Sacred Heart of Jesus

Catholic Church

 

Procedures

for

Serving

Mass

 

 

 

 

 

ACOLYTES AND SERVERS

Light both candles on the altar

Light candles for Acolytes in sacristy before coming to the back of church

Water and Wine (2 green pitchers)

Clear wine decanter

Hosts

Basket

Meet in back of church (Say prayer to remind us that Jesus is with us.)

After Lector announces song: Ring bell 3 times

ENTRANCE: (Congregation sings Entrance Song)

2 Acolytes lead 2 Main Servers

Walk SLOWLY with shoulders straight and hands folded

Make square corner in front of altar

1 Acolyte right - I Acolyte left

1 Main Server right - 1 Main Server left

Father is in the middle

ALL genuflect together - (When genuflecting right knee should touch inside of left foot - Keep back straight)

Lead Father to the front by his chair

Acolytes place their candle on step and sit on side chairs

Main Servers go to chairs next to Father

All Servers remain standing. Father will begin Mass. Remain standing until Father sits.

Acolytes and Main Servers: Use your Missalette or place hands on thighs when sitting.

1

Father says, "I confess to Almighty God, etc."

"Lord have mercy, etc."

"Glory to God in the Highest,"

AFTER Gloria, Father says, "Let us pray."

for opening prayer

 

Main Server left of Father: Pick up the Sacramental Book,

Beginning and End - Alpha & Omega front of Book

Pick up Book with hands on both sides - Raise book for

Congregation to see and stand in front of Father.

Hold book up under your chin, slanting it a little.

.When Father finishes his Opening Prayer, the Sacramental Book is put back on the table completing the rest of the circle

All sit down while the Lector does the reading

 

Acolytes and Main Servers: Use your Missalette or place hands on thighs when sitting.

After Lector goes back to their chair and sits down

Father will stand and sing, "Alleluia" and congregation sings also. During Lent, "Alleluia" is not sung. Father sings, "Glory and praise to you, Lord, Jesus Christ."

Acolytes and Servers stand with Father

Acolytes pick up their candles and stand together by the side of the altar and wait for Father to come down from his chair. Acolytes lead him to the podium.

2

1 Acolyte on each side of podium while Father reads the Gospel

Stay until Father sings the final "Alleluia" or during Lent,

"Glory and Praise to you, Lord, Jesus Christ."

The Acolytes leave and put their candles back on the step and sit down in their chairs.

All Servers also sit down and listen to Father's Homily

HANDS ON THIGHS

After his Homily, Father goes back to his chair and stands

CREED: Profession of Faith - "I believe in God, etc."

Main Servers and Acolytes stand for Creed

After the Creed Father announces the hymns to be sung while the collection is taken.

Main Server on right gets the cross and goes down to middle isle and stands and waits

Acolytes get their candles and stand behind cross bearer

Wait in middle isle until the collection is about 2/3 completed (ushers get to the pillars in back of church) then walk down to meet the gift bearers. Cross and candles are put back in place.

Immediately the Main Server on left sets the table

White cloth in center of table

Chalice in center of white cloth

Sacramental Book

2 Wine Decanters and white cloths for Cup Ministers

When Father stands up:

Left Server leads Father down to receive the gifts.

Left Main Server takes the water and wine cruets from

Father and stands at the side of the altar.

Hold cruets with the symbols on the cruets pointed away from

you so Father can see which is water and which is wine.

After Father uses the water and wine, take only the wine cruet

back and place on Credence table.

3

While there, pick up dish and bring both the dish and the water

cruet back to Father and pour water over Father's fingers

Main Right Server should be at the credence table with the towel

over his arm and ready to go to the altar with the

Main Left Server for the washing of fingers.

(Go to Father together.) (Right server places empty hand over heart),

Then ALL Servers and Acolytes circle the altar.

(two on each side) with hands folded.

PREPARATION OF GIFTS: Servers fold hands together and

DO NOT LEAN AGAINST THE ALTAR

Father prays, "May the Lord accept this sacrifice, etc."

"Holy, holy, holy, etc."

Eucharistic Prayer

When Father raises the host and says, "This is my body."

Server on Left of Father gets down on one knee and rings the bell 3 times and holds it still while the bell rings and then puts the bell down carefully. Stay down on knee while Father raises the chalice and says, "This is the cup of my blood. Do this in memory of Me."

Server is still on one knee and rings the bell 3 times, holds the bell still for a moment and then sets the bell down quietly.

LORD'S PRAYER: (Praise and Thanksgiving)

Lamb of God (Breaking of Bread)

Father distributes communion to servers and cup ministers. Father says, "Body of Christ." Response, "Amen." Place Host immediately in mouth. Make sign of the cross.

4

While Father is distributing communion to the congregation:

ALL SERVERS SIT DOWN - HANDS ON THIGHS

 

When Father comes back to his chair and sits down

Left server immediately clears the altar.

Sacramental Book back on stand

Everything off altar except green cloth and 2 candles.

(During Lent, tablecloth will be purple.)

Father stands for last prayer after communion

Left Server picks up Sacramental Book

Stands in front of Father for the prayer

Father says, "Let us pray." etc. All servers stand with hands folded. When Father is finished, Left Server returns Sacramental Book to stand.

Then Father says, "The mass is ended, go in peace."

When final hymn is announced Acolytes immediately pick up candles

Main Servers stay by Father while final hymn is sung and until he is ready to come down from his chair. Then lead Father down by the Acolytes.

 

Acolytes on outside

Main Servers next to Father

Square Corners - All turn toward altar, genuflect with Father

and Processional out of church slowly and devoutly.

 

5

Do NOT carry the cross out for procession. It stays on the top step.

The left server chair is first to be covered.

When only two servers are serving Mass, sit by Father

When there are only three servers, the 3rd server processes in and out of church by walking down the MIDDLE of the isle.

Pairs of servers walk side by side. Do not walk with Father out of church. Father walks alone.

There must always be a server left of Father as it is important for a server to hold the Sacramental Book, as well as setting and clearing the table.

It is the responsibility of each server that is scheduled to serve to be at that Mass. If unable, contact another trained server to take your place. Phone numbers are listed on your servers schedule.

As always, if a server is absent at Mass, please come forward and serve so four servers are represented.

When you serve, put a check ( ) next to your name on the server

schedule that is on the servers bulletin board.

 

After mass, NEVER, NEVER pour the consecrated wine down the sink. Leave any wine that is left over after mass for Father to take care of.

Please hang your vestments back on the hanger with velcro

secure in place so they don't fall on the floor. THANK YOU!

6

Fr. John

 

 

 

1/98

Rev 2/99