altar servers
TRANSCRIPT
------- ALTAR SERVERS -------
ThankyouforacceptingtheinvitationfromyourChurchfamilytobecomeaMinister“AroundtheTable.”ServinginthisspecialwayhasaprofoundimpactonthewayourSt.PaulMissionStatement,“ToLiveAsTheBodyOfChrist,”comestolife.
ThepurposeoftheEucharisticLiturgy,aswellasallSacraments,istomakeusholy,tobuilduptheBodyofChristandtoworshipGod.TheLiturgy“nourishes,strengthensandexpressesfaith.”(CCC1123)Bysaying,“Yes”tothiscalling,Iagreetothefollowing:
ü IcommittoserveinthisoneLiturgicalMinistryforatwo-yearperiod.ü IunderstandtheimportanceofmyministryintheoverallmissionofourParish“ToLiveAsTheBodyOfChrist.”
ü IwillapproachtheCelebrationoftheEucharistwithaspiritoftheJoyofChrist.ü IwillpreparemyselfduringtheweekbeingreflectiveoftheupcomingReadingssothatIwillbepreparedspiritually,physicallyandemotionally.
ü IwillarriveontimeanddressappropriatelywhenIamscheduledtoserve.ü IwillfindareplacementintheeventIcannotserveatmyscheduledtime.ü WhenIamnotscheduledtoserve,Iwillbeabetterparticipantinthepewbybeingattentive,listening,andrespondingenthusiastically.
Bysigningbelow,Iagreetoalloftheabovestatements:Ministry:___________________________________________________________________Masspreference:(circleone) 5:30 8:00 10:30PrintedName: ____________________________________________________________Signature: ____________________________________________________________Date: ____________________________________________________________
MINISTRYCOMMITMENT
PURPOSE
ThisMinistryManualisbeingprovidedtoallMinisters"AroundtheTable"tocreateabetterunderstandingandzealforauthenticworshipatSt.PaulParish.Thisinformationisnotonlyinstructionofhowtocarryouttheministry,buttobetterunderstandwhyweworshipthewaywedo.Wewanttorejuvenatethedeep,spiritualmeaningofbeingaparticipantinMass.AsSt.Augustinesaid,"Beholdwhatyouare.Becomewhoyoureceive."EverytimewecelebratetheSacredBanquettogether,wearefulfillingJesus'commandto"DothisinmemoryofMe."WebelievethattheRisenChrististrulypresentintheLiturgyinthePresider;intheHolyEucharistasHisrealpresenceofBodyandBlood;intheWordproclaimedfromtheSacredScriptures;andintheCommunitygatheredinHisName.Wewanttorediscovertheimportanceofcelebratingwithjoy,reverence,andessenceofthePaschalMystery.Fromthetimeoftheapostles,Christianshavecontinuallycometogethertocelebrate,tolistentoScripture,andtoofferThanksgiving.TheLiturgyisacommunalencounterofChristthatbringsusalltogetherasaSt.PaulFamily.Ourmaingoalistofosterfull,activeandconsciousparticipationintheLiturgicalCelebrationinordertoencountertheLivingGodintheWordandEucharist,thenreturntotheworldfulfillingourbaptismalcalltodiscipleship.Astrained,prayerfulLiturgicalMinisters,wewillhelpplantthatwhichGodwillgrow.Wedonotneedtoreinventanything.WedonotneedtodecidewhatLiturgywillbe.TheChurchhasalreadyplannedtheLiturgy.Itisnotashoworperformancethatpeoplecometoobserve.TheLiturgyisaSacredCelebrationofthePaschalMysterythroughwhichtheMysteryofChristamonguscomesaliveinallthepeoplepresent.Therefore,wewanttomakeourpreparationandattainmentoftheexperienceofLiturgyatSt.Paulapriority,notalast-minuteexecutionofdutiesandtasks.CCC1070states,"…everyLiturgicalCelebrationisanactionofChristthepriestandofthisBodywhichistheChurch,isasacredactionsurpassingallothers."WewanttorecognizeeverypersonwhojoinsourCelebrationasequal,necessarymembersoftheBodyofChrist.WewanteachandeverypersontobereceivedwithJoy.We,asMinisters,willservethemwithJoy.WewanttoalwaysbeawarethatJesusChrist,ourRisenLord,isindeedpresidingateachMass,proclaimingHisWord,sharingHisBodyandBlood,andsittingnexttousextendingHisHandinthesignofpeace.First,weaskyoutopersonallyprayregularlyforthesuccess,graceandinsighttomoveintheDivineFlowofmeetingChristinareal,personalwayasaMinisterofourParish.PrayerwillalwaysbetheheartofMinistry.Prayerservestocontinuallyrenewandstrengthenustoserveourbrothersandsisters.
AnawarenessofthesacrednessofyourMinistrywillnaturallyfollow.Weareprivilegedtohavebeencalledandinvitedtoserveinthisspecialway.ThegreatresultwillbeacontinualrenewalofourlovefortheEucharistandtheSacraments,andafruitfulweeklyexperienceofLiturgy.
THEMINISTRYOFALTARSERVER
AltarServersareaveryimportantpartoftheLiturgyastheyassistthepriestontheAltarduringtheSundayMassesandHolyDaysthroughouttheyear.BoysandgirlswhohavereceivedtheSacramentofFirstHolyCommunionserveinthisMinistry.
