Preparing the way - Clover...

A guide for Sacristans at St. Albert the Great Catholic Church

SACRISTAN PREPARING

THE WAY

Sacristan Preparing the Way

A Guide for Sacristans

at

St. Albert the Great Catholic Church

REVISED AND UPDATED

August 14, 2013

Sacristan: Preparing the Way, A guide for Sacristans at St. Albert the Great

Catholic Church has been developed as a resource by Deacon Chuck Lanham for

ministers who are responsible for preparing the church for Mass.

Sacristan Preparing the way

They shall make a sanctuary for me, that I may dwell in their

midst. This Dwelling and all its furnishings you shall make

exactly according to the pattern that I will now show you.

Exodus 25:8

“The adornment and decor of a church should be such as to make the church a visible sign of love

and reverence toward God”

—Ceremonial of Bishops (No. 38)

Thank you for your desire to become a Sacristan. The Sacristan performs an

essential role in the conduct and execution of the Sacred Liturgy. In order for

everyone to receive the fullness of grace from the celebration of the Eucharist it is

essential that all elements be in their proper place at the necessary time. The

Sacristan fulfills a true liturgical function by undertaking the overall preparation

of liturgical celebrations and ensuring that the things necessary for worship are

available.

Ministry schedule

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Ministry schedule The schedule for every Mass is published in the bulletin and mailed to all

ministers prior to the beginning of every month. Each month when you receive

the calendar, please review your assignments and make note of when you are

scheduled to read.

Absences

We are all called away on occasion for various reasons and in most cases these

absences are known and arranged in advance. Please, let the Parish staff know

when you will not be available as far in the future as possible; this will allow them

to create the schedule with those who will be available.

Replacements

If you cannot serve at a Mass you have been assigned it is your responsibility to

find a replacement. You can procure a phone list from the Parish Office.

Dress “… acolytes, altar servers, lectors, and other lay ministers may wear the alb or other suitable

vesture or other appropriate and dignified clothing.”

—General Instruction of the Roman Missal, # 339, USCCB

As a Sacristan, you are serving at the table of the Lord and should always dress

appropriately; after all it is a special banquet you are attending and serving. This

is not an occasion for T-shirts, shorts, blue jeans, tennis shoes, or other casual

dress.

Sacristan – Preparing the way

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Arrival Sacristans should arrive a minimum of 30 minutes before the beginning of Mass

in order to have ample time to prepare the liturgical setting and to coordinate all

of the ministries that are scheduled to serve.

Bowing

There are two kinds of bows: a bow of the head; and a bow of the body, which is

referred to as a profound bow. A bow of the head is made whenever the three

names of the Trinity are said together, and when the name of Jesus, Mary, or the

saint in whose honor the Mass is celebrated is said.

A profound bow, bending the entire body at the waist to where you can touch the

knees with the palms of your hand, is made at a few specific parts during the

Mass, and whenever you pass in front of an altar. We bow to the altar because the

Altar represents Christ—so we reverence it with a profound bow. When we

reverence the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle we are adoring God Himself,

since the Lord is truly present in the Blessed Sacrament, so we genuflect.

For Sacristans, as you approach the sanctuary to perform your duties, you should

perform a profound bow toward the Altar—not the tabernacle— before entering

the sanctuary. Upon exiting the sanctuary, turn, face the Altar and perform a

profound bow.

Duties

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Duties

“The following also exercise a liturgical function: The sacristan, who carefully arranges the

liturgical books, the vestments, and other things necessary in the celebration of Mass.”

—General Instruction of the Roman Missal, no. 105, USCCB

In order for the beauty of the liturgy to be fully realized everything must be set in

place and ready for the celebrant and other ministers. The sacristan is responsible

for the overall preparation of liturgical celebrations, including all that is needed

for special days such as Ash Wednesday and Palm Sunday. Requirements and

needs vary both seasonally and based on the Mass day and time and the Sacristan

must be prepared to adjust for the occasion. While the duties of a Sacristan might

be considered simple and mundane they are extremely important and there are

many tasks that are required. Never forget that yours is truly a blessed ministry.

