Altar Server Guidelines for St. John the Baptist Catholic Church Altar Servers Guidelines: St. John the Baptist, Dunnellon PRELIMINARIES: General Information Number of Servers Needed: Generally at weekend Masses, in the Catholic World, Altar Servers number from 2-6 servers. For pastoral reasons of promoting Children and Youth Ministry in the parish, as far as possible, we’ll need 3-5 “youth” Altar Servers for the Sunday 10.30 am Mass: three servers, if no incense is used and five servers if incense is used. If incense is NOT USED, we need only the Server Captain/Cross Bearer and the two Acolytes (Candle Bearers). If incense is USED, we need five servers, while three performs the roles already stated, the remaining two (only very mature and capable teenagers) will play the role of the Thurifer and the Incense Boat Bearer. In any case, three servers: the Server Captain/Cross Bearer and the two Acolytes sit on the altar, while the Thurifer and the Incense Boat Bearer both sit at the Baptistry area. NOTE: As a general rule, when the congregation stands or kneels, the Servers stand (except during the Consecration of the Bread and Wine: At this time, the servers should kneel, unless they are adults with knee problem). While standing and/or walking the Servers are to hold their hands in the praying position. The praying position is with palms of the hands together, fingers extended, thumbs crossed, hands chest high such that finger tips are about shoulder high. When the congregation sits, the Servers sit. In the sitting position the Servers’ hands should be on their laps. The foregoing remarks about posture do not apply when the Servers are performing required liturgical functions involving the use of hands as presented in the subsequent paragraphs. NOTE: ALL SERVERS SHOULD BE TRAINED TO KNOW THE MASS PROCEDURE & PERFORM ALL FUNCTIONS PRAYERS OF AN ALTAR SERVER Before Mass Oh Jesus, my King and Lord, by the grace of the heavenly Father and the power of the Holy Spirit, guide me in all righteousness as I serve You today at the Altar so I may be always worthy of Your presence. If I happen to make an error, may it be a lesson so my service will be perfect tomorrow. Jesus, I love you with all my heart. Amen. After Mass Lord Jesus, thank you for the opportunity to serve You during the Holy Mass. In Your Sacred Presence, my heart is filled with joy and peace. May Your Spirit always guide me so I may grow in Your love by the grace of the Heavenly Father. Amen. ARRIVAL and PREPARATION FOR MASS • Altar Severs should arrive at least fifteen minutes prior to Mass. Youth Servers should dress in black cassocks with white surplices. Servers should wear appropriately dignified shoes (no flip-flops or sneakers). Closed, clean dress shoes are preferred. Adult Altar Servers should dress in their white albs. (Adult Servers will be responsible for the care of their albs). • The Server Captain should check the Credence Table before Mass to ensure that all items needed for the Mass are on the table. • Ten minutes before the start of Mass, the sacristan should be asked to light the candles in the candle holder rack in the Ministry Room or, the Server Captain could light them ONLY if he/she is a mature teenager or older. • The Servers then attend the prayer before Mass with the Priest and other liturgical ministers in the Priest Vestry, the room in which the Priest puts on his liturgical vestments. • After the prayer before Mass, the Servers pick up the processional cross and the processional candles and go to the church entry area, the narthex, and form up for the entry procession in the format shown in the following drawing. Whether you are the Tabernacle-side Server or the Choir-side Server is determined by your position in the entry procession. ENTRANCE PROCESSION: (With Three Servers) Procession format with Cross Bearer (Server Captain), two Side Servers, Lay Reader and Priest DETAIL DESCRIPTION (Adaptations where necessary) o Candle Bearer † Cross Bearer o Lay Reader o Priest/Deacon o Candle Bearer ENTRANCE PROCESSION: (With Five Servers) Procession format with Thurifer, Cross Bearer (Server Captain), two Side Servers, Boat Bearer, Lay Reader, and Priest o Candle Bearer o Thurifer † Cross Bearer o Boat Bearer o Lay Reader o Priest/Deacon o Candle Bearer ENTRANCE PROCESSION: (With Two Servers) Procession format with two Altar Servers, Lay Reader, and Priest o Candle Bearer † Cross Bearer o Lay Reader o Priest/Deacon o Candle Bearer ENTRANCE PROCESSION: (With ONLY One Server) Procession format with One Altar Server, Lay Reader, and Priest † Cross Bearer o Lay Reader 1 o Priest/Deacon Function of the Thurifer and Incense Boat Bearer: The