Altar Server Guidelines St. Pius X Catholic Church, Cedar Rapids, IA

Altar Server Guidelines St. Pius X Catholic Church, Cedar Rapids, IA SUMMARY Before Mass: sign in on bulletin board dress in an alb (robe) & rope light altar candles take processional cross from Vesting Sacristy to gathering space Procession: cross bearer leads, acolytes follow (take song books) Let us pray Cross bearer holds Roman Missal (red book) Preparation of the Gifts: 1. Set the altar: remove wooden book stand 1 chalice, 1 purificator, cruet of water, Roman Missal 2. After gifts are on altar, Presider washes his hands Eucharistic Prayer: kneel on steps Sign of Peace: 1. Share peace with Presider 2. Set altar: cups in tray, purificators, plates 3. Stand under the cross to receive communion Communion: stand behind Presider if low-gluten hosts clear altar except ciborium Let us pray Cross bearer holds Roman Missal Recessional: cross bearer leads, acolytes follow After Mass: extinguish candles hang up alb and rope Altar Server Guidelines page 1

BEFORE ARRIVING AT CHURCH 1. During the week, read the email reminder that you receive from the Liturgy Office. Pay close attention to anything that will affect the altar servers. 2. Review these notes on what duties you will have at the Mass. BEFORE MASS 1. Arrive at least 15 minutes before the start of Mass. 2. Come to the gathering space and sign in on the Liturgy bulletin board. If you are subbing for someone, write sub next to your name. If you are filling in for a no-show, write no-show next to that person s name. 3. Go to the working sacristy. Put on an alb and wear the appropriate colored rope. If you are unsure of the color to use, please ask the priest, deacon or lector. 4. Using a brass lighter, light the candles needed for the liturgy. Two Liturgical Colors White Christmas and Easter seasons, feast days Red Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Pentecost, Confirmation, feasts of martyrs Purple Advent, Lent Green Ordinary Time or four candles are located near the altar. Also, depending on the season and baptisms, the Paschal Candle may need to be lit. 5. R eturn the candle lighter to the working sacristy, and go to the gathering space. Determine amongst the altar servers who will be the cross bearer and who will be the two acolytes. The cross bearer will need to get the cross from the sanctuary or vesting sacristy and take it to the gathering space. 6. When it s time for Mass to begin, all servers move with the priest and deacon or lector to the back of the church on the side of the baptismal font, near the table for the gifts. Have a missalette with you and be ready to process forward. One acolyte should carry an extra missalette for the cross bearer. Altar Server Guidelines page 2

PROCESSION AND START OF MASS CROSS BEARER 1. After the gathering song begins and the priest gives the OK to go, lead the procession down the center aisle. Do not rush. Take your time. It is not a race to get down the aisle. Altar Cross bearer Acolytes (side by side) Lector or Deacon Priest 2. When you reach the stairs of the sanctuary, walk a few steps to the right and wait for everyone else to arrive. 3. After the priest, lector and other servers bow (you do not bow), enter the sanctuary, walking up on the right side of the altar, and place the cross in the stand. 4. Move across the sanctuary, behind the altar, back to your seat. 5. Receive your missalette from an acolyte, and join in singing the gathering song. 6. Once the priest says, Let us pray, you move and pick up the Roman Missal (red book) from the presider s chair. If a deacon is present he may pick up the book and hand it to you. Approach the priest and hold the book for him to read. After the prayer, return the book to the deacon (if there is one) or to the chair, and return to your seat. ACOLYTES 1. Process down the aisle behind the cross bearer. Walk side by side with your missalette open and singing. 2. Once you reach the stairs of the sanctuary, you both walk a few steps to the left and wait for everyone else to arrive. 3. Bow with the priest and lector or deacon. 4. Enter the sanctuary, walking up on the left side of the altar toward your seats. Remain standing. 5. Once the crossbearer reaches you, give him/her a missalette and continue singing the gathering song. Altar Server Guidelines page 3

