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Altar Servers
Introduction
Thank you for taking the time to serve at St. Thomas the Apostle. Since your role is important to our Sunday worship, we feel that it is important that you review these guidelines and if you have any questions contact the coordinator, MaryAnn Swain (523-4624).
When you first begin service at St. Thomas, Linda Ferguson will train you, along with other members of your group, and then you will serve as a candle bearer for 6-12 months. After service as a candle bearer, you will be paired with an experienced altar server for several masses in order to learn how to serve at Mass. If you feel you need additional training, please do not hesitate to ask Mrs. Ferguson (236-2195).
Schedule
We will make every effort to have the schedule prepared at least two weeks in advance. The schedule will be sent to all servers via email. If you do not have access to the internet please let Mrs. Swain know and she will make other arrangements to get a copy of the schedule to you.
Special Masses
Throughout the year there are Masses that do not normally fall within the regular schedule: Holy Days, Holy Week, Christmas, Confirmation and First Communion. In some instances Mrs. Swain assigns older, more experienced servers. In other instances she will send an email asking for volunteers. If you have a sibling making a Confirmation or First Communion you may wish to serve at these Masses.
There is also the opportunity to serve at weddings during the summer and fall. You are paid to serve at weddings; and if you are interested, please call Mrs. Swain and let her know.
Alb
The albs are in the closet in the server's sacristy. They are placed according to size. The alb should come down to the top of the server's shoes. Each server must wear an alb and a brown cincture (except for Christmas, Easter, Holy Thursday, and the Easter Vigil and Weddings-when white cinctures should be worn). Acolytes wear gold cinctures at all masses. We would ask that you return the alb and cincture to the closet after the Mass; and please make sure that you hang them up.
Arrival Time
Please arrive at least 15 minutes before Mass. This allows you time to get vested and set up everything. There will be a sign in sheet in the priest's sacristy. Please sign in, and if you are substituting for another server, please note that on the sign up sheet.
If you are at Mass and notice that no one has shown up to serve 5 minutes before Mass, would you please check the sacristy to see if servers are needed. If there is only one server on the altar when Mass starts, please proceed to the sacristy and vest and join the one server.
Preparation for Mass
You should check to make sure that all the proper items are set up for Mass. The candles should be lit; the microphones should be turned on; the cruets and ciboria should be brought to the back of the church for the offertory procession, make sure the chalice is on the credence table with a large host for the priest and a purificator; the bowl for the washing of the priest's fingers and a small finger towel should be on the credence table; and make sure the Sacramentary is on the kneeler next to the priest.
Remember that the parishioners will be watching during the Mass. Do not talk or laugh while serving. You should however, respond to the priest and sing along with the congregation.
Objects needed for Mass
- Chalice: each priest has his own chalice, and they are located in the closet in the sacristy.
- Purificator: small white cloths for the chalice and cups
- Paten: the gold plate placed over the chalice, used to hold the large host
- Ciboria: the gold cups used to hold the hosts
- Credence Table: side table on which are placed the chalice and cruets
- Cruet: the small glass pitchers used to hold the water and the wine.
- Finger bowl or lavabo dish and cruet: this is the small glass dish and the pourer (use the water cruet) used for the washing of the hands by the priest.
- Finger towel: the small towel used by the priest to dry his hands
- Sacramentary: the large red book that sits on the altar
- Altar Candles: make sure they are lit before mass starts
Format
Procession and recession
The candle bearers (at the 10:30 Mass) go first, then the two altar servers, Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, the Deacon and the Priest. The priest or the Deacon will nod to you when you should begin down the aisle.
When you are processing to the altar, remember, this is not a race. Walk slowly. If there is a cross bearer, the cross bearer goes directly to the holder and places the cross in the holder and then goes to his seat.
The altar servers remain at the right side of the priest until all persons in the procession arrive at the front of the altar. When the priest bows, the servers bow, the candle bearers do not bow; they precede the priest up the steps to the altar while the other altar servers take their seats. Candle bearers proceed to the high altar, place the candles on either side of the tabernacle, take one step back (hands folded) bow and then go to their seats.
Mass
At the beginning of Mass (opening prayers)
The priest or Deacon will give you a nod when you are to bring the Sacramentary to the priest for the introductory readings.
After the readings you should place the Sacramentary on the altar.
The preparation of the altar/ collection time
After the homily and Prayers of the Faithful, when the congregation sits down and the collection is being taken: If there is an offertory procession, you then proceed slowly together with the other server to the back of the Church and lead those in the procession to the steps going to the altar. (Note: If there are candle bearers at the 10:30 Mass, the candle bearers lead the servers to the back of the Church and then escort the altar severs and the gift bearers back to the altar.) The servers and candle bearers should stand to the side so that the people bringing up the gifts can reach the priest. The gifts are handed to the priest and he will either give them to you directly or to the deacon. You do not take the gifts from the people bringing them forward. You will be given either the cruets and the ciboria with hosts or just the cruets.
The candle bearers go directly to the altar, place the candles on either side of the tabernacle, take one step back (hands folded) bow and go to their seats. The servers proceed to the credence table. If the Deacon has not put the chalice on the altar, one server should bring the chalice to the priest, and return to the credence table.
Then one server takes the water, the other the wine. Take the tops off, leave them on the table, and proceed together to the altar with the cruets. The priest or deacon will take the cruet from you. When both servers have finished, return to the credence table together. Note: if a Deacon is serving at the Mass, the water and wine are brought to the Deacon to prepare the chalice.
Return to the credence table, one server places the finger towel over his/her arm, and takes the finger bowl, the second server takes the cruet with water. You approach the altar together, a second time, and pour water over the priest's fingers and then hand him the towel. When the priest has finished, return to the credence table together. Then return to your seats.
Sign of peace
At the sign of peace the priest will move toward the altar servers. You should shake hands with Father and the Deacon and cross over to the Eucharistic Ministers and Lectors and give each of them a handshake. If the priest does not come toward you at the sign of peace, then you should proceed to the Eucharist Ministers & Lectors to shake hands. You return to the main altar together, bow to the tabernacle and return to your seats.
Communion
Remain in your places for communion, and stand while the priest gives you communion. Kneel after communion while the priests and Eucharistic Ministers are distributing communion to the congregation.
After communion
When the priest starts back to the altar after distributing communion, one server should go to the credence table and take the water cruet to Father. When Father is finished with the water, return the cruet to the credence table. Put the top back on. Return to the altar and Father will hand the chalice and any ciboria that have been purified to you. These, too, are placed on the credence table. If a Deacon is serving, he may clean the sacred vessels and give them over to you to be placed on the credence table.
The Sacramentary should be placed on the altar server kneeler for the final prayers. Return to your seat for the final blessing.
Final Blessing
After the Blessing, the priest and deacon will reverence the altar, as the priest begins to descend the stairs, you should follow and line up to his right. When the priest bows, you should also. Then immediately begin to proceed out. The candle bearers are the first to leave, then the altar servers, then the Lectors, then the Eucharistic Ministers, the Deacon, and last, the priest.
Clean Up
Extinguish the candles. Take the chalice, ciboria and water and wine cruets to the sacristy. The chalice, cruets and ciboria go in the cupboards. If it is the last Mass of the day remove everything including the Sacramentary. Make sure the microphone switch in the sacristy is turned off.
Return your alb and cincture to the altar server sacristy closet. Please make sure you hang them up neatly.
Thank you for serving at St. Thomas.