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Home , Altar server, Processional cross, Vesting Prayers

St. James Arlington Heights

St. James the Less St. Berchmans Patron of the Parish of Servers

2019 – 2020 Handbook

Table of Contents

Introduction Welcome ...... 3 What is an ? ...... 4 Why be an Altar Server? ...... 4

Altar Server Expectations General Expectations ...... 5 Conduct During ...... 5 Roles During the Mass ...... 6 ...... 6

Sunday Mass Duties Before Mass/Introductory Rites ...... 7 of the Word ...... 9 Liturgy of the ...... 11 Concluding Rites ...... 13 After Mass ...... 14

Reference Information Glossary of Terms for Liturgical and Church Items ...... 14 Photos of Liturgical and Church Items ...... 15

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WELCOME!

Hello new and experienced altar servers! It is a joy to have you in the St. James Altar Server Program and we have no doubt that you are going to do great. The purpose of this handbook is to:

1. Clearly define the Altar Server responsibilities 2. Identify the expectations regarding Altar Server conduct while serving at the altar 3. Provide an opportunity for you to better understand the actions of the Mass and different elements of the Church environment

Thank you for your willingness to serve God and His people in this particular way! Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact our Ministry Lead seminarian Dan Korenchan, and our Altar Server Coordinator, Sharon Dillon.

The Altar Server Prayer

We encourage you to pray this prayer in thanksgiving for God’s gift to you to serve at His altar:

Loving Father, creator of the universe, you call your people to worship, to be with you and one another at Mass. I thank you for having called me to assist others in their prayer to you. May I be worthy of the trust placed in me, and through my example and service bring others closer to you. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, who is Lord forever and ever. Amen.

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What is an Altar Server?

Altar servers play a VERY important role in the Mass. Most importantly, they assist the and and congregation during the celebration of the Mass. A boy or girl in this role not only helps the priest lead the people in worship of God, but also sets a good example for the congregation in how to pray during the Mass. The altar server is a:

• Server at the altar, in how he/she does whatever is asked to help the Mass go smoothly • Leader for the congregation, in how he/she behaves, prays, and participates

Because altar servers are up on the altar, many eyes are on them during the Mass. So, the servers need to be masters of their craft so that the congregation is able to pray the very best they can. They will look to you to help them!

Why be an Altar Server?

1) It is a chance to serve the Lord in the Mass, and at the same time, all the parishioners at St. James! 2) The Eucharist is the source of our Catholic faith, and its summit. It is an incredible honor to serve at the altar – and really cool as well! 3) You will learn what we do in the Mass and why we do it. 4) You will be more involved in the Mass, and this will help you get more out of it. 5) It is a chance to make new friends. 6) You become more involved in the St. James Community as one who helps lead our worship, which we do every week as a parish. 7) It will help you discern your vocation in a new, more dynamic way.

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ALTAR SERVING EXPECTATIONS

General Expectations:

For each Mass, all altar servers are expected to:

1) Fulfill their scheduled assignments (/daily Mass, funerals, weddings, etc.) 2) Be at the Church 20 minutes before Mass begins 3) Sign in upon arrival 4) Find a replacement for an assigned Mass if unable to make it 5) Wear "Sunday clothes" at Mass: o Modest, clean, and respectful clothing. Footwear be suitable for walking around the altar. No t-shirts, jeans, leggings, shorts, sneakers, flip flops or other informal wear. Mass is a special occasion where God will come to be with us, so let’s dress nicely for Him! o Collared shirts must fold the collar down while serving so that it does not extend above the 6) Pay attention and maintain appropriate conduct during Mass, as described in this handbook 7) Actively participate in saying and singing the appropriate responses throughout the Mass 8) Hang up the cassock and after Mass and keep the altar server room organized

Conduct during Mass:

The altar server must take seriously their role, maintaining a spirit of reverence during the Mass given what the Mass is and what God and His people do during it.

Proper Posture Together with the cassock and surplice you are wearing, you will draw more formality and reverence to the Mass and away from yourself by doing the following: • Stand/sit up straight with your head slightly bowed. Stand still, do not shift around. • Place your hands together or folded above the waist. Place them in your lap while seated. • Face whoever is currently speaking – priest, deacon, , or . Do not face outwards towards the congregation or it will look awkward. You could also miss your task or miss seeing the priest/deacon asking for your help. • Walk slowly, taking your time. Do not rush.

