Archdiocese of Los Angeles Guidelines for Sacristan Ministry
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Archdiocese of Los Angeles Guidelines for Sacristan Ministry For liturgy to be engaging and to call forth full, conscious and active participation from the assembly, careful preparation and organization is necessary. In the light of the participatory quality of the liturgy, everyone attending trusts that those involved in the leadership roles are preparing effectively and thoroughly. This trust makes it possible for the community to act as one body and pray themselves together into the vision of God’s Kingdom. “To celebrate the liturgy without preparation is a violation of God’s holy presence and a crime against those who gather to celebrate that presence.” (Fr. Austin Fleming p. 32 Preparing for Liturgy: A Theology and Spirituality) In every parish, this careful preparation begins with the sacristan, the person or persons who have responsibility for the reverent care of the liturgical books, vessels, vestments, linens and all other objects used in the community’s ritual prayer. A well-organized sacristy is the beginning of a well-organized liturgy. In some parishes, the sacristan is one individual with a great deal of responsibility, taking care of the details for all Sunday Masses, and weekday Masses. In other parishes, there might be a different trained sacristan for each Sunday Mass, and one for the daily Masses. Whichever the case, the sacristy and all liturgical properties need to be prepared effectively so that Mass can be celebrated with a holy unity. Suggestion: One possible structure that seems to help keep things authentic and effective is organizing Sunday liturgies by Mass captains. The Mass captain could be the trained sacristan for whichever Mass they are assigned, preparing all the sacramental details. They could also be the contact person for all assigned liturgical ministers at that Mass. The team of assigned liturgical ministers would check in with the Mass captain/sacristan upon arrival. All unassigned ministers who are present, willing and early to Mass, could be asked to check in with the Mass captain/sacristan upon arrival in case their services are needed as replacements. The Mass captain/sacristan would then be responsible to replace any assigned minister who is not present fifteen minutes before the start of Mass with one of those who is willing to serve. Merging the role of the sacristan with that of a Mass captain allows for the orderly preparation of the sacred properties and the ministers. The Mass captain/sacristan would bring everyone together into a reverent unity of purpose and prayer. The Sacristy and the Worship Space The sacristan is the minister who prepares the sanctuary and many of the objects used in worship. Sacristans maintain an organizational plan in the sacristy for all vessels, books, linens, vestments, hosts, wine, oils, incense, and candles, that is clean and efficient. Some sacristans are even responsible for the cleaning of the altar area, statues, pews, etc., maintaining the order and beauty of the worship space, in addition to the sacristy itself. Other points of attention for the sacristan in the worship space: the altar, the ambo, the presider’s chair (and the deacon’s chair), baptismal font, the tabernacle, the credence table, the sanctuary lamp, the ambry (the cabinet holding the sacred oils) However vast or small the tasks, the role of the sacristan is essential to parish life. Their work reflects a holy presence, among holy people, in a holy place. © Copyright 2018 Joan Patano Vos Requirements to be a Sacristan • A sense of reverence for the holy presence of God in all things and all people • Be an active and prayerful member of the parish community. • Have preliminary knowledge of the Mass and the liturgical year • Be punctual • Have the ability of working alone, yet also capable of working as a member of a team • Be flexible and able to take initiative • Be comfortable working behind the scenes at the service of the community The sacristan is called to apply his/her own prayerful spirit to the preparation of all the physical properties that are needed for parish liturgy. The sacristan cares for the physical objects and that will carry the mystery of the sacred presence of God. Possible Responsibilities of the Sacristan Before Mass Every parish has different procedures for setting up for Mass. The following list is a generalization of what the sacristan’s before-Mass responsibilities might be. • Unlock the building, bathrooms and sacristy • Turn on the sound system and turn on the heating or air conditioning, if needed. • Put out all necessary microphones • Check the Ordo to properly set the lectionary readings and presider prayers in the Roman Missal • If a deacon will be participating at Mass, the Book of the Gospels will need to properly set, also. • Lay out the chasuble