Thurifer leads the procession, only if incense is used (See above picture illustration). The Thurifer and the Incense Boat Bearer both bring the incense to the Priest at the Following times: o At the beginning of Mass immediately after the Priest Kisses the Altar o At the end of the ‘Second Reading’ and before the ‘Alleluia’ begins indicating the Gospel is about to be read/proclaimed. o After the Presentation of Gifts (Bread and Wine) by the Priest and before the priest washes his hands. IMPORTANT: The Thurifer himself/herself incenses the Host as Body of Christ when it has been consecrated and elevated/shown to the congregation. Similarly the Chalice of the Blood of Christ after it is consecrated and elevated/shown to the people. Finally, the Thurifer leads the concluding procession out of the Church. The Boat Bearer stays in his/her original position just as during the entrance procession. The description below is for Three Servers Format; that is, when no incense is used INTRODUCTORY RITE: Each Server on arrival in front of the Altar stops for two seconds, and ascends to the Altar. The Sever Captain/Cross Bearer proceeds to place the cross in its place and proceeds to his/her seat; while at the same time, the Candle Bearers place the processional candles in their proper places. (Note: Do not stand and wait for the Priest/Deacon. Priest and Deacon ALONE bow together at the beginning of Mass). Posture: Servers remain standing in their sitting area with joined hands. When the Server Captain arrives at his/her seat in the sanctuary, place the binder with the announcements and Prayers of the faithful on the floor between your seat and the Choir- side Server's seat (if the Lay Reader has not done so). The Presidential Binder (Father's binder) will be next to Father’s chair. Midway into the Gloria (outside of Lent/Advent) or during the Lord Have Mercy (during Lent/Advent), Father will pick up the Binder; you will proceed to Father and hold the Binder. At the end, close it and return to your seat. LITURGY OF THE WORD There is the 1st Reading, Responsorial Psalm and 2nd Reading. After the 2nd Reading the Server Captain should place the Lectionary under the stand on the column. At the end of the Alleluia (Gospel Acclamation). Watch the priest: once the Priest stands up from his chair [the Gospel Acclamation, the Alleluia verse, is begun], the Candle Bearers move slowly in unison and lift the processional candles from their stands, take one step backwards and face the congregation (at this time Fr. Jean will be in front of the Altar), wait for the Priest. When the Priest starts moving to the ambo, the Servers move too. The Choir-side Server then leads the Priest, who is followed by the Tabernacle-side Server, to the ambo. The Servers position themselves facing each other on either side of the book on the ambo. When the Priest finishes reading the Gospel and has announced “The Gospel of the Lord”, the congregation responds “Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ”. The Servers now return the candles to the candle stand area using the most direct routes through the sanctuary. Once again the Choir-side Server moves slowly so that the two Servers can reach the candle stands at about the same time. The Servers face each other at the candle stands. When a Server’s candle is properly seated in the candle stand, the Server takes a backward step. When each Server has taken the backward step, the Servers acknowledge completion of the task by making a simple bow toward each other. After the bows, the Servers return to their chairs by the direct routes through the sanctuary. The Priest will hand the Gospel Book to the Server Captain who will place it in the book stand. The Priest is usually preaching a homily or sermon at this time. PROFESSION OF FAITH: When the homily is completed, the Priest normally starts the congregation reciting the Nicene Creed. There may be seasonal exceptions. The Choir-side Server places the Lector’s copy of the Prayer Binder on the ambo open to the Prayers of the Faithful. Before the Nicene Creed the Captain should approach the Priest at the Presidential Area and hold the Binder for Father. After the Concluding Prayer of the Prayers of the Faithful, the Captain returns to the Server seating area. The Priest will take his seat for the Offertory Hymn and the collection of donations in support of parish and diocesan needs. PREPARATION OF THE ALTAR AND THE GIFTS: ITEMS ON THE CREDENCE TABLE (picture below): On the Credence Table the Servers will find the tray with the Priest’s chalice with a purificator, the pall, and one corporal upon it, two communion chalices, two additional purificators.