THE ALTAR SERVERHANDBOOK

OF

ST. THERESA PARISHNEW CUMBERLAND, PA

Compiled byThe Knights of ColumbusSt. Theresa of the Infant JesusCouncil #8921

RReissued

January 2020

Dear Altar Server,

You are a very important part of our parish family because you are essential to our Celebration of the Eucharist. Liturgy which is the public worship of the Church, and is the most perfect form of worship we can offer God. In it the Paschal mystery is made present and we are fed by the grace of God.

In the Celebration of the Eucharist we come together in community and worship Christ in His passion, death, and resurrection, in His Word, and in the Eucharist. It is in this context that we offer ourselves with Christ to our heavenly Father as a “perfect sacrifice of praise”.

Thank you for responding to this ministry and know how much our entire parish appreciates your faithfulness in following your schedule. Your role in the liturgy is very important. As an Altar Server, by the way you conduct yourself and carry out your duties, you create the necessary atmosphere of solemn reverence, respect, and worship which no one else can.

This handbook will help you to know your responsibilities and to carry them out in the proper way. As important as these procedures are, the most important aspect of being an Altar Server is your reverence for the presence of Christ as he manifests Himself in these sacred mysteries.

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Table of Contents

Section Page

Introduction.............................................................................................................. 1

Table of Contents..................................................................................................... 2

Server Instructions for Mass (Sunday).................................................................. 3

Server Instructions for a Funeral Mass................................................................. 6

Server Instructions for a Wedding Mass............................................................... 8

Dress and Attitude................................................................................................... 9

Definitions................................................................................................................. 10

Additional Material for training............................................................................. 13

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Server Instructions for the Sunday Mass

Before Mass Checklist

Three servers are typically required to serve Sunday Mass.

Fifteen (15) minutes before Mass, the servers enter the Children’s Chapel in the server vesting area, and dress in albs and cinctures. The alb should be just above your shoes after and the cincture is knotted on the left.

One server should light the candles.

Servers should check with both the sacristan and the priest in case any further assistance is needed to prepare for the liturgy.

As soon as all preparations are made, all servers should assemble in the in the Vesting Sacristy with the other ministers for prayer and for special instructions from the Priest.

Serving Sunday Mass

Entrance Procession

After meeting in the Vesting Sacristy, the servers take the cross and candles and assemble in front of the youth chapel window in the rear of the church. When the bells are rung at the back of the church the servers move to the aisle with the Cross-bearer flanked by the Servers carrying the candles.

The three servers walk shoulder to shoulder s-l-o-w-l-y down to the front of the Church. At the sanctuary, the servers reverence the altar and Tabernacle with a head bow. Then they turn to the left and process, still shoulder to shoulder, to the cross and candle stands, and stand in front of their seats in the sanctuary with their hands folded.

Penitential Rite

The priest will greet the people, pray, and ask petitions to which the servers (and the congregation) will respond “Lord have mercy” “Christ have mercy” and “Lord have mercy”. Then all recite the prayer beginning “Glory to God in the highest”, except during Advent and Lent.

At the conclusion of the prayer, the Cross-bearer carries the Missal to the priest when he says, “Let us pray.” The priest will open the Missal, say the prayer, close the Missal, and the server may return to his or her seat, placing the Missal on the shelf of the Credence Table.

Liturgy of the Word

During the Liturgy of the Word the servers should sit, stand, and respond accordingly and with appropriate attention and reverence.

Liturgy of the Eucharist3

At the conclusion of the intercessions, all three servers will prepare the altar. The Missal, book stand, chalices, purificators, and ciboria are placed on the altar. If a pyx with a low gluten host has been added to the patens on the Credence Table, it should be brought down and placed with the patens on the altar. The priest’s chalice is handed directly to the priest or deacon who will then prepare the altar. At any time, when leaving the altar, servers will acknowledge the solemnity of their duties with a head bow to whomever they have served. When crossing directly in front or behind the altar during the liturgy, servers will stop and make a head bow to the altar before proceeding.

After the altar is prepared, the two candle-bearers prepare for the reception of the gifts, one with the priest at the front of the sanctuary and one at the credence table. The two servers then offer the priest the cruets, return to the credence table for the lavabo, towel, and pitcher, and then purify the priest’s hands.

The servers all return to their seats where they will sit, stand, kneel, and respond accordingly and with appropriate attention and reverence. During the Eucharistic prayer at the Epiclesis when the priest extends his hands over the gifts and says, “Make holy these gifts” or similar words, a server will ring the bells once. Then, when the body and blood are elevated individually during the consecration a server will ring the bells three times.