Ministry coordination

As the Sacristan you are commissioned to be the caretaker of the church. The

Sacristan is responsible for insuring that all scheduled ministers (Lectors,

Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, and Altar Servers) are present and

prepared to perform their assigned duties.

Scheduled ministers are asked to report to the Sacristan immediately upon

their arrival to alert the Sacristan to their presence

The Sacristan should inform all scheduled ministers of any changes or

issues that might affect their assigned duties


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When a scheduled minister does not appear the Sacristan assists the other

ministers in locating a replacement.

The Sacristan is responsible for selecting a family to process the gifts to

the altar: Choose a family.

Opening the church

Every Sacristan should have been issued a key to the church and sacristy and have

been issued a pass code for the alarm system and been trained on its use.

Upon arrival at the Church the Sacristan must verify that the following has been

completed or complete the following tasks:

Alarm System

o Turn off the alarm, if set

Unlock and open doors

o Unlock and open the Sacristy.

o Unlock and unlatch both sets of exterior doors,

o Open and brace the interior doors,

o Open the door to the chapel/cry room,

o Verify that the chapel/cry room has been properly arranged for the

liturgical celebration,

Duties

10

Lighting System

Turn on the lights throughout the church. In order to turn on the lights

o proceed to the control box next to the sacristy window and flip:

the BAPTISMAL (1), TABERNACLE (2), and the

ENTRY (3) light switches to ON, and

push the upper button marked MANUAL (4) located on

the lower left corner of the panel and ensure that the

sliders are all the way up.

Please note that if the church lights do not light or are flickering, it

is most likely because the upper button on the first panel has not

been pressed.


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o open the door to the breaker panel next to the sacristy entrance

and flip all of the switches marked #s 1-10 to the on position.

o Turn on the chapel/cry room lights:

One switch is located inside the main entrance to the

chapel/cry room,

The second is located outside the second entrance to the

chapel/cry room.

o At the alcoves for St. Ann and St. Theresa there are toggle

switches for the mini-spots; toggle the switches to the ON

position.

Duties

12

Sound System

o Turn on the sound system with the MICROPHONE switch

located behind the entrance door to the sacristy.

o The sound system will be taken care of by the music ministers.

However, as the Sacristan, you should be aware that the sound

board needs to be plugged in and the ‘master’ slide should be

up to where a white dot has been placed. The power cord is

located behind the choir stands, to the right of the sound board.

You will know that the sound board is on when the red light of

the microphone on the ambo is lit.


13

Preparing the church

Entrance Table

o Ensure that the Book of the Gospels is located on the rear shelf

o Move the table from under the rear shelf to a position

approximately even with the last row of pews.

Duties

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o Place the basket lined with a purificator on the table

Add a sufficient quantity of unconsecrated hosts for the

anticipated attendance

Place two tongs in the basket

o Place the large paten on the table

Prop one large host against the side—not lying flat.

Prior to the presentation of the gifts lay the large host

flat on top of the small hosts


15

o Fill the large carafe with sacramental wine found in the

refrigerator

to the top of the etched area for smaller attended

Masses

approximately ½ inch above that for larger attended

Masses.

and place the carafe on the table.

Tabernacle

o Ensure that the tabernacle key is in the lock of the Tabernacle.

The key is located in the Sacristy on a hook on the inside of the

far right side cabinet door.

o Ensure that large ciborium has an ample quantity of

consecrated hosts to provide a secondary source for Holy

Communion

o The Sacristan for the 4 pm Saturday Mass must prepare the

pixes for Park Place according to the list found on the wall in

the Sacristy.

