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Altar Servers Guidelines

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SSaaccrreedd HHeeaarrtt CCaatthhoolliicc CChhuurrcchh Altar Servers Guidelines INTRODUCTORY RITE: PROCESSIONAL 2 3 Contents ROLES OF AN ALTAR SERVER .................................... 4 GETTING READY .................................................. 4 PROCESSIONAL .................................................... 5 GLORIA ............................................................. 8 LITURGY OF THE WORD ......................................... 9 GOSPEL PROCESSION ............................................. 9 HOMILY .......................................................... 10 PROFESSION OF FAITH (Creed) ............................... 11 GENERAL INTERCESSIONS ...................................... 11 OFFERTORY/ PRESENTATION OF THE GIFTS ................ 11 PREPARATION OF THE GIFTS .................................. 12 CONSECRATION ................................................. 14 SIGN OF PEACE .................................................. 14 COMMUNION PROCESSIONAL .................................. 15 CLOSING PRAYER ............................................... 16 RECESSIONAL .................................................... 16 AFTER THE MASS ............................................... 17 DEFINITION OF TERMS………………………………………..19 3 PROCESSIONAL ROLES OF AN ALTAR SERVER Servers carry the cross, the processional candles, hold the book for the priest celebrant when he is not at the altar, carry the incense and censer, present the bread, wine, and water to the priest during the preparation of the gifts or assist him when he receives the gifts from the people, wash the hands of the priest, assist the priest celebrant and deacon as necessary. - USCCB GETTING READY ● Promptness - ALWAYS ARRIVE ON TIME 20 minutes before Mass starts for Ordinary Time 30 minutes or as instructed by the Altar Servers Coordinator for solemnities, Feasts, or special Celebrations. ● Purity - SOUL AND BODY Your soul: Are you in the state of grace? Have you recently been to confession? Can you receive communion? Your body: Go to the church restroom and wash your hands with soap and water. Clothes and shoes should be clean and neat, as they will be visible below the hemline of the Altar Server’s vestments. Hair should be groomed. Minimal and discrete jewelry. ● Pray the Altar Server’s “Prayer Before Serving”, posted in your vesting room, together. ● Check in with the Sacristan for any special instructions upon arrival at the church and to assist in preparing for the Mass or special celebration. ● Sign in under the Mass you are to serve. If you are substituting for another server, add the word “SUB” after your name. ● Put on the appropriate Altar Server’s vestments. ● Light the altar candles - Once vested, check that the Altar candles have been lit and, if appropriate, light them 15 minutes before Mass. 4 PROCESSIONAL ● Get the processional candles and Processional Cross at 10 minutes prior to the beginning of the service. They are located in the Sacristy. ● Gather in the narthex at 5 minutes prior to the beginning of the service to join the Presider and other religious and lay ministers for prayer. At the Sacristan’s or Presider’s directions move to the back of the center aisle to begin. PROCESSIONAL The Processional is the entrance into the Church and includes the Altar Servers, Lector(s), Deacon(s), and Presider. The Deacon(s) are not always present for the Mass celebrations and on special occasions there may be other participants included in the procession. The Altar Servers lead the way for all processions. (See diagram 1 – Entrance Processional) Positions of servers at the front of the Processional are: 1. Cross bearer (crucifer) holding Cross up above the heads of the congregation 2. The two Candle bearers holding the candles straight 3. Additional Altar Servers stand with your hands folded. 1 – Entrance Processional Once the singing begins, start walking toward the altar at a pace that follows the ministers. 5 PROCESSIONAL Entrance Procession/ before the altar The cross bearer pauses in front of the altar, then moves to the front of the pulpit. The other servers, with or without candles, pause in front of the altar, and then move to the front of the pulpit to stand beside the cross bearer. They reverence the altar and tabernacle with a profound bow while the other ministers genuflect. (see diagram 1-a) Server no. 3 Server no. 2 Server no. 1 Candle bearer Candle bearer Crucifer Diagram 1.a – Entrance Procession (at the front of the altar) 6 LITURGY OF THE WORD Once the Cross and, if appropriate, the candles have been stored at the work sacristy (behind the sanctuary), proceed to the chairs designated for the altar servers with hands folded, walking in a single line with the cross bearer being last on the line to assure that all servers are in the appropriate seat assignments. (See Diagram 1-b) Server no. 3 Server no. 2 Server no. 1 Candle bearer Candle bearer Crucifer Diagram 1.b - Remain standing at your