Ministry of Altar Servers
Guidelines for Altar Servers
Altar Servers are people who assist the Celebrant at the altar during Liturgical Celebrations. They may be persons of various ages and either gender, and must have received First Communion. Two servers are required for each weekend Liturgy and others for special Liturgies. Rosters for Altar Servers are compiled in advance, in May and November.
Requirements for Altar Servers
Altar servers must be prepared to perform their ministry with sincere devotion and decorum. They must be deeply imbued with the spirit of the Liturgy, and willing to be led, in a way appropriate to their age and ability, to a deeper understanding of the prayerful intention and spiritual disposition which must inform anyone engaging in Liturgical Ministry.
Everyday actions, such as walking, sitting, standing are vested with a deeper and more spiritual significance when done before, during and after the Sacred Liturgy, therefore Altar Servers must be prepared to undergo training in the correct, orderly and reverent performance of this Ministry.
Preparation
If you cannot attend your rostered Liturgical Celebration, please make every effort to find a replacement. The names and contact numbers of all Altar Servers are at the bottom of your roster sheet.
Altar Servers must arrive at the church 15 minutes prior to the commencement of the Liturgy and report to the Mass Co-ordinator. Altar Servers will be designated Server 1 and Server 2.
The accepted form of dress for Altar Servers is an Alb or other suitable white garment, tied with a Cincture or Sash as required. Shoes or sandals with back straps, not thongs, must be worn.
Before the celebration of the Liturgy S1 will bow to the Cross, remove it carefully with metal bars facing him/her and carry it to the Sacristy.
S2 will light all candles in the church if required by the Mass Co-ordinator. The light behind the tabernacle is to be turned off. H1 will turn this on after he or she returns the ciborium to the tabernacle.
PROCEDURE
Procession into the church
After the Introduction to the Liturgy and during the playing of the first hymn, Server 1 will lead the procession carrying the Cross raised and with the metal cross facing him/her and thus facing the congregation. He/she will be followed in procession by Server 2, Reader 1, any others such as Children’s Liturgy facilitators and the Celebrant.
Commencement of Mass
On arrival at the foot of the Altar, Server 1 will proceed to place the Cross reverently on the rear wall and bow to it.
Server 2 will remain at the foot of the altar until S1 has returned. They will bow to the Altar with the Celebrant and then sit in the front row, right side of the church.
Server 2 will return to the foot of the Altar and hold the Sacramentary against his/her chest for the dismissal of Children and the Opening Prayers. The Celebrant will open the book and adjust his position for reading.
Both servers will remain seated during the Liturgy of the Word.
S2 will place the General Intercessions to the front of the book.
General Intercessions
On completion of the Profession of Faith (Creed) S2 will take the Sacramentary to the Celebrant for the Prayers of the Faithful.
At the conclusion of these prayers, both Servers will move to the Sanctuary, S2 taking the Sacramentary, and wait by the Credence Table while the Extraordinary Ministers of Communion place the cloth on the Altar.
Preparation of the Altar
S1 will take the Corporal a lay it open in the centre of the Altar, Cross to the bottom.
S2 will place the Sacramentary at the bottom edge of the Corporal and in the centre.
S1 will take one Chalice with Purificator.
S2 will take the jug or carafe of water, and both will be placed to the right side of the Celebrant.
If the Celebrant is at the Altar, bow before returning to the Credence Table.
Take any Pyx from the Credence Table and place them, opened, on the left side of the Corporal.
Return to the Credence Table. Server 1 will hold the bowl of water. Server 2 will hold the finger towel. Wait facing the Congregation.
After the Celebrant has washed his hands, both servers bow and replace bowl and towel on the table.
Server 1 will remove the jug or carafe of water from the Altar, bow to the Celebrant then replace the water on the Credence Table.
Server 2 will wait for Server 1 then return to their seats together.
At the Sign of Peace
Both Servers will offer the Sign of Peace to each other and the people nearest them, then proceed to the Credence Table.
Server 1 will take two of the Chalices with Purificators to the Altar and place them on the right side of the Corporal. Server 2 will take the two plates to the Altar, separate them and place them on the left of the Corporal.
Server 1 will return to the Credence Table to get the fourth Chalice and place it with the others.
Both servers will stand at the right side of the Altar, close to the steps, leaving enough room for the Celebrant to move around the Altar.
After the reception of both Bread and Wine, and when all Communion Ministers have moved to their positions, Server 1 will remove the wine carafe and take it back to the Credence Table.
Server 2 will remove the Sacramentary, wait for Server 1 and then walk back to their seats, carrying the Sacramentary.
After Communion
Server 1 will remove the Communion plates and fold the Corporal in such a way that any pieces of the Blessed Sacrament are contained in the cloth. Both are returned to the Credence Table.
Final Prayers
Server 2 holds the Sacramentary while the Celebrant reads the final prayers, then steps back before the Blessing
Recessional
During the final hymn, S1 goes to the Cross, bows and removes it with the metal Cross facing him/her and stands on the left side of the Celebrant.
S2 stands on the right. When the Celebrant bows, S1 leads the procession followed by S2 then the Celebrant to the Sacristy.
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