PREPARATION OF THE GIFTS CROSS BEARER Remain at your seat and participate in the Mass. ACOLYTES 1. When the collection is being taken up, the altar needs to be prepared. Here is what needs to be done: Remove the wooden stand that holds the Book of Gospels Place the Roman Missal on the altar, near the center. Place the priest s chalice, small cruet of water and one purificator on the right side of the altar. Chalice Roman Missal Purificator Glass Cruet of Water Once the altar is prepared, return to your seats and join in singing the preparation song. 2. Acolytes must watch the priest closely at this part in the liturgy. The gifts of bread and wine are brought to the altar next. Additionally, a small rectangular-shaped glass plate with pyxes containing low-gluten hosts may come with the gifts. The priest will do one of two things here. He may remain at the altar and have the gifts brought to him, in which case the acolytes stay in their seats. Or he may walk to the steps and meet the gift bearers. If he walks to the steps and meets the gift bearers, each acolyte will have an added responsibility. One acolyte is expected to carry the bread back to the altar, and one acolyte is expected to carry the wine and plate of pyxes, if present, back to the altar. 3. After the gifts are placed on the altar, both acolytes go to the credence table. One acolyte picks up the large water bowl and the other acolyte picks up the large hand towel. Stand near the priest and wait for him to wash his hands. When he is finished, one acolyte removes the small water cruet from the altar. The large bowl of water, the large towel, and the small cruet of water are all taken back and set on the credence table. Then, both acolytes go back to their seats. 4. Remain at your seats and participate in the Mass. Altar Server Guidelines page 4

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER THROUGH THE LAMB OF GOD 1. As soon as the Holy, Holy, Holy music begins, move to the side of the sanctuary. When the people kneel, you kneel on the steps. 2. Remain kneeling until after the Great Amen. When the rest of the people stand, you stand too. 3. When the priest invites all to offer a sign of Christ s peace, walk to the side of the altar and share the sign of peace first with the priest and then with each other. 4. When the Lamb of God music begins, the acolytes bring the communion plates to the altar. DO NOT STACK THEM! 5. The crossbearer brings the cups and purificators. Carry the cups in their tray and set the tray on the altar, on the side nearest the Presider s chair. Set the purificators next to the tray. Stack of Purificators Wooden Tray of Cups Roman Missal Communion Plates 6. Move back behind the priest, and join in the half circle of Ministers of Holy Communion who will be coming up during this time. Altar Server Guidelines page 5

COMMUNION You receive the host at the same time as the Ministers of Holy Communion. Do not consume the host until after the Presider has consumed his. ACOLYTES As each Minister of Holy Communion walks to his/her communion station, the acolytes clear the altar of everything except the ciborium. Put the chalice and large bread plate on the credence table, and the Roman Missal in the priest s chair. Then go back to your seats, sit down, and join in singing the communion songs. CROSS BEARER If there is no small plate of pyxes, the cross bearer sits down. However, if there is a small plate of pyxes, the Presider hands the plate to the cross bearer. The cross bearer follows the Presider to his place and stands behind him holding the plate. When someone needing a low-gluten host comes forward, the Presider turns to the cross bearer. The cross bearer moves the plate closer to the priest's hand. The priest will pick up the pyx, distribute the consecrated host, and then return the empty pyx to the plate. When all the pyxes are empty, the cross bearer leaves the priest's side and places the plate on the Credence Table. Then, the cross bearer goes to his/her seat. AFTER COMMUNION 1. After communion, all three servers check that the altar is clear. The communion plates, the empty chalice and small purificator go to the credence table. The Roman Missal is put back in the presider s chair. Nothing is left on the altar when communion is done and the priest sits down. Note: The Ministers of Holy Communion deliver the ciborium filled with consecrated hosts to and from the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. The altar servers do not do this. 2. When everyone stands, you stand. The priest says, Let us pray. The cross bearer picks up the Roman Missal from the presider s chair or takes it from the deacon, approaches the priest and holds the book for him to read. After the priest is done, replace the book in the presider s chair and go back to your seat. Altar Server Guidelines page 6

