BEFORE MASS BEGINS ALTAR SERVER INSTRUCTIONS 1. Dress appropriately to serve at Mass. Young men should wear dress shoes and dark slacks with a dress shirt. Young ladies should wear dark slacks with a dress blouse or dress skirt and blouse with dress shoes. NO sandals, flip-flops, tennis shoes, etc. 2. Arrive at least 20 minutes before Mass begins. Put on cassock and surplice. 3. Ensure that all candles on the altar and at the Tabernacle are lit. 4. The Credence table should have the following arranged on it: a. Father s chalice (no wine), purificator, paten, host, pall and chalice veil. b. Cruet with water c. Patens for the congregation in silk sleeves d. Basin, pitcher and finger towel for cleansing Father s hands 5. A cruet with the wine will be at the back of the church along with the ciboria(s). 6. Father will meet with the EMHC s, Lector and Servers for prayer prior to Mass in the Altar server sacristy. Altar Server Instructions Sep 2014 Page 1 of 7
AT THE BEGINNING OF MASS 1. Father will signal Crucifix bearer to begin procession. Take your time walking to the Altar. Keep your hands folded in prayer at all times. 2. Crucifix bearer will lead followed by the two other altar servers (acolytes) and Father. At Special Masses the lineup may be different and Father will advise. 3. When reaching the front of the Altar, the Crucifix bearer will make a head bow, continue to the right and place the Crucifix on the wall mounted supports in the hallway. The Crucifix bearer will then take his or her place in front of the chair nearest Father. (not next to Father, but to the left on the main floor) 4. The two Acolytes will remain with Father, one on each side, in front of the Altar. Do what Father instructs at this point, either genuflect or head bow and then proceed to your stand in front of the chairs provided to the left of the Altar. Keep your hands folded in prayer at all times. 5. Crucifix bearer will get the book, Sacramentary, for the opening prayer during the Gloria when you hear the words with the Holy Spirit either sung or spoken. 6. When we start singing the Alleluia, the two acolytes on the left walk to the front of the altar, body bow and step up to get the candles. Turn together toward each other and step down to the floor in front of the altar and wait for Father. When Father walks to the ambo, you walk and stand in front of the ambo, facing each other and framing the ambo while Father proclaims the Gospel. When Father is finished. The servers walk back to the front of the altar, step up and replace the candles on the stands, step down to the floor, body bow, turn right and walk through the hallway behind the altar back to your chair. 7. After the proclamation of the Gospel, all servers are to sit. AFTER THE HOMILY/DURING THE OFFERTORY AND PRESENTATION OF THE GIFTS 1. After the Homily, Father will return to his chair for a moment. After a brief pause, he will then stand, along with the Congregation and recite the Profession of Faith. At the words I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic church, the Crucifix bearer will pick up the black binder that is located next to the sacramentary on the table to the right of Father. The Crucifix bearer will then stand near Father, but not Altar Server Instructions Sep 2014 Page 2 of 7
directly in front of him, and hold the binder so that Father may read the prayers of the faithful. After Father is finished, the Crucifix bearer will return the binder to the table. 2. Crucifix bearer will then pick up the sacramentary and holder from the table and proceed to place them on the Altar. PLEASE NOTE: When passing in front of the Celebrant or the Tabernacle, always face the Celebrant or the Tabernacle and make a head bow. Once you have set the sacramentary and stand on the Altar, proceed to arrange Father s chalice, the congregation chalices, purificators and ciboria. These items, which are on the Credence table, will be brought to the Altar by the server(s) near the Credence table. 3. When the ushers are almost complete with taking up the collection, the Crucifix bearer will get the Crucifix from the hallway to begin the procession of the gifts. As you get to the center of the aisle with the Crucifix, turn to the Tabernacle and head bow to the Tabernacle. Proceed to the back of the church to line up for the procession of the gifts. As soon as the gifts are ready to be brought to the Altar, Father usually will signal you with a head bow to come forward. 4. When Father rises to go to the front of the Altar to receive the gifts, the two servers near the credence table will go to the front of the Altar to assist. One server on each side of Father. Please do not cross in front of Father. Walk behind him and take your place on each side of him. 5. As the Crucifix bearer nears Father, he/she will make a head bow to Father and return the Crucifix to the hallway. Return to the Altar area and receive the basket from Father and place it under your chair. Remain standing at your chair with your hands folded in prayer. 6. Father will receive the gifts and give them to the servers. Altar Server Instructions Sep 2014 Page 3 of 7
a. The server who received the ciboria from Father will take them to the side of the Altar and then wait to give them to Father. Father will then place them on the Altar. Do not cross between the Altar and the Tabernacle. b. The server who receives the wine cruet will go to the credence table (do not cross between the Altar and the Tabernacle) remove the stopper from the wine and water cruets. If you are alone, carry both cruets to the Altar, if there are two servers one will carry the wine and one will carry the water. Place the cruet in your right hand and place your left hand over your heart. The handles of the cruets will be facing Father as you approach the Altar. The wine cruet will always be the first cruet handed to Father. c. After Father has finished with the cruets both servers will head bow to Father and then return the cruets to the credence table. d. At the credence table one server will get the basin and bowl and the other server will get the finger towel and be ready for the washing of Father s hands. Do not approach the Altar for the washing of the hands until after Father s action on the Corporal indicating the area for Consecration. When Father has dried his hands, head bow to Father and return to the credence table, placing the basin, bowl and towel on the table. Stand on the main floor near the credence table and prepare for the Consecration of the gifts. EUCHARISTIC PRAYER 1. After you hear the Holy, Holy, Holy (either spoken or sung), all of the servers shall kneel on the first step of the Altar. Remember to keep your hands folded in prayer. 