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Altar Servers A special and unique ministry by which you, a young person, can help to spread the word and the love of Christ through your actions and words. ALTAR SERVER INSTRUCTIONS We are so grateful that you want to be an Altar Server at Mass. This is a wonderful ministry where you help the priests and serve people of our parish. Therefore, your job is very im- portant to the life of our parish! Below you will read the in- structions on how to serve. I ask you to please read these in- structions carefully. (Experienced Servers do well to re- fresh!) BEFORE YOU LEAVE HOME: Make sure you have washed your face and hands before coming. Wear clothing without bold prints and that won’t be too hot with the robes on. Wear your best shoes. Boys: no shorts! Long hair should be tied back or in a pony tail WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT CHURCH: Go immediately to the sacristy to vest for Mass. Check you name off on the schedule. Pick a robe (alb) that fits you; closer to your ankle rather then the knee. Use a rope (cincture) to tie around the alb. Knotted and on the left side. Once tied, do not touch the cincture again unless it needs to be re- tied. Playing with the cincture during Mass distracts people. Place a hymnal or song sheet at your place in the pew so you can join in singing when the procession ends. LIGHTING THE CANDLES: Light the candles ten minutes before Mass starts; NOT any earlier. Light the Mass candles by the Altar and by the Cross if there are any there. Light the Easter Candle during Easter and on days we have baptisms at Mass. (Get someone tall to help with that one if necessary.) Leave the Easter Candle lit between the morning Masses Light the Advent wreath candles as instructed by Father. After you light the candles and extinguish the lighter, push the wick up so that the wax will not dry in the tube BEFORE MASS: Light the procession candles and carefully place the glass bobeche over the flame. Do not touch the glass once it is on the candles since it will be hot. Always move slowly when carrying the can- dles. After lighting the candles gather with the other Altar Ministers for the prayer. PROCESSION INTO THE CHURCH: Cross-bearer leads, followed by two Servers carrying candles and walking shoulder to shoulder. Procession goes around the right side of the Baptismal Font. Move to the center on the carpet, after passing the pulpit (ambo). Two Servers walk shoulder to shoulder! When at the altar, the cross-bearer pauses for three seconds then moves to the left side of the Altar. The two candles bearers ascend the steps and place the candles on the corners of the altar. Place the candles not on the wood bordering the edge, but on the lighter wood After placing your candles on the altar, turn left and live up an either side of the cross bearer. All bow with the priest. Cross bearer takes the cross to the back wall and hangs it on the hook and returns to the front pew. Candle bearers go to the front pew. OPENING PRAYER: When the priest says, “Let us pray,” a Server brings up the Book of Prayers, opens the book to where the ribbon is and holds it for the Priest to read. Keep the ribbon always at the side of the book so it can be opened easily. GOSPEL PROCESSION: After the second reading, as soon as the Gospel Acclamation begins (Alleluia or Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ), the two candle bearers go to the from of the Altar and line up in front of the candles. Make a slight bow, ascend the steps, pick up the candles and turn inward and face each other. The Deacon or Priest come in-between the two of you and will lift the Book of the Gospels. When he turns, turn with him so you all face the same direction. Walk at the side of the Deacon or Priest Down the center of the carpet. When you get about six feet from the ambo, split to your places on either side of the pulpit with the Server on the right stepping back to make room for the Priest/Deacon to pass by. Stand near Ambo with toes touching the line in the carpet. Hold the candles straight up and down at same height as the other Server’s candle. Don’t fidget. Also, you do NOT make the sign of the Cross on your forehead, lips, and chest as the congregation does. YOU hold the candles! At the end of the Gospel reading, after the people respond with “Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ!” Walk together down the cen- ter of the carpet and then veer off to the left when you ap- proach the Altar. Put candles back on the credence table and blow them out. PREPARATION OF GIFTS: After the prayers of the Faithful, when the Assembly sits and the hymn is begun: Server 2 goes to the Altar to remove the Gospel Book stand, taking it to the credence table Server 3 brings the corporal to the Altar and unfolds it in the proper way Server 2 brings the Sacramentary and bookstand to the Altar, plac- ing it on the left side If a deacon is not present, Server 3 brings the Presider’s Chalice to the Altar, placing it on the right side on the corporal. Servers 2 & 3 stand on either side of the Deacon or priest to assist in receiving the bread and Wine. Both go around to the left side of the Altar and hand the Deacon or Priest the Bread and Wine. Server 2 brings over the cruet of water at the same time as serve3 brings the bowl and towel. Both Step up when Priest turns towards you to wash his hands, then return water cruet, bowl and towel to the table and return to your places. Remain standing. EUCHARISTIC PRAYER: Kneel –unless people remain standing. Use the kneeling pad kept un- der the pew. 5pm, Sunday night Life Teen Mass, teens gather about the Altar, Altar Servers take their places behind the altar, where you stand for Communion Time at all the other Masses. COMMUNION TIME: After the Greeting of Peace, Server 2 removes the Book from the altar (if the priest closes the book) Server 3 brings the ciboria to the altar and sets them on the priests left Server 1 (or the tallest) brings the trey of communion chalices and places them on the priest’s right Servers then stand behind the altar Servers take the decanter and large ciborium and return them to the credence table When Eucharistic Ministers go to their stations, Server 1 take the empty trey from the altar and places it on the credence table. All return to your pew and remain standing and singing until the people sit down. When Communion is done and after the Eucharistic Ministers leaver the altar area and the Ciborium with the Eucharist is brought back to the tabernacle, Servers 1 & 2 remover the ciboria, chalice, and corporal from the altar. PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION: A Server brings the Book of Prayers again when Father says “Let us pray,” and holds for the Priest to read from. Afterwards, replace book on the pew. RECESSIONAL: Cross-bearer gets Cross when at the end of the prayer. Cross-bearer stands at end of Servers’ pew, where the carpet ends. When the Priest goes to reverence (kiss) the Altar, the Cross- bearer leads the other two Servers to their places in front of the altar. Cross-bearer stands in middle, behind everyone else. The other two Servers stand on left side of Priest, the Lectors to his right and all bow to the Altar when Father bows. When Father turns, all turn around and the Cross-bearer leads the recessional out of the church going around the right side of the font . AFTER MASS: After the congregation stops singing, one Server returns to the church to extinguish the candles BEFORE removing his/her alb. Each Server hangs up his/her alb in its proper place. Close the Velcro at collar. If any albs have fallen to the floor, hang those up as well. A Server's Prayer Loving Father, creator of the universe, you call your people to worship, to be with you and with 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 for ever and ever. Amen. What Certain Things Are Called Alb :The white gown that you will wear just as the priest and dea- cons Ambo or Lectern: Where the lector stands to read the Scripture readings and the priest or Deacon proclaim the Gospel Aspergillum :The liturgical instrument used to sprinkle people and objects with holy water. Boat: A small liturgical vessel containing the incense that will be used with the thurible. Cantor: The person who leads the singing Chalice: A cup that holds the wine consecrated into the Blood of Christ. One large chalice is used for Mass. Smaller Communion Chalices are used for the communion procession. Ciborium: A dish which is used to hold the bread which is conse- crated into the Body of Christ.
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