RECESSION CROSS BEARER As soon as the song starts, the cross bearer moves across the sanctuary, behind the altar, and removes the cross from its stand. Wait there until the priest starts to move down the stairs. Join him in the same position that you were in to start the Mass in front of the altar. Wait as the priest and other servers bow. Then turn and lead the procession out of the church. ACOLYTES Take your missalette and the crossbearer s and start singing the final song. As the priest moves down the stairs, join him in the same position that you were in for the procession and the beginning of Mass, in front of the altar. Bow with the priest and turn to follow the cross bearer down the aisle, walking side by side. AFTER MASS 1. Wait in the back of the church until the final song is done and the people have moved out of the aisles. 2. The cross bearer needs to put the cross back in its stand in the vesting sacristy. 3. Carefully extinguish the candles in one of two ways. One, use the brass lighter. However, please watch that you are not pushing the brass lighter into the melted wax. This can ruin the candle. Two, you may gently blow out the candles. However, please watch that you do not spray the melted wax on the floor. [Important: The candles on the large Advent wreath should always be extinguished with a brass lighter. Do not attempt to lift them off the wreath! Ask an adult for help.] 4. Hang up albs and ropes carefully in the vesting sacristy. Be sure to snap the collar so your alb doesn t slip off the hanger. Thank you for using me! Altar Server Guidelines page 7

ADDITIONAL NOTES Thank you in advance for providing this service for the Church. As a ministry, your service as an altar server should take priority over your other commitments like friends, baseball, soccer etc. Please make it to the Masses you are scheduled for, or arrange for a substitute. If you can t give your ministry your best effort, we ask that you resign from serving. Please remember that your ministry is to serve/assist. At all times, act respectfully in the sanctuary, and be attentive to what is happening so that you can give help when needed. If you can t serve at the Mass you are assigned to, you will need to find your own replacement. Please dress respectfully for Mass. Be aware that most albs are made from lightweight material. What you wear underneath can show through. For this reason, an altar server should avoid shirts with bold stripes and designs. It is recommended that you wear solid colors, and white would be the most appropriate choice. Likewise, pants, dresses and skirts should also be a solid color. Dress shoes should be worn whenever possible. Flip-flops may not be worn while serving. When you are in the sanctuary, keep your hands folded as in prayer. When seated, your hands should be in your lap. Remember, you are up in front of everybody in the congregation, and they will see every move you make. Unnecessary movement will be a distraction. Servers respond to the prayers and dialogues of the priest along with the congregation. They also join in singing the hymns and other chants of the liturgy. Please use the missalette. Remember, you are seen by all the parishioners, and how you conduct yourself is an important model to them of how they should behave and participate. Posture is very important when serving. Servers can distract the congregation in their prayers if correct posture is not used. Servers are to sit with their legs together, feet flat on the floor, and hands resting in the lap. Do not slouch. A server needs to know the principal prayers of the Mass such as the Our Father and the Nicene Creed No one should chew gum while attending Mass. If during Mass you feel ill, quietly move off the sanctuary and to the working sacristy. There is a restroom nearby, through the door next to the sink. If you are sitting in a pew and you notice that there are no servers, please volunteer to help. A copy of these guidelines is available on the Liturgy bulletin board in the gathering space for your review before Mass, if needed. Altar Server Guidelines page 8

INCENSE LIGHTING THE CHARCOAL The two acolytes go to the working sacristy to light the charcoal. Light the center of the charcoal. Tip it just a bit so the flame lights the center of the design. Make sure the center is lit, as well as the radials coming out from the center. You will not see it catch fire, but you should see tiny sparks. The charcoal will slowly glow red and then turn white as it begins to heat up. Place the lit charcoal (with the design facing up) back in the thurible and put the lid on. Gently blow through the slits and watch for a red glow. Return to the sanctuary, leaving the thurible and the boat in the working sacristy. It will take 15-20 minutes for the charcoal to be ready to use. BRINGING IN THE INCENSE The acolytes go to the working sacristy to get the charcoal and incense. DO NOT TOUCH THE THURIBLE! It will be extremely hot. One acolyte grabs the chain about 6 inches above the thurible, and holds the end of the chain with the other hand. The other acolyte carries in the boat, with the lid closed and the spoon inside. Carry the thurible and the boat to the sanctuary, and stand in front of your seats. Try not to let the thurible or boat touch your alb. They may leave a grayish stain. INCENSING The priest will motion to you when he s ready for the incense. The priest will sprinkle incense (from the boat) onto the hot charcoal. He will take the thurible from the acolyte and incense the object(s). Acolytes remain in place. When the priest has finished, acolytes should place the thurible and the boat on the glass plate on the credence table or return these items to the working sacristy and place them on the glass rectangle next to the sink. Altar Server Guidelines page 9