After the priest consumes the precious blood from his chalice, the servers will stand and approach the altar, standing on the priest’s right. After the priest gives communion to the Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, he will then give communion to the servers. After receiving the host, the servers will move back to their chairs in the sanctuary. If they wish to receive the Precious Blood, an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion or a deacon will come and serve them at their chairs. After the ministers have all cleared the altar and gone to their stations, the servers will clear the altar and credence table of all vessels, taking them back to the Children’s Chapel. The sacred vessels are placed on the corporal, but the pitcher, bowl, towel, and cruets are placed on the sink. Servers return to their seats and stand until the priest sits down. If there is time, the Cross Bearer may pick up the Roman Missal and hold it until called for in the concluding rite.

Concluding Rite

The altar as it appears after the priest or deacon has finished setting it.

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Once communion is completed and the altar is clear and the priest is seated, the Cross-bearer carries the Missal to the priest when he says, “Let us pray.” The priest will open the Missal, say the prayer, close the missal, and the server places it on the Credence Table and waits for the final blessing. The server should always wait until the priest closes the Missal as there may be a special blessing after the closing prayer.

The servers then move to the center aisle with the cross and candles. They will be followed by the Extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, so the servers should move far enough down the aisle that everyone can fit. After the priest and lectors have moved to the front of the sanctuary all in the procession will reverence the altar and the tabernacle. Those who are capable will reverence with a profound bow for the altar and genuflect to the tabernacle. The servers with candles and the cross will reverence with a head bow. All others will reverence both with a profound bow.

After placing the cross and candles in their holders in the Vesting Sacristy, the servers check with the priest and sacristan to provide any special assistance that is needed. The servers then follow the after-Mass checklist below. The servers are not finished serving until the checklist items are complete and the servers have provided whatever special assistance the priest and sacristan require.

After Mass Checklist

After the final hymn has ended, the servers go to the front of the Church and begin their clean up duties. Servers remain vested until all of their duties are finished.

One server should extinguish the candles.

All servers should then go to the front of the Church and check with the priest or Sacristan to see if anything else needs to be done. Serving Mass includes helping after Mass - all servers are expected to participate.

Servers then proceed to the Server Vesting Room and remove their albs and cinctures, carefully hanging them up. Servers should not remove their albs until all duties on the altar are performed.

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Server Instructions for the Funeral Mass

Before Mass Checklist Three servers are usually required for a funeral Mass. Thirty minutes before Mass, the servers enter the Children’s Chapel, in the server

vesting area, and dress in albs. Length should be just above the floor, when standing straight.

One server should light the candles. The Paschal candle, which should be right in front of the altar, should also be lit.

After the candles are lit, the server goes back into the Children’s Chapel, in the server vesting area, and places one charcoal in the thurible. The server also makes sure that there is a lighter there to light the charcoal later in the Mass. Note that the charcoal is not lit at this time.

One server should look over the altar and make sure that things are in order. Is the Roman Missal in the holder next to the priest’s chair? Is the basin empty of the water from the last Mass? Is the towel for the washing of the Priest’s hands there? Are the chalices, purificators, and corporal on the credence table? Are the ciboria (plural of ciborium) on the credence table?

Another server should check in the rear of the church by the center entrance. The funeral pall should be draped over the back of one of the pews in

preparation for the beginning of the service. The holy water sprinkler should be on the pew next to the funeral pall.

Make sure that there is sufficient water in it. The cruet, chalices and ciboria should be placed on the credence table before Mass,

since there is usually no preparation procession in the funeral liturgy. As soon as all preparations are made, all servers should immediately assemble in the

Vesting Sacristy for special instructions from the priest.

Serving the Funeral Mass

In most ways, the Funeral Mass liturgy resembles the Sunday Mass liturgy. For this reason, this section will concentrate only on the differences in the funeral mass. It is important to note that the liturgy may differ slightly for each funeral and the priest may give separate or different instructions because of this. Remember that you, as a server, are on the altar to assist the priest during the Mass. Listen carefully to his instructions and pay attention during the liturgy to his signals for special guidance. There are three main parts of the Funeral Mass that differ.