Duties

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Credence Table

o Chalice

Use the tall gold chalice for Father Mark or the Bishop

Use the shorter gold chalice for Father Honesto

Use the silver chalice for visiting priests

o 1 - purificator for the chalice

o 3 - silver patens

o Tray

4 - communion cups

4 - purificators


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o 1 – small pitcher of water (filled half-full)

o Silver bowl of water for the washing of hands

o Towel (Located in the third long drawer in the Sacristy)

Candles

o Tabernacle Candle

If the tabernacle candle is burning low attempt to

replace it. Replacement candles are located in the

Sacristy.

o Altar Candles

Light the altar candles 10 minutes prior to the

beginning of Mass.

o Votive Candles

Check the votive candles and remove any burnt

matches or wooden tapers; these present a real fire

hazard and must be removed.

Baptisms

If a baptism is scheduled, the Sacristan must perform the following:

Place the baptismal font centered in front of the altar at floor level.

Place the small table in front of the altar at the end nearest to the ambo.

Place the Pascal candle at the end of the altar nearest the ambo. Light the

Pascal candle at the same time as the altar candles.

Place the cruet of Sacred Chrism on the small table.

Duties

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Place an unwrapped baptismal candle on the small table. Baptismal

candles are located on the shelf above the priest’s vestments in the

sacristy.

Place a small towel on the side of the baptismal font.

A few minutes before Mass begin fill a large pitcher with hot water. Use

water as hot as you can get it as it will cool during Mass. Place the pitcher

in the baptismal font bowl.

During Mass

While Mass is in progress the Sacristan should remain in the rear of the church

and perform the following:

Close and lock the Sacristy and unlock it at the end of Mass.

Assist in placing the offerings in the plastic bag at the offertory.

Return the entrance table to its place under the shelf at the back of the

church.

At the End of Mass

Please assist the ministers in finishing their tasks. Make sure that

everything is properly put away.

o After the 4:00 pm Mass the Sacristan should assist in preparing for

the 6:00 pm Mass.

o After the 8:00 am Mass the Sacristan should assist in preparing for

the 10:00 am Mass.

Remove the tabernacle key (except after the 8:00 am Mass) and return it to

the Sacristy.


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Leaving the Church

With the exception of the 4:00 pm Saturday Mass and the 8:00 am Sunday Mass

the Sacristan must:

Turn off the lights

o At the alcoves for St. Ann and St. Theresa toggle the switches to

the OFF position.

o open the door to the breaker panel next to the sacristy entrance and

flip all of the switches marked #s 1-10 to the OFF position.

o proceed to the control box next to the sacristy window and flip:

the BAPTISMAL, TABERNACLE, and the ENTRY

light switches to OFF, and

push the lower button (marked MANUAL) located on the

lower left corner of the panel.

o Turn OFF the chapel/cry room lights:

One switch is located inside the main entrance to the

chapel/cry room,

The second is located outside the second entrance to the

chapel/cry room.

Lock the church

o Close and lock the Sacristy

o Latch and lock both sets of exterior doors,

o Close the interior doors,

o Close the door to the chapel/cry room,

o After the 4 pm Mass on Saturday and the 5 pm Mass on Sunday

turn on the alarm.

NOTES:

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o Exit and lock the main door.

NOTES: The switch that turns the Holy Water font on and off is located in the

Chapel/Cry Room behind the door. Leave it on to avoid stagnation.

The valve to turn off all of the water to the building is located in the

women’s restroom janitor closet.

The thermostat that controls the Narthex and Chapel/Cry Room is located

in the Chapel/Cry Room on the far side of the room.

The thermostat that controls the Sacristy is located behind the grey box

cover near the sink in the Altar Servers’ vesting area.

A first aid kit is located in the Sacristy, center cabinet, left hand side.

Lost and found is located outside of the Chapel/Cry Room.

Extra microphone batteries are located in the Sacristy in the top drawer.

The phone number to the alarm company, should the alarm go off while

you are there is 826-1346 and is written on the phone.

o Dial 9 + 829-1346 to call the security company

Type in your code and press off to shut off the alarm

Type in your code again and press off to reset the alarm

system.


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NOTES:

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I did not come to be served,

but to serve.

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