Entering/Leaving the When entering or leaving the sanctuary, we must always be respectful of our Lord in the behind the altar. To do so, we perform a or a head bow. • We genuflect (kneel on our RIGHT knee) when we do not have anything in our hands. • If we have something in our hands, we perform a head bow. o Before and after Mass, we do our genuflection/head bow towards the TABERNACLE. o During Mass, we do our genuflection/head bow towards the ALTAR.

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Behavior at All Times • Participate in the parts of the Mass along with the people. Don’t be afraid to sing and pray aloud. This will help others in the congregation to do the same. • Pray for your family and friends during the Mass. Ask Jesus to bless them and to give you a heart like his. • Do NOT look all over the place or talk to the other servers unless necessary. Remember that you are there to help the priest lead the people in worship. If the server is moving around unnecessarily or looks uninterested and bored, it looks really bad. • Do NOT laugh when things go wrong or if you make a mistake. It is perfectly OK to make mistakes – even the priest and deacon do sometimes! Just take it in stride and continue on.

Roles during the Mass:

There are three designations of Altar Servers at each Mass: Server A, Server B, and Server C. Each has unique responsibilities.

Server A:

• Carries the Processional at the beginning of Mass • Holds the Roman (book) for the Priest during the opening and closing prayers • Carries the to the Altar at the beginning of the Liturgy of the Eucharist • Removes the Roman Missal from the Altar at the end of the Liturgy of the Eucharist • Carries the at the end of Mass

Servers B and C:

• Carry the processional candles at the beginning of Mass • Carry the processional candles during the • Bring the and ciboria (the gold bowls that hold the ) to the altar after the Intercessions • Receives the gifts with the priest and/or deacon during the Preparation of the Altar • Bring the small of water and wine to the Priest or Deacon before consecration • Bring the large bowl, pitcher of water, and small towel to the Priest so he can wash his hands before the consecration • Carry the processional candles at the end of Mass

Vesting Prayers:

For the cassock: O Lord, the portion of my inheritance and my , it is You who will restore my inheritance.

For the surplice: Invest me, O Lord, as a new person, who was created by God in justice and the holiness of truth.

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SUNDAY MASS DUTIES

BEFORE MASS:

1. Arrive to Mass with “church appropriate” clothing and footwear 20 minutes before the Mass is scheduled to start. 2. Sign the sheet in the sign-in room. 3. Immediately go to the Altar Server and put on the cassock and surplice in the altar server dressing room/sacristy.

10 minutes before Mass starts, if there are servers who have not yet arrived, any available server in the church is free to sub. You may have to go out and look for someone.

DURING MASS: Introductory Rites

1. PROCESSION

The gathering procession begins at the doors of the church and follows in this order:

Server A (Cross Bearer) leads the procession, lifting the Cross high, and walking down the aisle and to the RIGHT of the baptismal font. Servers B and C will follow a few feet behind with the candles. Altogether, the three servers will be in a “triangle” formation. Walk deliberately—not too slowly, not too quickly. Walk around the gifts table in the main aisle.

When the Cross Bearer (Server A) reaches the steps to the sanctuary, Servers A, B and C will stop, still in their “triangle,” and will bow their heads towards the Tabernacle. They will then slowly proceed up the steps at a diagonal and place the cross and candles in their stands. Servers A, B and C will then proceed slowly and reverently, hands folded, to their seats (shown below) where they will remain standing with attention fixed on the priest.

IF THERE IS AN SERVER, he/she will be in front of Server A. Gently and carefully swing the forward and back with the incense boat in the opposite hand. When arriving at the altar, he/she will make a head bow and proceed to the altar server sacristy ahead of the “triangle.”

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Tabernacle Cross/Candle Stands

Altar Sanctuary

A While still in the “triangle”, all 3 servers made a head bow at the B C exact same time, and then proceed to cross/candle stands.

If there is an incense server, he/she will be in front of the cross bearer and will NOT wait for the cross and candles. Make a head bow, and immediately Priest go up to the altar by the & tabernacle. Deacon

Sit in the spots highlighted below

Tabernacle Credence A Table

Altar B

Deacon C Priest

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DURING SEASON: SPRINKLING RITE

Servers B & C will take the large bowls of with the sprinklers to the priest and deacon, who will then proceed around the church with the altar server. Stay next to the priest or deacon as they go around, holding the bowl of holy water. Afterwards, return the bowls and sprinklers to the altar server sacristy.