2. After kneeling, the Altar server closest to the credence table will immediately get ready for the bells to be rung in the following manner: a. One twist of the hand to ring the bells for the Epiclesis. This is at the beginning of the Eucharistic prayer at the point where Father places both hands horizontally over the gifts on the Altar. Please wait until his hands have come to a stop above the gifts before you ring the bells. b. As Father elevates the Host, the Body of Christ, there will be three twists of the wrist to ring the bells. Please wait until Father has elevated the Host to the highest point. Allow 1-2 seconds between each ring. c. As Father elevates the chalice, the Blood of Christ, there will be three twists of the wrist to ring the bells. Please wait until Father has elevated the Chalice to the highest point. Allow 1-2 seconds between each ring. d. Return the bells to their position on the floor. Do not quiet the bells. Let their tone resonate. Altar Server Instructions Sep 2014 Page 4 of 7
COMMUNION RITE AND RITE OF PEACE 1. Servers will remain at their places for the Lord s Prayer. 2. After the Lord s Prayer, proceed to Father to offer the sign of peace by shaking his hand. 3. Return to your area at the main level. 4. After the breaking of the bread, you will hear The Lamb of God, either spoken or sung. At the end of this all the servers will kneel. DURING COMMUNION 1. Father will receive the Body of Christ first. When Father consumes from his chalice, the server nearest the credence table is to ring the bells lightly one time. After the bell, all servers are to stand. Stay on the floor and Father will bring the body and blood to you for communion. 2. After receiving Communion, the two servers, on the credence table side of the Altar, will get the patens from the table and place a purificator over your right arm and be ready to assist with Communion. One server will help Father and the other will help the EMHC with the host. (Please hold the patens level at ALL times) 3. One server will have to assist if the need arises for Father or the EMHC to go into the congregation to distribute Communion. 4. As Father, the servers and the EMHC s disperse to distribute Communion, the Crucifix bearer is to approach the Altar, bow to the Tabernacle, and take Father s chalice, paten, pall and purificator to the credence table. Return to the Altar, bow to the Tabernacle, take the sacramentary and holder back to the table. If you know how return the page in the sacramentary to the Prayer After Communion do so now. When you are finished, kneel on the first step. Altar Server Instructions Sep 2014 Page 5 of 7
AFTER COMMUNION 1. Father will go to the credence table to purify the vessels. The server that has helped Father during Communion is to go to the credence table, standing to the left of Father, and be prepared to place the chalices and purificators from the EMHC s back onto the credence table. (there is a picture at the end of this manual showing how the vessels are to be placed) After Father has purified the patens, place them back into the silk pouches. Do not assist Father with the purification of the vessels. When Father places the remaining hosts into the Tabernacle and closes the door all servers will head bow. At this point all servers are to sit at their places. 2. After Father purifies the vessels he will cross the Altar and return to his chair. When he is ready he will stand for the prayer after communion. The Crucifix bearer will pick up the sacramentary for Father to read the prayer after communion. Return the sacramentary to the stand when father is through. 3. Father may ask all to be seated for a few announcements. If so, do so. After the announcements, Father will give the final blessing. When Father has finished giving the final blessing, the crucifix bearer will retrieve the Crucifix from its holder in the hallway and move to the front of the Altar on the main level. 4. The two servers near the credence table will also move to the front of the Altar on the main level and stand to each side of Father, facing the altar. At this point do whatever Father does, genuflect or bow, turn in the same direction as Father and proceed to the back of the church. 5. The Crucifix bearer, leading the recession, only needs to head bow, but is to also turn in the same direction as Father. 6. At the back of the church all servers are to gather around the Crucifix and attend a closing prayer with Father. Altar Server Instructions Sep 2014 Page 6 of 7
AFTER MASS 1. All the candles will need to be extinguished. Start at the Altar and finish at the Tabernacle. Remember when crossing in front of the Tabernacle, head bow. 2. All the vessels, purificators, cruets and finger towels need to be brought to the Working Sacristy. 3. Replace the finger towel at the wash basin used for washing Father s hands. 4. Prepare Father s chalice for the next Mass and place it in the cabinet. 5. Place the two ciboria into the cabinet. 6. Wash, rinse and dry off the congregation chalices and put them in the cabinet. 7. Fill the cruets with wine and water and put them in the refrigerator. 8. Return your cassock and surplice to the altar server sacristy at the front of the church. THINGS TO REMEMBER 1. Be reverent. 2. Head bow when crossing in front of the Tabernacle. 3. When standing always have hands folded in prayer. 4. When seated hands should be placed on knees. 5. Participate in the Mass with responses and songs (do not sing when helping at Communion). 6. Listen to the readings and Gospel. Do not read from the missal. 7. Walk slowly. 8. No giggling or have conversations. - If Father tells a joke, it s okay to laugh. - Sometimes a brief statement or reminder to do something is okay - Try and be discreet 9. Probably the most important thing to remember is that we all will make mistakes. Correct it and carry on. More than likely we, the servers, will be the only ones that will see it. PLEASE NOTE: Throughout the liturgical year, there will be a variety of other Masses which may deviate from these norms. During these Masses, please pay attention to the instructions given by either the Celebrant or the Master of Ceremonies. Altar Server Instructions Sep 2014 Page 7 of 7