Before the Entrance ProcessionBefore the entrance procession at the beginning of the Funeral Mass, the priest

and all the servers congregate at the rear of the church in the center aisle. The priest faces the casket, which stands at the entrance doors. The servers stand behind the priest in the aisle. Two of the servers hold the candles and the third server stands in the center, holding the cross. The priest prays over the deceased and sprinkles the casket. Funeral attendants then place the funeral pall over the casket and the entrance procession begins. When the signal is given by the priest, the servers turn in place and process down the aisle very, very slowly followed by the priest. The entrance procession then follows the usual procedure.

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At CommunionThe priest will purify the vessels at the altar in this liturgy. Instead of removing the

vessels from the altar as at the Sunday Mass, the servers will bring the water cruet to the altar during communion. After communion, as the priest purifies the vessels at the altar, the servers will take them to the Credence Table until after Mass. They will then be put away by the Sacristan.

After the Concluding PrayerThis is when the priest uses the thurible to incense the deceased. Actually, this

part begins right after the Cross-bearer prepares the altar for the Offertory. This server will assist the priest in the incensing. After preparing the altar, the Cross-bearer goes to the Server Vesting Room and lights the charcoal. The server holds the charcoal with the tongs and lights it with the lighter, then it is placed in the thurible and the thurible is closed. The Cross-bearer returns using the rear corridor. After communion, the server goes back and takes the thurible and the incense-boat out to a point behind the tabernacle.

Since the Cross-bearer is assisting the priest with incensing, Server 1 must go up to hold the Roman Missal for the priest to say the concluding prayer. After the concluding prayer, the Cross-bearer comes down to the casket, meeting the priest in front. The Servers take the candles and stand behind the casket, facing the altar. The Cross-bearer hands the priest the incense-boat and holds the thurible open so that the priest can place the incense. The priest will put incense into the thurible. The server then hands it to the priest, while the priest returns the incense-boat to the server. The priest will then incense the deceased. After the incensing, the priest returns the thurible to the incense server. The server then goes and stands between the candle-bearers. The candle bearing servers are on each side and the incense server in the middle. When the priest turns around, the servers turn and process up the aisle followed by the priest. At the rear of the church, the servers turn left and line up in the same order, facing the center aisle, so that the priest and the casket can process out of the church past the servers. After the casket leaves the church, the altar servers clean up as usual, but the incense server goes to the Children’s Chapel and hangs the thurible on the hook provided, leaving it there to cool. Others will dispose of the charcoal and ashes. After extinguishing the candles, the Paschal Candle remains in the center of the altar.

After Mass Checklist

After the final hymn has ended. The servers go to the front of the Church and begin their clean up duties.

One server should extinguish all of the candles. The other servers should look over the altar and make sure that things are in order.

Is the Roman Missal on the Credence Table shelf? All vessels should be removed to the Children’s Chapel. Nothing should be left

on the altar or the Credence Table. Servers should check with the priest to make sure that no other special duties need to

be performed. If not, they proceed to the Children’s Chapel and remove their albs, carefully hanging them up. Servers should not remove their albs until all duties on the altar are performed.

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Server Instructions for the Wedding Mass

Before Mass Checklist Two servers are usually required for a wedding. The couple will sometimes provide a

cross-bearer. If so, the Servers should assist the cross-bearer in participating in the liturgy and show him or her every courtesy.

Thirty minutes before Mass, the servers enter the Server Vesting Room, in the server vesting area, and dress in albs. Length should be just above the shoes, when standing straight.

One server should light the candles. One server should look over the altar and make sure that things are in order.

Is the Roman Missal in the Credence Table? Is the basin empty of the water from the last Mass? Is the towel for the washing of the Priest’s hands there? Are the chalices, purificators, and corporal on the credence table? Are the kneelers in place in the Sanctuary?

When everything is ready, all servers should assemble in the Vesting Sacristy for special instructions from the priest.

Serving the Wedding MassIn most ways, the Wedding Mass resembles the Sunday Mass. Since there is no

Cross-bearer, or the Cross-bearer provided by the couple is not familiar with our church, Server 1 will perform all duties specified for the Cross-bearer in the Sunday liturgy. Additionally, the priest will purify the vessels at the altar in this liturgy. Instead of removing the vessels from the altar as we do at the Sunday Mass, the servers will bring the water cruet to the altar during communion. As the priest purifies the vessels, the servers will take them to the Credence Table until after Mass. They will then be put away by the Sacristan.

It is important to note that the liturgy may differ slightly for each wedding and the priest may give separate or different instructions because of this. Remember that you, as a server, are on the altar to assist the priest during the service. Listen carefully to his instructions and pay attention during the liturgy to his signals for special guidance.