GLOSSARY ALTAR The table in the center of the sanctuary upon which the elements of bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. ALTAR CLOTH The white or colored cloth used to cover the altar. ALTAR SERVER Someone who is specially trained to assist the priest at Mass. ALB The white garment which is worn to cover everyday clothes. AMBO The podium from which the readings are read. Sometimes called a lectern or pulpit. AMBRY The cabinet which holds the three holy oils. Located near the baptismal font. ASPERGILLUM Also called a sprinkler. A wand used to sprinkle people with holy water. BAPTISMAL FONT The structure containing holy water, used to baptize. BOAT AND SPOON The vessel that holds the unburned incense BOOK OF THE GOSPELS A large ceremonial book containing the Sunday Gospel readings. CHALICE The proper name for the cup(s) used to hold the wine or the Blood of Christ. CIBORIUM A container with a lid used to store consecrated (blessed) hosts in the tabernacle. CORPORAL The square-shaped white linen cloth which is placed on the altar to catch any crumbs which might fall. CREDENCE TABLE The side table where the items for the Mass are kept. CRUET The small glass pitcher which holds the water to be mixed with the wine and for the washing of hands. DEACON An ordained man who can assist in preaching and can perform baptisms and marriages. EUCHARISTIC MINISTER A person who is specially trained to assist in distributing communion. FLAGON The pitcher which holds the wine for the Mass and which is brought up at the offertory. INCENSE Perfumed grains that are burned during special occasions. LAVABO BOWL The bowl used during the washing of the hands by the priest. LECTIONARY The book which contains the readings used in the Mass. Altar Server Guidelines page 10

LECTOR The person who reads the first and second readings and the intercessions (prayers) at Mass. PALL The white cloth placed over the casket in funeral liturgies. PASCHAL CANDLE Also knows as the Easter Candle. It is used during the Easter season, and for baptisms and funerals. PRESIDER S CHAIR The large chair, located near the altar, where the priest leads the prayers and rites of the church. PRIEST Specially ordained men who concrete and offer the Body and Blood of Jesus at Mass. PROCESSIONAL CROSS A cross on a long handle or stick. Carried at the front of a procession. PURIFICATOR The small rectangular cloth used to wipe the edge of the chalice clean. PYX A small metal container with a lid, which is used to hold hosts. ROMAN MISSAL The book which contains the priest s prayers. SACRISTY The room where the priests dress and where Mass items are kept. SANCTUARY The proper name for the place in the church which is raised and upon which sits the altar, ambo, and presider s chair. SANCTUARY LAMP The candle which is always kept burning in the church and is located near the tabernacle. TABERNACLE The place where the reserved hosts are kept. THURIFER The proper name for the person who carries the incense in the Mass. THURIBLE The proper name for the censer or the device used for incensing. Also called a censer. Made of metal and holds hot charcoal. Has a top with air vents and a long chain so that it can be carried. VESTMENTS What the priest and altar servers wear during Mass. ALB A long white linen robe. CINCTURE A rope or cord worn around the waist to secure the alb. STOLE A long strip of cloth worn by the priest around his neck and shoulders. CHASUBLE A very large piece of cloth worn over the alb and stole by the priest. Altar Server Guidelines page 11

MAP 1 - Vesting Sacristy 2 Working Sacristy 3 - Credence Table 4 Gift Table 5 Baptismal Font 6 Liturgy bulletin board Altar Server Guidelines page 12

JUST FOR FUN! Words in this word find will be found in all directions. A S E L E C T I O N A R Y S R S O L F L A G O N V I M L O R K R U F B R E F I R U H T R I O O B S A M E C I L A H C O A O M I H T T L U L P M B I T H B A T P E E H E A R B A Y A C S N S T C D G U L E O T R C S R M E A N R R O R D S I N I R E I V H E L A L B I P B O F E D S A P D M T O R S B O C I D I S S T E C L C Y E G L A R I S A P D R L A H C R K L E U S E L E U C S W C O P E A D P E R Y E N A V E I O X Y P E S R P T L E T A B E R N A C L E P C R O Y R A U T C N A S C A T Alb Altar Ambo Aspergellum Chalice Credence Table Cruet Deacon Flagon Lectionary Pall Presider Presiders Book Presiders Chair Purificator Pyx Roman Missal Sacristy Sanctuary Tabernacle Thurible Thurifer Vestibule Altar Server Guidelines page 13