SACRED HEART ALTAR SERVING GUIDE This guide has been prepared for use at Masses with three (3) Altar Servers during the COVID-19 Pandemic and is intended for current Altar Servers who are familiar with the mechanics of Altar Serving Please contact the Altar Server Coordinator if you have questions about this guide or if you’re interested in joining the Altar Server Ministry Contact Christian at [email protected] July 2021 Altar Serving Hygiene • If you feel sick, DO NOT SERVE. Please Stay Home. • ALL Altar Servers MUST wear a Face Mask while serving. Gloves are encouraged but not required. • Disposable clear vinyl gloves are available in the Sacristy. • To reduce cross contact, Altar Server albs will be checked out to Altar Servers who will be regularly and frequently serving during COVID. Contact Christian and he will make arrangements for you to check out and take home an alb. • Three (3) Altar Servers (One (1) Cross Bearer and Two (2) Candle Bearers) will be scheduled to serve at each Mass inside the church. • The Cross Bearer and Candle Bearers will sit across from each other on the red benches closest to the wall with the crucifix. (See Pictures on Page 7-8) Preparations Before Mass - Lavabo and Cruet (Back Altar Table: Under and to the Left of the Crucifix) The Wine Cruet may Lavabo Water (Water pitcher, be placed in the back bowl, and & of the church by the Wine Sacristans if there is a finger towel) procession during the Cruets preparation of gifts. Before Mass Preparations • One (1) glass cruet filled with water needs to be placed on the back altar table under and to the left of the crucifix. • The silver "lavabo" for the washing of the hands and hand towel needs to be placed on the back altar table, under and to the left of the Crucifix, next to the cruet of water • The Priest’s ciborium and one (1) glass cruet filled with wine will be placed in the vestibule by the Sacristans before mass. This will be used during the procession of gifts. If there is no procession of gifts, the Priest’s ciborium will be placed on the credence table and the wine cruet will be placed on the back altar table under and to the left of the crucifix, next to the water cruet (See Picture on Page 3) • After the Cruets and Lavabo have been set up, the Altar Servers need to stay in the "Altar Server Room" before mass to maintain social distance and reduce interactions with the Priest, Deacon, Sacristans or others in the Sacristy. • Five (5) minutes before the start of Mass, the Altar Servers will walk to the vestibule of the church and line up for the procession into the church with their “elements” (Cross and Candles). Keeping Socially Distant Before Mass • After the Cruets and Lavabo have been set up, the Altar Servers need to stay in the "Altar Server Room" before mass to maintain social distance and reduce interactions with the Priest, Deacon, Sacristans or others in the Sacristy The Beginning of Mass (Entrance Procession) • The Cross Bearer will elevate and hold the Processional Cross leading the procession from the vestibule to the sanctuary down the center isle of the church. • The Cross Bearer will begin the procession when the first word of the entrance song is sung. • The Candle Bearers will process in behind the Cross Bearer. • The Cross Bearer will process up the center isle and to the "Cross Side" of the altar. The Cross Bearer will place the processional cross in the cross stand located in the Sacristy. Then will stand at their appropriate seat/bench. • The Candle Bearers will process up the main center isle behind the Cross Bearer. The Candle Bearers will place their candles on the wooden candle stands on either side of the Ambo. The Candle Bearer will continue to process up to the “candle side” of the Altar and then stand in front of their seats. Where to Sit on the Altar (Cross Bearer) • The Cross Bearer will sit on the red bench closest to the Crucifix. Where to Sit on the Altar (Candle Bearer) • The Candle Bearers will sit on the red bench closest to the Crucifix. Continuation of the Mass • The Altar Servers do not need to assist the Priest or Deacon during the next few parts of Mass. Altar Servers will next be needed during the Presentation of Gifts and to set up the altar. • "Let us Pray" prayer - The priest will read this prayer from the Altar and will not need an Altar Server to hold the book. • 1st Reading - The Lector will read from the Lectionary book on the Ambo • Responsorial Psalm - The Lector or Cantor will