chair as the celebration begins. INCENSATION ● When incense is used, two of the servers go to the work sacristy to get the boat and the thurible and bring them to the priest. Incense may be used as an option in any form of Mass: a) during the Entrance Procession and at the beginning of Mass, to incense the cross and the altar b) at the procession before the Gospel and the proclamation of the Gospel itself; 7 LITURGY OF THE WORD c) after the bread and the chalice have been placed on the altar, to incense the offerings, the cross and the altar, as well as the Priest and the people; d) at the elevation of the host and the chalice after the Consecration. GLORIA Server No. 1 (Crucifer) Prepare to bring the Roman Missal to the Presider for the Opening Prayer. ● Pick up the Roman Missal. When the Gloria is sung, pick up the book from the credence table at the beginning of the last verse, i.e., “For you alone are the Holy One, You alone are the Lord”. ● Bring the Roman Missal to the Presider At the end of the Gloria when you hear the “Amen”, begin to walk to the Presider. If you miss your first cue, you should take up the book when the Presider says “let us pray”. You will be instructed in how to stand and hold the Roman Missal during training. ● Replace the Roman Missal After the Opening Prayer, the Presider gently closes the Roman Missal which is your cue to place the Roman Missal back on the credence table and return to your seat. 8 LITURGY OF THE WORD LITURGY OF THE WORD Sit straight with your palms flat against your legs and the edge of your fingers close to your knees during the First and Second Readings of the Word. Listen to the word of God at all times. GOSPEL PROCESSION The Gospel Procession is the Procession of the Presider or Deacon with the Book of Gospels accompanied by the candle bearers to the ambo. ● Get the processional candles. Following the Second Reading and at the beginning of the “Alleluia” when the Presider rises, the Candle bearers (servers no.2 and no. 3) take the processional candles. If incense is used, another server puts incense in the thurible if necessary, and joins the other servers for the procession. ● Move to position in front of the altar. Move to the front of the altar with server no. 2 in front of server no. 3. If incense is used, the thurifer stays in front of server no. 2. ● Process to the ambo Accompany the priest or the deacon to the ambo with server No.2 leading the procession, and server No.3 following the priest or deacon. If incense is used, the thurifer walks in front of server no. 2 to lead the procession.. (See Diagram 2) 9 LITURGY OF THE WORD 2 – Gospel Procession After the Procession, the servers are to return the candles (and the thurible) and go to their seats. HOMILY The Homily is a brief discussion about the readings, given by either the Presider or Deacon. The Altar Servers should be seated (as described above) during the Homily. 10 LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST: Offertory/ Presentation of the Gifts PROFESSION OF FAITH (Creed) The Profession of Faith is recited by the entire celebrating community. The Altar Servers should be standing with hands folded for the Creed and at the words “by the Holy Spirit” should bow from the waist (Profound Bow). NOTE: Do not ring the bells during the Creed. GENERAL INTERCESSIONS General Intercessions are the community prayers. The Altar Servers should be standing with their hands folded. Following the General Intercessions, be seated until the Offertory begins. OFFERTORY/ PRESENTATION OF THE GIFTS After the General Intercessions, as the Ministers of Hospitality approach the front of the Church to begin the collection, the Offertory begins. ● Set the altar. Once the Ministers of Hospitality have dropped off their collection baskets, the Altar Servers set the altar as follows: 1. Server No. 1 takes the Roman Missal from the credence table and places it on the altar. 2. Server No.2 takes the Main Chalice with purificators from the credence table and places them on the altar. The Main Chalice is placed on the center of the middle corporal. 3. Server No. 3 takes the tray with the other chalices (5) from the credence table and sets the chalices on the corporal on the right side of the altar. ● Get the cross and candles – (parish tradition) 11 LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST: Offertory/ Presentation of the Gifts After setting the altar, get the cross and candles from the work sacristy and go down the center aisle to the vestibule to lead in the presentation of the gifts of bread and wine as at the Entrance Processional. (See procedure for Entrance Procession on page 6.) ● Assist in receiving the gifts. Masses with four servers When the priest rises to receive the bread and wine, server no. 4 moves to the front of the altar with him. You should be in place before the priest/deacon arrives at the foot of the Altar. Take the gifts as handed to you by the priest/deacon. Masses with three servers When those with the candles reach the foot of the altar, Server No.
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