2. OPENING PRAYER

After the Gloria, the Priest says, “Let us pray.” Server A comes forward to hold the Roman Missal (the large red book) for the opening prayer. Walk in front of and face the Priest. He will hand you the book at the height he wants you to hold it, so do your best to hold it steady as he reads. Do not shift around – remain still as he reads until he finishes.

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Liturgy of the Word

During the First Reading, Responsorial Psalm, and Second Reading, Servers A, B and C are sitting up straight, quietly and reverently listening to the word of God.

3. GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

When the “” begins, Servers B and C will take their candles and meet the priest or deacon (whoever is proclaiming the Gospel) to the right of the altar (by the priest and deacon chairs) and they will process together side-by-side to the ambo, where the server on the right go across to stand on the other side of the ambo, and the other server will be on the opposite side of the ambo. The servers face each other.

Deacon/Priest

Ambo Altar B C

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IF THERE IS INCENSE USED, when the “Alleluia” begins, the Incense server/Server A will bring out the thurible (metal container that swings) to the priest with the incense boat so that the priest can put the incense in the thurible. Incense Server/Server A will then lead Servers B and C to the ambo with the priest or deacon. Incense Server/Server A will then give the incense to the priest or deacon when they ask for it)

Once the Gospel has been finished and the priest/deacon says, “The Gospel of the Lord” and the people respond, “Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ,” the servers will slowly process ONE BEHIND THE OTHER to the front of the altar, in back of the priest and/or deacon, and then bow together. They will then return the candles to the stands and sit down. See the illustration below:

Stands Deacon/Priest

Ambo C B Altar

Deacon/Priest

B is in front of C C B B is in front of C

Homily, Profession of Faith (Creed), Universal Prayer – No particular duties for the servers during these parts of the mass. Please participate as a member of the congregation.

IF THERE IS INCENSE USED, the server will go and light up and place another charcoal into the thurible during the . A charcoal only lasts about 30 minutes each and takes a few minutes to heat up. Once it is placed in the thurible, close the lid and swing the thurible to help the charcoal light up.

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Liturgy of the Eucharist

4. PREPARING THE ALTAR

After the and the ushers begin the collection, Server A brings the Roman Missal (book) and places it on the altar, and then goes to help Servers B and C get the various items to be given to the priest and deacon at the altar, all of which are on the . Place the items from the credence table on the altar in the following order:

1. Main Chalice 2. Ciboria 3. Chalices and purificators (the white napkins)

5. RECEIVE and PREPARE GIFTS:

After placing everything from the credence table onto the altar, Server A will return to his/her seat.

Servers B & C will go down with the priest to receive the gifts from the gift bearers. When the gifts are ready to be processed down the aisle, the priest and deacon will walk to the center aisle to receive them. As the priest starts towards the center aisle, Servers B & C go down and stand with him. DO NOT CROSS IN FRONT OF THE PRIEST OR DEACON – WALK BEHIND THEM TO GET TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THEM.

When the gift bearers get to the altar, the priest/deacon will take the bread and Servers B & C will take the cruets of wine and water (one per server). All three go up to the altar together.

Servers B & C stand next to each other as shown below, ready to hand to the deacon/priest the wine first, and then the water second. The handles of the cruets should face the priest/deacon so he can grab it easily, as shown:

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Credence Table B **Walk together, not separately** C Deacon/Priest

Altar

Servers B & C will BOTH remain standing at the altar while the wine and water are mixed together into the main chalice. Stay there until the wine and water cruets have been handed back to you!

Once the deacon/priest hands the water back to the servers, both will turn and place the cruets on the credence table. Then, Server B will take the pitcher and bowl, and Server C will take the small hand towel. Go to the edge of the altar and wait for the priest to approach them.

The priest will put his hands over the washbowl and the server with the water pitcher will pour a small amount of water over his hands. The other server will then give the priest the towel to dry his hands. The priest will return the towel and give the servers a slight bow. Servers B and C bow to the priest in return. They will then turn and return the Lavabo set to the credence table and then return to their seats.

