon can take them from the handle. When he is finished with both of them, return to the credence table. The servers place the tops back on the cruets. One brings the lavabo bowl and the matching water pitcher (for washing Father’s hands), and the other takes the towel. Once both are ready, go immediately to the edge of the blue carpet and wait until Father is ready to wash his hands. Pour some water onto his hands and hand him the unfolded towel. When he is finished, return the bowl and the water to your table.
Bells: When Father raises the host for everyone to see right after he consecrates it (“This is my body…”), ring the bells until he begins to lower it or until a count of 5, whichever comes first. When he raises the chalice, do the same.
Sign of Peace: Go to the altar after Father or the deacon says, “Let us offer each other the sign of peace.” Process side-by-side with your hands in “praying position.” Stand at the edge of the carpet for the sign of peace. Return to your pew after all three of you have shaken Father’s hand.
Communion/Prayer after Communion: When Father finishes drinking from his chalice, go to the altar and stand on the step to receive communion. When all three of you have received, you may return to your pew. Take time to pray—do not go into the sacristy.
Note: At the 10:00am Mass on Sunday, we have more extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion because of the distribution of the cup. Please wait behind the Eucharistic ministers and receive after them.
During communion, the cross bearer takes the Sacramentary and its stand back to the credence table. When Father returns to the altar, one server takes the water to him—Father may motion for the server to pour some water into his chalice. When he returns to his chair, the other server (not the cross bearer) takes the chalice back to the credence table. Meanwhile, the cross bearer should be ready to take the Sacramentary to Father when he says “Let us pray.” When he is finished, return the book to your table.
Recessional: During the prayer after communion, the other two servers get their candles and the cross for the cross bearer. Stand next to the credence table. When the cross bearer returns with the book, he takes his cross and stands in front of the candle bearers.
When the organist begins to play the closing song, the three servers and the lector walk reverently to the center aisle and line up in this way, facing the sanctuary:
Sanctuary Step
Lector
Candle Bearer — Candle Bearer
Cross Bearer
The cross bearer should stop at the fourth pew and turn, with the other servers and the lector, to face the altar.
After Father genuflects and turns around, process slowly down the center aisle. Go to the carpet in front of the baptismal font and stand there until most of the people have left the church, cross bearer in the center and a candle bearer on each side.
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