Altar Servers’ Handbook

16 Pages·2010·1.4 MB·English

Immaculate Conception
Catholic Church
of Dardenne Prairie
Altar Servers’
Handbook
Revised9/27/2010
AnAltar Server’s Prayer
OGod,Youhave graciouslycalledmetoserve Youat Youraltar. Grant
methegraces that Ineed toserveYoufaithfullyandwithmy whole
heart.Grant toothat whileservingYou,mayIfollowtheexampleofSt.
Tarcisius, whodiedprotectingtheEucharist,and walkthesamepaththat
ledhim toHeaven.
St.Tarcisius, prayforme andforall servers.
AnAltar Server’s Promise
Iunderstandthat servingMass is anhonor,andthat Servers are
Liturgical Ministers of ICDParish. Iunderstand that this is aserious
commitment,and Ipromiseto:
 Beat everyMass that Iam scheduledtoserve,or tofinda
substitute.
 Bean exampletothepeopleoftheparish inmyparticipationat
Mass,listeningtothe prayers and readings, makingthe
responses, singingalongandnot talkingneedlesslyduringMass.
 Bean exampletothepeopleoftheparish intheywayIlivemy
life.
 Showduerespect totheholythings Iwill handle as aserver,
especiallythecross,candles, vessels, books, andvestments.
 Followtheinstructions ofthepriest anddeaconduringMass.
Ifyouhaveanyquestionsdonothesitatetocontact:
SandiShymanski*ICDServerCoordinator*636-240-2329
Or
Fr.NickWinker*[email protected]*636-561-6611ex.516
Dear AltarServer,
Theparish priests would liketothank youfor yourcommitment
toserveMass hereat ICD.Altarservers areanimportant part of
thecelebrationofMass and animportant part ofthelifeofour
parish. Youwill assist inthecelebrationofMass andbean
exampletothepeopleof theparish. Youpresence will makeour
celebrationmoreafittingcelebration.
Whenthepresident ora kinggoes someplaceheis
accompaniedbysoldiers to protect him andtoshowthat heis
important.As altarservers youwill bethehonor guardforthe
Kingof Kings. You arenot just carryingacross or candles but
showinghonortoGod andlettingotherknowhow important He
is.
Wehopeandpraythat not onlydoes yourservice honorGod
andhelpthepeopleoftheparish topraybut that it brings you
closertoGod. It is a great honortobeso closetoJesus intheMass
andto helpleadHis peopleinworship.At thealtar youwill carry
thesacredvessels which will holdtheBodyandBloodofChrist.
What aprivilegetobeso physicallyclosetoGod! This is
somethingthat wehas priests knowverywell.
FormanyCatholics throughthe centuries, beinganaltarserver
was thefirst timetheyreallydedicatedthemselves toGod.Many
priests andevensaints foundtheirvocationwhile servingat the
altar.Wehopethat inmakingthesacrifices andshowingthe
disciplinerequiredtobe analtarserver you will trulyencounter
our LordJesus.
While youmayhaveheardtheinvitationtobeaserver from a
parent,ateacher,apriest,orafriend,it is reallyGodwhohas
called youtobean altarserver.Wehope youcherish this gift as
muchas wedid,and continuetoserveformanyyears.
InChrist,
Msgr.Ted Fr. Steve Fr.Nick
Prayer in the Sacristy before Mass
Ogreat High-Priest,Jesus,
not onlydid youoffer yourselfas theperfect sacrificeforme,
but you giveme yourbodytoeat andbloodtodrink.
Iask, bythat awesomelovethat youhaveforme,
that Imaycometothis mystery
withthereverenceandhonor youdeserve.
Makeme,through your grace,
always tobelieve andunderstand,tothinkandtospeak,
ofthis great Mystery,
inawaythat pleases you andis goodformysoul.
Grant metoapproachthis Mass withacleanheart andapuremind.
Icomesicktothedoctor oflife,
uncleantothefountainofmercy,
blindtotheradianceofeternal light,
andpoorandneedytothe Lordofheaven andearth.
Guidemeas IserveYou todayat theAltar.
Helpmetogive youall that Iam.
If Ihappentomakean error,mayit bealessonso myservicewill be
perfect tomorrow.
Amen.
Altar Server’s Prayer before Mass
Openmymouth,O Lord, tobless yourHolyName.
Cleansemyheart from all evil anddistractingthoughts.
Enlightenmyunderstandingandinflamemywill
that Imayservemoreworthilyat yourholyaltar.
OMary,MotherofChrist theHighPriest,
obtainformethemost important grace
ofknowingmyvocationinlife.
