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Serving on Sundays |
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· Make sure you know when you are scheduled to serve! If you can not be there find someone with whom to trade . · Even if you are not scheduled be at Sunday Mass and ready to serve, ask if there is a need for servers. · Dress appropriately. No t-shirts, no slip on sandals, clean tennis shoes or dress shoes.
· Be there 15 minutes before Mass, if you are late someone may take your place! · Sign in at the information desk. · Go to the sacristy.
· Wash your hands. · Get vested, dressed, in an alb and cincture.
· Determine who will take the cross, the candles, and the book · The cross bearer needs be able to carry the cross; it is heavy. · Make sure the candles and cross are in the sacristy. · Make sure the bells and kneeling pad are in place. · See if there are any special notes or instructions posted or from the priest. · Prepare yourself quietly for Mass. · Light the candles shortly before Mass · After the priest leads a prayer then go into the Church with cross and candles |
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Cross bearer leads the procession, lining up in front of the offertory table. Book bearer and candle lighter each carry candles in the procession. When instructed by the priest or deacon the cross bearer walks slowly towards the altar. Other two follow about six feet behind. On reaching the altar the cross bearer goes up to the first step, turns left and then stops The other two go on either side of him. All bow when the priest does. After bowing all servers go behind the presider’s chair towards the cross. The cross bearer carefully places the cross in its stand. The other two place their candles in their stands next to the ambo. The servers then go behind the presider’s chair to their chairs |
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The Entrance Procession |
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Introductory Rites |
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All continue standing Father says: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. All make the sign of the cross and say: Amen The servers keep their hands folded nicely and make all the responses. The Mass continues with the Penitential Rite |
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Fold your hands when you are not carrying anything |
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Next the is Gloria. (“Glory to God in the Highest...”) The book is brought up after the Gloria is finished. On weekdays or on Sundays when father is wearing purple we do not sing or say the Gloria so the book is brought up after the Penitential Rite. The book is carried resting against one’s chest with the front facing outward. The book bearer goes up and stands in front of the priest and a little to his side, turning the book so that the priest can open it.. The priest will say Let us pray, and open the book. The book is |
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The Liturgy of the Word |
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During the Liturgy of the Word everyone listens attentively to the Word of God. |
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The Liturgy of the Eucharist |
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After the General Intercessions the people sit down. The cross bearer stands and goes to the table at the top of the ramp. He or she takes the tray of filled cups and places them on the front of the altar. If there are two trays he or she |
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held open with hands at the bottom and the top of the book against one’s chest. At the end of the prayer the server or the priest closes the book and returns reverently to his or her seat. |
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makes two trips. The book bearer brings the Sacramentary up to the altar. The Sacramentary goes on the left side of the altar. Then the book bearer goes back to the credence table, taking the Gospel book stand with them if it is there, it needs to be lifted directly off the altar. |
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The book bearer then brings the priest’s chalice and the corporal to the altar. If there is no deacon the server unfolds the corporal in the |
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Corporal |
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Altar |
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Water |
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The people |
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Tray with cups |
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middle of the altar. Do not flip the corporal over, but unfold it from the top. The chalice is |
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placed on the right side of the altar, next to but not on the corporal. The book bearer returns to the credence to get the water and places it on the right side of the altar. If there are any stacking ciboria they are |
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brought to the altar. At the same time the candle lighter goes back behind the altar to the credence table to get the candle lighter. Continue going around behind the altar and up to the ambo to light the candle |
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lighter and light the candles around the altar, returning the lighter to the credence table when they are finished. The cross bearer gets the cross and goes back, using the side aisle to wait standing about three feet in front of gifts table which is in front of the baptismal font. When the book bearer or candle lighter finish their tasks, they help the deacon finish setting the altar. The cups and purificators from the tray(s) go on corporals laid on the sides of the altar, divided evenly |
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on either side. Move the chalices by the base and do not touch the inside of the cup. One of these servers |
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returns the empty tray(s) to the credence table. If Father has not gone down to receive the gifts, they return to their seats. Father goes down in front of the altar to receive the gifts. If the candle lighter or book bearer are not doing anything else they come down with father and wait for the gifts to be brought up. When the cross bearer sees the priest arrive at the bottom of the steps he or she leads the gift bearers up to the altar stepping to the side upon reaching the altar. |
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After the gifts have been given to the priest he will hand them to the deacon and the servers. Then all turn and bow to the altar. Some priests might not turn and bow to the altar, just follow their lead. |
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The cross bearer takes the cross back to its stand and returns to his or her chair. The book bearer and candle lighter take the bread and wine up to altar. Placing them on the right side of the altar or handing them to the priest or deacon. Be very careful carrying the flagon of wine it can be very heavy. The book bearer and candle lighter get the lavabo dish and towel from the credence table and come up to the right edge of the altar for the priest to wash his hands. One holds the bowl and the takes the water from the side of the altar, the other hold the towel. When Father places his hands over the bowl pour water over them, not too much but not too little. The other server offers the towel to Father and receives it back from him. The deacon or priest also hands the servers the empty flagon. Both then put the towel, bowl, water and |
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flagon back on the credence table. They then return to their seats. At the beginning of the sanctus, “Holy ,Holy, Holy,” all three servers go and stand in front of the kneelers. The cross bearer stands in front of the bells. When the hymn is over all the severs kneel on the kneeling pad. During the Eucharistic prayer when the priest places his hands over the gifts and when he raises the body of Christ, the cross bearer rings the |
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bells, by shaking them back and forth until the priests put the host down. The same is repeated for the chalice. The servers are the first to receive communion on that side. The cross bearer sits after receiving communion During communion the book bearer brings the book back to his or her seat and holds it on his or her lap. |
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During communion the candle lighter goes up to the altar and moves the chalice to the side of the corporal, if it is still there . The candle lighter then folds the corporal. First the bottom is folded in towards the center. Then the top is folded down towards the center. Finally the two sides are folded into the middle. |
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The candle bearer then takes the corporal and all the vessels on the altar back to the credence table. They usually can all be carried back at the same time. What is present is stacked over the chalice in this order, first purificator, then the paten, then the pall, then finally the corporal. Most often only the chalice, purificator, and corporal will be there. This stack is carried |
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Corporal |
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Pall |
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Purificator |
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Chalice |
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Paten |
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by placing one hand on the chalice and one hand on top of the corporal. Sometimes you will only have the corporal to take back, then it should be carried flat in both hands. After communion the priest stands and says “Let us pray.” The book bearer bring the book up to the priest as before. Sometimes |
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the priest will signal for the book bearer to stay after the end of the prayer for a solemn blessing. At the end of Mass the cross bearer gets the cross from its stand and stands to the side on the first step as at the beginning of Mass. |
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The other two servers line up on either side of the cross. They both bow when the priest bows The cross leads the procession out of Church. The other two servers follow behind the cross. The cross is placed on its stand in the sacristy The candle lighter extinguishes the candles in the sanctuary. All hang their robes up nicely in the proper place for its size. Before leaving ask the priest or deacon if they need any help. |