HistoryAltarServershavebeenavitalpartofChurchHistorysincetheearliestoftimes.Jesus,Himself,senttwoofHisdisciplestopreparethePassoverMeal.Historically,thisrolewasreservedformalesonly,whoactuallywereservinginordainedministryintheminororderofAcolyte,andwouldultimatelyworktowardordinationasaDeaconandfinallyaPriest.SinceVaticanII,ithasbecomemoreaMinistryoftheyouth,bothmaleandfemale.
WhyAltarServersareneededtocarryitems,settheAltar,andassistthepriestthroughouttheMass.YouarealsoexpectedtoparticipatefullyandjoyfullyintheMassbypraying,respondingandsinging.Pleasebeawarethatyouaresettinganexampletothepeopleseatedinthepewsbyyourattentiveness,respectfulness,andparticipationintheMass.HowBeforeMass1. Duringthecourseoftheweek,readtheSundayReadingssoyouarefamiliarwiththeWordtobeproclaimedandthethemeoftheLiturgy.
2. DressappropriatelysinceyouareservingattheTableoftheLord.Pleasedonotwearbluejeans,shorts,orcasualfootwear.
3. Disposeofanygumorcandy.4. Arrive15minutesbeforeMasstime,putacheckmarkbyyournameontheschedule,usetherestroom,washyourhands,anddressinyourrobe.Checkthecalendarforthecolorbelttowear.
5. Ifyoudonotcheckinby10minutesbeforeMasstime,theSacristanwillfindareplacement.Ifyournameismarkedthroughonthepostedschedule,someoneelsehasalreadybeenselectedtoserveinyourplace.YouwillnotservethisMass.
6. Onceyouarerobedandready,decidewhichserverwillberesponsibleforthe"Book"andwhichwillberesponsibleforthe"Bells."
7. RemainintheSacristytopraywithFatherandalltheMinisters.DuringMass
1. StandoneoneachsideofFather,erectandreadyfortheEntranceProcession.2. AsyouprocesstotheAltar,holdyourhandsinprayerposition.3. TrytoanticipateFather'sinvocation"letuspray"bygettingthebookready.
4. WhensettingtheAltarattheOffertory,the"Bells"ServerlightsthecandlesthenplacesFather'sChalicewiththeHostandPatenontheAltar.The"Book"ServerplacestheBookontheAltar,andsetsthefourchalicesandpurificatorsontheAltar.BothServersthenjoinFatheratthestepstoreceivethegifts.
5. IfyoureceivetheCiborium,placeitontheAltarandremovethelid.PlacethelidontheCredenceTable,pickupthesmallcruetofwater,andstandinplacetoFather'srightsideattheAltar.Ifyoureceivethewinedecanter,movetoyourplaceatFather'srightsidealso,andwaitforFathertoemptyitandhanditbacktoyou.BothreturntotheCredenceTable.
6. OneServerpicksupthetowel,andtheotherpicksupthewaterjugandbowl.GotoFatherforthewashingofhishands,thenreturnthoseitemstotheCredenceTable.
7. Atthistime,the"Book"Serverstandsonthe"Book"sideoftheAltartoFather'sleft.The"Bells"Serverwillstandonthe"Bells"sideoftheAltartoFather'sright.
8. DuringtheEucharisticPrayerkneelonbothkneesfacingtheAltarandFathertodraweveryone'sfocustotheEucharist.Watchattentivelyandrespondenthusiastically.
9. TheBellsarerungatthreepoints,withthreerings:a. WhenFatherholdshishandsoverthegiftsofbreadandwine,andsays,"LetYourSpiritcomeuponthesegifts."
b. AfterFathersays,"ThisisMyBodywhichwillbegivenupforYou."c. AfterFathersays,"DothisinmemoryofMe."
10. StandbehindFatherwiththeEucharisticMinistersandreverentlyreceiveCommunion.OncetheymovetothefronttodistributeCommunion,returntoyourseatsandremainseatedduringCommunion.SingwiththeCongregation--nochatting.
11. WhentheEucharisticMinistersreturntotheirseats,returntotheAltarandhelpFatherfinishclearingit,returningeverythingtotheCredenceTable.TheBookisthelastitemtoberemovedfromtheAltar.The"Book"ServershouldcarryitstraighttoFatherfortheClosingPrayer.
12. FortheRecessional,bothServersproceedtotheAltarwithFather,oneoneachside,andbowwhenhekissestheAltar.The"Book"ServerwillpickupthecollectionbasketandcarryittotheUshers.
13. Pleasehangupyourrobecarefullyinthecloset.ReturntotheAltarandextinguishthecandles.
Sacramentary-theBookthePriestusesduringMass
Chalicewithpatenandhost
Paten-platefortheHost
LargeHost-Tobeplaced
onFather'spaten
Ciborium–holdsthe
BodyofChrist
Cup–holdstheBloodofChrist
WineDecanter
Cruetforwater
Corporal–PlacedontheAltar
Purificators–usedtowipetheCupwhen
servingtheBloodofChrist
TabernacleandRedSacristyLight
Monstrance–HoldstheBlessedSacramentfor
ExpositionoftheEucharist