read or sing the psalm • 2nd Reading - The Lector will read from the Lectionary book on the Ambo. • * Do not remove the Lectionary book from the Ambo after the 2nd reader finishes reading. This is a temporary change from what we have previously done if the second reader "forgets" to remove the Lectionary when they finish reading • Gospel Reading - The Priest or Deacon will read the Gospel from the Ambo. The Gospel will be read from the Lectionary book which is the same book the 1st and 2nd readers will read from. • The Priest or Deacon will give the Homily. • Prayers of the Faithful (Lord Hear our Prayer) • Offertory (Collection) • Altar Servers will begin setting up the altar during the “Presentation of Gifts”. The Cross Bearer will use the Processional Cross during the Presentation of Gifts and the Candle Bearers will being to set up the Altar. Presentation of Gifts (Setting up the Altar with 1 Priest) Priest’s Chalice • The Ciborium Ciborium is placed on the left side • The Priests Chalice is placed in the right side Presentation of Gifts (Setting up the Altar with 1 Priest & 1 Deacon) Priest’s Deacon’s • The Priests Chalice Chalice Chalice is Ciborium placed in the left side • The Ciborium is placed in the middle • The Deacons Chalice is placed on the right side Presentation of Gifts (Setting up the Altar) • The Cross Bearer will process with the processional cross toward the vestibule to “get the gifts” if the “gifts” (the ciborium and wine cruet) are in the vestibule of the church. • Both of the Candle Bearers will move their candles from the wooden candle stands on either side of the Ambo to the wooden candle stands on either side of the Altar. When moving the candles, walk behind the altar NOT in front of the altar on the stairs. • One Candle Bearer will set up the Altar. The Candle Bearer will go to the credence table and take the Priest’s Chalice covered with a “Purificator” and a “Pall”and place the Chalice on the Altar (See Picture on Page 10) • If there is a Deacon present, The Deacon will also have a Chalice on the Credence table. Take the Deacon’s Chalice and place it on the Altar. The Priest and Deacon will have separate chalices due to COVID (See Picture on Page 11) • The Candle Bearer who did not set up the Altar will follow the Priest down and off the Altar to receive the Gifts. The Priest will hand the Candle Bearer the Glass Cruet filled with unconsecrated wine. Take the Cruet to the back altar table under and to the left of the crucifix. The other Candle Bearer will meet you at the table to assist with the “Water and Wine" The Water and the Wine • One Candle Water & Wine Bearer will Cruets carry the Cruet filled with Wine • The other Candle Bearer will carry the Cruet filled with Water The Water and the Wine • Both the Candle Bearers will go to the back Altar table (under and to the left of the crucifix) for the “wine and the water” (See Picture on Page 13) • The Candle Bearers will take the stoppers out of their glass cruets filled with wine and water and leave the stoppers on the back altar table. • The Candle Bearers will "cup" the glass cruets in their hands with the glass handle of the cruet facing away from the servers. • Both servers holding the glass cruets will walk up the edge of the Altar and present the glass cruets to the Priest. The Priest will first take the glass Cruet filled with the wine and pour the wine into the Chalice, then hand the Cruet back to the Candle Bearer. The Priest will then take the glass Cruet with the water and pour a small amount of water into the Chalice, then hand the Cruet back to the Candle Bearer. The two Candle Bearers and the Priest will then reverently bow to each other at the same time. • The two Candle Bearers will return the glass Cruets of water and wine to the back altar table under and to the left of the crucifix, then place the stoppers back in the Cruets. The Washing of the Hands • One Candle Lavabo Bearer will (Silver water pitcher and carry the bowl) and finger towel silver lavabo (pitcher and bowl) • The other Candle Bearer will carry the finger towel The Washing of the Hands • One Candle Bearer will carry the "lavabo" (The silver pitcher of water and bowl) The other Candle Bearer will carry the hand towel (See Picture on Page 15) • If only 1 altar server is serving, the hand towel may be placed over the left arm that has the bowl. • The Altar servers will process up to the Priest in the same spot they stood with the water and wine Cruets.