and stole for the presider. Check the Ordo for the correct liturgical color. • Fill the ciborium with the appropriate number of hosts. • Fill the wine pitcher with the appropriate amount. • Take the ciborium and wine pitcher to the gift table. • Light the altar candles • Put the appropriate number of cups/small chalices, each with a purificator, and the appropriate number of ciboria on the credence table • Place the corporal on the credence table • Place the presider’s chalice on the credence table with a purificator. • Place the ablution bowl with pitcher filled with water, and a towel on the credence table (for the presider to wash his hands). • Fill the small cruet with a bit of water and place on the credence table (the presider adds this to the wine before it is consecrated) • A cruet of water might be needed on the credence table for the purifying of the chalices after the sharing in communion. • Check the liturgical ministry schedule and be sure that all assigned ministers have checked in at least 15 minutes prior to the Mass time. If they have not signed in five minutes before Mass, find a substitute. • Be sure that all who are in the opening procession have whatever worship aid is used for the assembly’s sung prayer • Be sure a copy of the Universal Prayer is at the ambo Possible Responsibilities of the Sacristan After Mass • Assist the Eucharistic Ministers with the cleaning of the vessels • Be sure all vessels, ritual books and vestments are put back in their proper place © Copyright 2018 Joan Patano Vos • Or, if another Mass follows, leave the vessels, books and vestments where the next sacristan of ministers will expect to find them. • If it has been the last Mass of the day, or for the time being, be sure to turn off the lights and the sound system. Put away all sound equipment. • If it is the last Mass of the day, be sure to lock the sacristy, bathrooms and church building. Possible Responsibilities of the Head Sacristan • Have the vestments and albs dry cleaned or laundered, when necessary • Monitor the laundering and cleaning of linens-purificators, corporals, lavabo towels and altar cloths • Have the albs laundered, when necessary • Place the order for additional hosts or wine, when needed • Place the order for ashes for Ash Wednesday and palms for Palm Sunday • Place orders for all candle supplies (tabernacle light, vigil tapers, baptismal candles, votive candles, lighters, pots of sand, wood tapers) and for the new Paschal Candle each year • Know where the fire extinguishers and IED are stored, and how to operate them • Know and post all necessary emergency contact information • Keep incense, charcoal, lighters and foil well stocked • Monitor the supply and use of pyx and bursers for Communion to the Sick • Design checklists with the items needed for each of the different celebrations • Care for the candlesticks, bells, processional cross, etc. • Suggestion: Post photos inside cupboards that show the look of your organization so that others can maintain the same order. Sacristan Ministry in Preparation for Special Liturgies Every parish has many occasions for special liturgies. The Triduum requires the greatest amount of extra preparation. It is the most important celebration of the year. It is one movement of prayer that runs from sundown Holy Thursday to sundown on Easer Sunday. Holy Thursday • During the day, the Blessed Sacrament is removed from the tabernacle. Any remaining reserved sacrament is kept in another place, probably the sacristy, during the Triduum. Wherever it is kept, place a lighted candle nearby so that people will know that the reserved sacrament is present. The doors of the tabernacle remain open so that all can see the emptiness, and the sanctuary light is extinguished • Holy Thursday will need the new sacred oils prepared for presentation. These oils will have been received by the pastor or another a member of the parish at the Chrism Mass at the cathedral earlier in the week. • This Evening of the Mass of the Lord’s Supper include the ritual Washing of Feet. The appropriate number of chairs, basins, pitchers of water and towels will be needed. • The Liturgy of the Eucharist proceeds as usual. • The presider will need the humeral veil for the Procession of the Blessed Sacrament to the Altar of Repose. The incense boat and thurifer will also be needed. • The sacristan is often responsible for setting up the Altar of Repose and organizing the clearing of the altar at the end of the Mass. Remove flowers, candles, altar cloth and any other decorations quietly and reverently. Good Friday of the Passion of the Lord © Copyright 2018 Joan Patano Vos • All candles are extinguished on this day. • No water is in the fonts at the doors of the church • The sacristan will need to prepare the cross that will be venerated at the liturgy, as well as the candles that will be placed around the altar for Holy Communion.