Grant meatruespirit offaithandhumbleobedience
so that Imayeverbeholdthepriest as arepresentativeofGod
andwillinglyfollowhim
intheWay,theTruth, andthe LifeofChrist.
Amen.
Serving on Sundays
 Makesure youknowwhen you arescheduledtoserve! If youcannot
bethere findsomeonewithwhom totrade.
 Evenif youarenot scheduledbeat SundayMass andreadytoserve,
ask ifthereis aneedfor servers.
 Dress appropriately.Not-shirts, nosliponsandals, cleantennis shoes
ordress shoes.
 Bethere15minutes beforeMass,if youarelate
someonemaytake your place!
 Signinat theinformationdesk.
 Gotothesacristy.
Sacristy
Informationdesk
 Wash yourhands.
 Get vested,dressed,inan albandcincture.
Thealbsarein
theseclosetsand
thecincturesareon
thedoor
 Determinewho will takethecross,thecandles, andthebook
 Makesurethe candles andcross areinthesacristy.
 Makesurethe bells and kneelingpadareinplace.
 Seeifthere are anyspecial notes orinstructions postedorfrom the
priest.
 Prepare yourselfquietlyforMass.
 Light thecandles shortlybeforeMass
 Afterthepriest leads aprayerthen gointotheChurchwithcross and
candles
The Entrance Procession
5
3
1 2
4
Cross bearerleads theprocession,liningupinfront ofthe
1
offertorytable.
Bookbearer andcandlelighter each carrycandles inthe
procession.
Wheninstructedbythepriest ordeaconthecross bearerwalks
2
slowlytowards thealtar.
Othertwofollowabout six feet behind.
3 Onreachingthealtarthe cross bearer goes uptothefirst step,
turns left andthenstops
Theothertwo gooneithersideofhim.
All bowwhenthepriest does.
Afterbowing,the candle bearers gobehindthepresider’s chair..
4
Thecross bearercarefullyplaces thecross inits standnearthe
tabernacle.
Theothertwoplacetheir candles intheirstands next tothe
ambo.
Theservers then gobehindthepresider’s chairto theirchairs
5
Introductory Rites
All continuestanding
Fathersays: Inthename of theFather, andof the
Son,andof theHolySpirit.
All makethesignofthe cross andsay: Amen
Theservers keeptheirhands foldednicely
andmakeall theresponses. Foldyourhands
TheMass continues with thePenitential Rite whenyouarenot
carryinganything
Next theis Gloria.(“Gloryto
GodintheHighest...”)
Thebookis brought upafter
theGloriais finished.
Onweekdays oronSundays
whenfatheris wearingpurple
wedonot singorsaythe
Gloriaso thebookis brought
upafterthePenitential Rite.
Thebookis carriedresting
against one’s chest withthe
front facingoutward.Thebook
bearer goes upandstands in
front ofthepriest and alittleto
his side,turningthebook so
that thepriest canopenit..The
priest will sayLet us pray,and
openthebook.Thebook is
heldopenwithhands at the
bottom andthetopofthebookagainst one’s chest.At theendofthe
prayertheserverorthepriest closes thebookand returns reverently
tohis orherseat.
The Liturgy of the Word
Duringthe Liturgyofthe Wordeveryonelistens attentivelytothe
WordofGod.
The Liturgy of the Eucharist
AftertheGeneral Intercessions the
peoplesit down.
Thecross bearerstands andgoes to
thetableat thetopofthe ramp.He
orshetakes thetrayoffilledcups
andplaces them onthe front ofthe
altar. Ifthere aretwotrays heorshe
makes twotrips.
Thebookbearerbrings the
Sacramentaryuptothealtar.TheSacramentarygoes ontheleft side
ofthealtar.Thenthebookbearer goes backtothe credencetable,
takingtheGospel bookstand withthem ifit is there,it needs tobe
lifteddirectlyoffthe altar.
Thebookbearerthenbrings thepriest’s chaliceandthecorporal to
thealtar. Ifthereis nodeacontheserverunfolds thecorporal inthe
middleofthealtar.
Traywith Thepeople
Altar
Donot flipthe cups
corporal over,but
unfoldit from the
Water
Corporal
top. Thechaliceis
placedontheright
sideofthealtar,next tobut not onthecorporal.Thebookbearer
returns tothecredenceto get the water andplaces it ontheright side
ofthealtar. If thereareanystackingciboriatheyarebrought tothe
altar.
At thesametimethecandle
lighter goes backbehindthealtar
tothecredencetabletoget the
candlelighter.Continue going
aroundbehindthealtarandupto
theambotolight thecandle
lighterandlight thecandles
aroundthealtar,returningthe
lightertothecredence tablewhentheyarefinished.