The altar servers will kneel with the rest of the congregation during the Eucharistic prayer. There will be little pads for them to kneel on under their respective seats.

6. :

During Communion, the altar servers will be given communion at their station. When the priest begins to move away from the altar, Servers A, B & C stand, receive communion under both species (Body and Blood) and then be seated.

Server A will go and retrieve the Roman Missal off the altar once all the Eucharistic Ministers have begun distributing Communion and return the Missal to the credence table. Server A will then return to his/her place and be seated with their hands either folded in prayer or palms flat on their knees.

Please maintain a prayerful attitude throughout Communion.

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Concluding Rites

7. FINAL :

When the priest says, “Let us pray,” Server A comes forward with the Roman Missal for the concluding prayer. Do the same as for the (Opening Prayer).

8. :

After the Deacon or Priest says, “The Mass is ended. Go in peace. (Or any variety of ending)”, Server A retrieves the Processional Cross and Servers B and C retrieve the processional candles. As the priest and deacon go to reverence the altar (kissing the altar), all three servers process down to their recessional spots.

Server A (Cross) will take his/her place JUST BEHIND THE GIFTS TABLE and then turn to face the altar. Servers B & C will take their candles and stand on the GREY LINE crossing the aisle, facing the altar. The priest and deacon will proceed to the bottom of the steps in the sanctuary where they will turn around and face the tabernacle. When the priest and deacon genuflect, Servers A, B & C bow their heads and then turn about face to lead the procession out.

Tabernacle Cross/Candle Stands

Sanctuary Altar

Priest &

Deacon All 3 servers make a head bow

when the priest genuflects, and then turn towards the inside to C Grey line process out. B

INCENSE IS NOT PROCESSED Gifts

OUT. The incense server leaves Table the incense in the sacristy and follows behind Servers B & C A with hands folded.

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AFTER MASS:

AFTER the final hymn concludes, Servers B & C will return their candles to their stands on the altar, and Server A places the processional cross in its stand. Again, please wait for the hymn to finish.

Servers A, B & C return their to the Altar Server sacristy and hang them nicely in the appropriate place.

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Glossary of Terms for Liturgical and Church Items

Alb - white robe worn over street clothes, , - the book of scriptures read at the Liturgy of the Word

Altar - the table of the Lord in the sanctuary - The large ornate candle used at funerals, baptisms, and Easter until - the cloth for the altar--always white - small vessel/plate that holds the bread to be Altar Vessels - sacred vessels used during the consecrated celebration of Liturgy Processional Cross - the cross carried in and out of Ambo - the place where the Word of God is the Mass proclaimed and Prayer of the Faithful Purificator - small white cloth used with the - the holy water sprinkler chalice

Boat - the container for incense Roman Missal - the book the priest prays from Cassock - black/red/white robes worn by altar during the Mass at the altar servers Sacristy - the room where Deacons, Priests, Chalice - silver/gold cup used by the vest before Mass Priest/Eucharistic Ministers for the Sanctuary - the sacred space elevated before the - colored worn only by the congregation Priest Tabernacle - the ornate repository used to place the - gold cup with a lid for the Body of Body of Christ Christ in the Tabernacle Thurible - container for burning incense

Cincture - cord used as a belt for the Vestments - special robes worn by Bishops, Priests - square white linen cloth upon which the and Deacons Sacred Host and Chalice are placed during the celebration of Mass

Credence Table - the small table off to one side of the sanctuary for sacred vessels

Dalmatic - colored vestment worn only by the Deacon

Lavabo Bowl - small bowl for priest to wash hands during the Liturgy of Eucharist

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Photos of Liturgical and Church Items

*Not from St. James*

The Sanctuary The Tabernacle

The Altar The Credence Table

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Candle Lighter/Extinguisher Boat: Container for incense

Found in the Sacristy. Candles are lit about 10-5 Thurible: Container for burning incense minutes before Mass starts. Always wait for the to finish the final song before extinguishing.

The Sacred Vessels

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Setting up the Altar The Processional Cross

Make sure all of the Sacred Vessels are on top of the Carry it high and proudly Corporal. The Deacon or Priest may change the placement of the Sacred Vessels.

Altar Servers Vestments Cassock (the red robe) and surplice (the white shirt) should be hung up neatly in the sacristy

St. James Catholic Church

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