Alter Server Guide

Welcome to the ministry of server. As a server you have the honor of being one of the liturgical ministers, who has very specific tasks to perform during liturgies.

The words "minister" and "liturgy" come from words in two ancient languages which mean "serve." As a liturgical minister, you are serving in several ways:

1. Serving the priest as he presides over the liturgy.
2. Serving your parish family by assisting in the celebration of the liturgy as a mirror and model for the gathered assembly.
3. Serving God through your worship and prayer.

BEFORE MASS:

1. +*Arrive at least 15 minutes before Mass.
2. +*Check your name off the attendance sheet in the sacristy.
3. +*If the sacristan is not present, on the credence table place the following: corporal, 4 chalices, 4 purificators, extra purificators, water cruet, water & water basin, 1 paten, & ciborium. On the server’s table, place the Sacramentary. On the table by the baptismal font, place the following: paten with bread and flagon of wine. The tabernacle key should be inserted in the tabernacle.
4. *Light candles 5 minutes before Mass.
5. +*Pray with other ministers of the Mass

PROCESSION:

1. +*Assemble behind the baptismal font.
2. +Cross bearer leads, going to the right of the baptismal font-walk slowly.
3. *Candle bearers follow, one to the left, and the other to the right of the baptismal font-walk side by side-keep 3 pews distance behind the cross bearer.
4. +At the steps before the altar, the cross bearer bows and proceeds to place the cross in its stand. The cross bearer proceeds to his/her chair.
5. *At the steps before the altar, the candle bearers bow and proceed to place the candles on their stands. The candle bearers proceed to their chairs.

PENITENTIAL RITE:

1. +During the Gloria, when the priest says, "For you alone are the holy one..," the cross bearer takes the Sacramentary from the server’s table, walks directly to the priest, opens the book to the first ribbon and holds the book open for the priest. (If the Gloria is not said, take the book after the last "LORD HAVE MERCY.")
1. If under 5 feet tall, stand in front of the priest.
2. If 5 feet or taller, stand to the priest's left side.
2. +When the priest finishes, the cross bearer takes the Sacramentary to the server’s table.

SECOND READING:

1. Cross bearer takes the Lectionary from the ambo and places the Lectionary on the server’s table, under the Sacramentary, when the lector finishes the second reading—walk behind the priest and the altar.

OFFERATORY:

1. *Candle bearers stand on each side of the priest-one will go behind the priest to stand on the priest's left.
2. +The cross bearer will take the Sacramentary and corporal and place the corporal in the center and the edge of the altar—place the Sacramentary in the center and the edge of the altar. Open the Sacramentary to the first ribbon. Then the cross bearer will take 3 chalices and 3 purificators from the credence table. The chalices are placed in a row on the side of the altar that is closest to the credence table. The purificators are placed in a single pile by the first chalice.
3. *The candle bearer who receives the bread will go to the side of the altar and wait until the priest or deacon takes the bread. Then go to the credence table, pick up one (1) chalice, one (1) purificator and the water cruet. And wait for the other candle bearer.
4. *The candle bearer who receives the flagon of wine will go to the credence table and wait for the other candle bearer.
5. *One candle bearer will take the flagon of wine. The other candle bearer will take one (1) chalice and one (1) purificator and the water cruet to the priest. Wait for the flagon to be emptied and take the empty flagon back to the credence table.
6. *The candle bearers will take the water, water basin and towel to the priest.

SIGN OF PEACE:

1. *The cross bearer takes the paten from the credence table and places it on the altar.
2. *The cross bearer will take the Sacramentary off the altar and place the Sacramentary on the server’s table.