Thecross bearer gets the cross and goes totheback,usingtheside
aisle,andwaits standingabout threefeet infront ofgifts tablein
front ofthebaptismal font.
Whenthebookbeareror candlelighterfinish their tasks,theyhelp
thedeacon finish settingthealtar.The cups andpurificators from
thetray(s) goon corporals laidonthesides ofthe altar,divided
evenlyoneitherside.Movethechalices bythebaseanddonot
touchtheinsideofthe
Altar
Traywith Thepeople
cup. Oneofthese
cups
servers returns the
emptytray(s)tothe
credencetable. If
Fatherhas not gone
downtoreceivethe gifts, theyreturntotheirseats.
Father goes downinfront ofthealtartoreceivethegifts.
If thecandlelighterorbookbearerarenot doinganythingelsethey
comedownwithfatherandwait forthe gifts tobe brought up.
Whenthecross bearersees thepriest arriveat the bottom ofthesteps
heorsheleads the gift bearers uptothe altarsteppingtotheside
uponreachingthe altar.
Afterthe gifts havebeen givento
thepriest hewill handthem tothe
deacon andtheservers.
Thenall turnandbowto the
altar.Somepriests might not
turnand bowtothealtar,just Deacon
followtheirlead.
Thecross bearertakes thecross
backtoits standandreturns tohis orherchair.
Thebookbearer andcandlelightertakethebread andwineupto
altar.Placingthem ontheright sideofthealtaror handingthem to
thepriest ordeacon. Beverycareful carryingtheflagonofwineit
canbeveryheavy.
Thebookbearer andcandlelighter get thelavabo dish andtowel
from thecredencetable andcomeuptotheright edgeofthealtar
forthepriest towash his hands. Oneholds thebowl andthetakes the
waterfrom thesideofthealtar,theotherholdthe towel.When
Fatherplaces his hands overthebowl pourwater overthem,not too
muchbut not toolittle.Theotherserveroffers the towel toFather
andreceives it back from him.Thedeaconorpriest also hands the
servers the emptyflagon. Boththenput thetowel, bowl,waterand
flagon backonthe credencetable.
Theythenreturntotheir seats.
At thebeginningofthesanctus,
“Holy,Holy, Holy,” all three
servers go andstandinfront ofthe
kneelers. Thecross bearerstands in
front ofthebells. Whenthehymnis
overall thesevers kneel onthe
kneelingpad.
DuringtheEucharisticprayerwhen
thepriest places his hands overthe
gifts andwhenhe raises thebodyof
Christ,thecross bearerrings thebells,
byshakingthem backandforthuntil
thepriests put thehost down.Thesameis repeatedforthechalice.
Theservers arethefirst toreceivecommuniononthat side.
Thecross bearersits afterreceivingcommunion
Duringcommunionthebookbearerbrings thebookbacktohis or
herseat andholds it onhis orherlap.
Duringcommunionthecandlelighter goes uptothealtarandmoves
thechalicetothesideof thecorporal,ifit is still there.
Thecandlelighter thenfolds thecorporal. First thebottom is folded
intowards thecenter.Thenthetopis foldeddown towards the
center. Finallythetwosides are foldedintothemiddle.
1 Thepeople 2 3 4
Thecandlebearerthentakes thecorporal and Corporal
all thevessels onthealtarbacktothe
credencetable.Theyusuallycanall be
carriedback at thesametime.What is
Pall
present is stackedoverthechaliceinthis
Paten
order,first purificator,thenthepaten,then
thepall,thenfinallythecorporal.Most Purificator
oftenonlythe chalice,purificator,and
corporal will bethere.This stackis carried Chalice
byplacingonehandonthechaliceandone
handontopofthecorporal.Sometimes youwill onlyhavethe
corporal totakeback,thenit shouldbecarried flat inbothhands.
Aftercommunionthepriest stands andsays “Let us pray.”
Thebookbearerbringthebookuptothepriest as before.Sometimes
thepriest will signal forthebookbearertostayaftertheendofthe
prayer forasolemnblessing.
At theendofMass the cross bearer
gets the cross from its standand
stands tothesideonthefirst stepas
at thebeginningofMass.
Theothertwoservers lineupon
eithersideofthe cross.Theyboth
bowwhenthepriest bows
Thecross leads theprocessionout ofChurch.
Theothertwoservers followbehindthecross.
Thecross is placedonits standinthesacristy
Thecandlelighter extinguishes thecandles inthe sanctuary.
All hangtheir robes upnicelyintheproperplace forits size.
Beforeleavingask thepriest ordeaconiftheyneedanyhelp.