After Mass Checklist

After the final hymn has ended. The servers go to the front of the Church and begin their clean up duties.

One server should extinguish the candles. The other servers should look over the altar and make sure that things are in order.

Is the Roman Missal on the Credence Table shelf? All vessels should be removed to the Children’s Chapel. Nothing should be left

on the altar or the Credence Table. The kneelers should be moved back to their usual location in the Server Vesting Room. Servers should check with the priest to make sure that no other special duties need to be

performed. If not, they proceed to the Children’s Chapel and remove their albs, carefully hanging them up. Servers should not remove their albs until all duties on the altar are performed.

Dress and Attitude

Dress:

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You are a visible participant in the liturgy. Please say all of the responses and prayers you know and sing the songs you can. A book will be provided at your chair to help.

Boys: wear a collared shirt, dress pants, and dress shoes. Girls: wear appropriate Sunday clothes and flat dress shoes. Both: NO sneakers, flip-flops, sandals, heels, or “loud patterned” shirts.

General attitude: You are here to aid in the worship and sacrifice of the Mass: therefore, you are here

for an important reason and are visible to the people, so try not to draw attention to yourself.

If you see that a server is missing when Mass begins, please go and vest and join the team so that there are three servers.

Before and after Mass, reverence the tabernacle by genuflecting. During Mass, reverence the altar with a Profound Bow. For the entrance and recession, reverence both the altar and the tabernacle with a Head Bow.

When walking or standing, your hands are to be folded. When sitting, your hands are to be clasped or laid on your lap, try not to fidget. When holding something with one hand, your empty hand is to be placed on your chest.

When moving around the sanctuary move with intention, do not move unless you are sure of where you are going and what you are doing. Try not to double back on yourself or stutter and stop midway through something. If you are unsure, do not be afraid to simply ask another altar server or the priest. This will make you look more reverent and help others in their worship during the liturgy.

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Definitions

Acolyte - an instituted minister of the Church whose proper place is serving at the altar. He is an ordinary minister of Communion and the only person beside the priest and deacon who may purify the vessels after communion.

Alb - single piece vestment worn by the server.Ambo - the large wooden stand to the congregation’s left of the altar, used

for the proclamation of the Word of God.Aspergillum - either a small gold-plated vessel or a brush and bucket that are

used by the priest to bless the congregation with holy water.Basin - with the pitcher and towel, is used to wash the hands of the priest

prior to Consecration.Bow (head) - as the name suggests, the head is bowed down to the chest and

returned in a slow, smooth motion.Bow (profound)- bending at the waist performed at various times during the Mass.

While keeping the head and back straight, the server bends at the waist in a pronounced way (about 45 degrees from vertical). For the purposes of reverence and consistency, it is important that servers execute the profound bow slowly and the same way every time. A profound bow is not the same as bowing one’s head.

Burse - with Pyx, it is a small pocket made to hang around the neck of a minister to transport the Pyx when taking communion to the sick.This is also the name of a special receptacle for the Corporal, but St. Theresa Parish does not currently use this type of burse.

Candle-bearer - name given to the two servers besides the Cross-bearer who have responsibilities in the Sanctuary during the Sunday liturgy

Chalice - vessel that, after Consecration, contains the Blood of Christ. Can be gold, silver, glass, or of ceramic material. Each priest usually has his own chalice(s), which selected prior to Mass.

Chasuble - the outer garment worn by the priest at Mass. It may be white or of another liturgical color and usually matches the stole.

Children’s Chapel - describes the room to the congregation’s right and behind the tabernacle, where the linens and vessels are kept. The controls for the church’s bells are also housed there. The servers vest in a separate room is this area.

Ciborium - small gold-plated bowl used to distribute the hosts at communion by the priest, deacon, and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.

Cincture - cord used to tie around the waist of servers and clergy. This vestment is not currently used at St. Theresa Parish.

Cope - special vestment with a hood that is worn in processionsCorporal - a square linen cloth that is on the chalice when it is on the credence

table at the beginning of Mass. It is spread out on the altar during the preparation of the gifts for use during Consecration.

Credence table - a table in the Sanctuary, behind the altar to the congregation’s left and right. This is where certain vessels and linens are kept before and after the priest uses them at Mass.

Crosier - the staff used by the Bishop.10

Cross-bearer - server assigned to carry the cross in procession and hold the book for the priest during the liturgy, with other special duties

Cruets - glass vessel used to hold the water or wine for the priest’s use during Mass.