COMMUNION:

1. +*To receive communion, the servers will follow the end of the first row of parishioners.
2. During distribution of body and blood:
1. +Cross bearer takes the ciborium from the credence table and places the ciborium on the side of the altar.
3. After distribution of body and blood:
1. *Candle bearers take the patens and ciborium (if on the altar) from the altar and place on the credence table—do not "STACK" patens.
4. +Cross bearer will carefully fold the corporal on the altar and place the corporal on the credence table—do not place corporal on top of the patens.—(HOLD THE CORPORAL LEVEL—SO THE BODY OF CHRIST DOES NOT FALL TO THE FLOOR.)

CLOSING PRAYER & FINAL BLESSING:

1. +When the priest says, "Let us pray”—or gives a nod—the cross bearer takes the Sacramentary from the server’s table and goes directly to the priest. Open the Sacramentary to the first ribbon.
2. +When the priest finishes, the cross bearer takes the Sacramentary to the server’s table.

PROCESSION: When the priest moves to the altar:

1. +Cross bearer takes the cross, goes to the fourth pew, and turns around to face the altar.
2. *Candle bearers take the candles and stand half way between the cross bearer and the foot of the altar.
3. +*When the priest bows, all servers bow.
4. +The cross bearer leads the procession-walk slowly.
5. *The candle bearers follow-walk side by side-keep 3 pews distance behind the cross bearer.

AFTER MASS:

1. *Candle bearers extinguish candles.
2. +*If the sacristan is not present, clear the credence table and bring everything to the sacristy.

NOTES:

1. Hands should be folded and held above the waist, unless holding something.
2. Kneel on the floor in front of your chair when the congregation kneels. Bow, kneel, sit and stand with the congregation.
3. Dress code:
1. Neat
2. Clean
3. "Sunday clothes"-no shorts, Sturgis t-shirts.
4. Each time you come to Mass, check to see if you are needed to serve. Sometimes more servers are needed.
5. Be alert. If a purificator is dropped, take a new purificator to the individual. Be ready to help out as mishaps occur.

LEGEND:

+ Cross bearer

* Candle bearer

DUTIES OF INCENSE BEARER:

1. Before Mass:
1. 15 minutes before Mass, light two (2) charcoals & place in censor.
2. Add incense to boat, if needed.
3. Take censor stand & place near credence table.
2. Lead procession to the altar.
1. At the steps of the altar, the censer bearer bows and proceeds to the left and back of the altar.
2. The priest will go up the altar and take the censer from the censer bearer and incense the altar
3. After receiving the censer, the incense bearer will place the censer on its stand and will proceed to his/her chair.
3. Add a charcoal when priest begins the homily.
4. At Offeratory, between the candle bearers taking flagon of wine, chalice, purificator and paten and the washing of hands, take censer and incense to the left and back of altar.
1. The priest will take the censer from the censer bearer and incense the altar.
2. After receiving the censer, the incense bearer will place the censer on its stand and will proceed to his/her chair.
5. Place one (1) spoon of incense in the censer, at the beginning of the last hymn.
6. Lead procession from the altar.
1. The censer bearer goes to the fifth pew and turns to face the altar.
2. When the priest bows, the censer bearer bows and slowly walks to the exit.

PROCESSION OF GOSPEL BOOK:

1. The candle bearers will take candles and stand in front of the altar leaving enough room for the deacon to stand between them.
2. The censer bearer takes the censor & incense boat & kneel before the priest, who will put incense in the censor.
3. The censer bearer takes the censor & incense boat and stands to the right of the candle bearer—closest to the ambo.
4. When the deacon picks up the gospel book and stands between the candle bearers, all will bow towards the altar. The censer bearer leads the procession to the ambo.
1. The censer bearer will go behind the ambo to make room for the deacon to go to the ambo.
2. The candle bearers will stand on either side of the ambo.
3. The deacon will take the censer & incense the gospel book. Incense will not be put in the censer.
4. After the gospel is read by the deacon, the censer bearer will lead the procession across the back of the altar. Censor bearer-candle bearer-deacon-candle bearer. The censor bearer will place the censor & incense boat on the stand and go to his/her chair. The candle bearers will place the candles in the stands and go to their chairs.