Dalmatic - the outer garment worn by the Deacon.Elevation - the raising of the consecrated Bread and Wine during the Mass that

they may be seen by all present.ExtraordinaryMinisters of HolyCommunion - lay persons, vested in white albs, who assist the priest in the

distribution of communion.Follower - a gold metal ring on top of a candle that keeps wax from running

down the side of the candle.Funeral Pall - a large cloth, used to drape over the casket at a funeral Mass.Genuflection - an act of reverence. Before or after Mass, when the server passes

in front of the tabernacle, the server stops, faces the tabernacle and drops to the right knee (slowly until the knee touches the floor), then stands and proceeds. During Mass, the server does not genuflect before the tabernacle, unless it is open.

Hands folded - unless the server is carrying something, his or her hands should be folded in front of the chest, about heart high. If the server is carrying something in one hand, the other hand should be placed flat on his or her chest.

Humeral Veil - a rectangular cloth, worn by the priest over his shoulders, that is used when the priest is exposing or carrying the blessed sacrament

Incense Boat - the container that holds the incense. Used by the priest to spoon incense into the thurible.

Kneel - the server kneels with both knees on the kneeler (in the pew) or the floor (if at the altar) and with the back straight watching the “action” of the Mass with hands folded.

Lectionary - the book containing the Scripture readings used at Mass.Lector - the person designated to proclaim the Holy Scriptures at Mass.

The Lector reads the first and second readings and participates in the reading of the petitions.

Missal - the Roman Missal is the book of prayers used by the priest during the celebration of the Mass.

Miter - the ceremonial hat worn by the Bishop.Paschal candle - a large, wax candle, blessed at the beginning of the Easter Vigil

and carried solemnly into Church. It is lit at Masses on the days between Easter and Pentecost and during Baptisms and Funerals.

Paten - vessel used by some priests to hold the host during Consecration. Pitcher - With the basin and towel, used to wash the priest’s hands during

the Mass, before the Consecration.Priest Sacristy - the room in the rear of the church where the priest vests. It is on

the opposite side of the main entrance from the Vesting Sacristy.Purificator - a long, folded, linen cloth, draped over the chalice, used by the

priest during consecration. Purificators are also used by the Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion as they distribute the Precious Blood during communion.

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Pyx - a small metal container used to hold the Eucharist being taken to the sick and also can be used to keep low gluten hosts separated from standard hosts during consecration and for communion

Sacrarium - a special sink in the Children’s Chapel that is located to the right of the normal sink. The Sacrarium is used only for special situations that will involve a priest, deacon, or sacristan. Servers should not use this special sink without permission.

Sacristan - a person who assists in the preparation of the Sanctuary before Mass and fills the ciboria with hosts prior to the Mass’s commencement

Sanctuary - this is the name given to the space around the altar, the prominent sacred area where most of the ceremonial actions of the liturgy take place

Server - name given to the Cross-bearer and the Candle-bearers who have responsibilities in the Sanctuary during the Sunday liturgy. In the Daily Mass liturgy, this name is also given to the single person assisting the priest and deacon.

Stole - a long, narrow band of cloth worn by a priest or deacon. The priest wears the stole draped over his shoulders and hanging down in front. The deacon wears the stole across one shoulder.

Standing - server should always stand up straight, with both feet firmly on the floor - not leaning on one leg or leaning on anything else.

Tabernacle - is mounted in a special place to the congregation’s right of the altar, where the Blessed Sacrament is kept. Out of reverence for the Real Presence, servers genuflect when passing in front of the Tabernacle, except during Mass. During Mass, attention is focused on the altar and the server is not required to genuflect, but the server should still genuflect in front of the tabernacle during Mass if it is open.

Taper - long waxed wick, used to light candles. St. Theresa Parish does not currently use this type of lighting instrument.

Thurible - also called the Censer, is the metal container and its attached chain used in burning incense for special liturgical reasons during the liturgy.

Towel - Used to dry the priest’s hands after they are washed using the pitcher and basin.

Usher - One of the persons designated to help members of the congregation find seats at the Mass. The Ushers are also responsible for the taking up of the collection prior to the offertory.

Vesting Sacristy- the room at the rear of the church, near the main entrance, where the Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion put on their vestments and where all the ministers gather together with the priest to pray before the liturgy.

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The servers offer the wine and water cruets. Note how the handles are pointed to the right.

For the washing of the hands at Sunday or Holy Day Mass, the server holds the towel by its corners.

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