Before Mass

Put on Alb and be sure to button all the buttons. Put on cincture. Senior puts on a Cross. Senior lights the candles and places the sacramentary in the first kneeler. Senior makes sure there is a small towel on the credence table for the washing of the fingers. Senior makes sure there is fresh water in both cruets. Participate in the prayer before Mass with the priest, Eucharistic ministers and lectors. Senior gets the cross. All servers proceed to the rear of the church.

Entrance Procession

When the opening hymn begins the senior server leads the procession, holding the cross, walking slowly and reverently, down the center aisle. The junior servers follow with hands folded together in prayerful manner. When the priest reaches the altar he will either bow or genuflect. The senior holding the cross does not genuflect. The juniors always genuflect if the priest genuflects. As the priest proceeds to the altar the senior places the cross in its stand and all servers go to the kneelers in the sanctuary behind the priest. The senior kneeler is the one nearest the priest's chair. At this point all servers are standing in front of their kneelers with hands folded.

Opening Prayer

When the priest says, "Let us pray," the senior brings the sacramentary, opened to the proper page, to the priest so he can read the opening prayer. When the priest is finished, the senior closes the book and returns to the kneeler.

Preparation of the Altar

If the deacon is present at the Mass: The senior places the sacramentary on the altar. The senior then gets the cross and proceeds slowly and reverently to the rear of the church. The juniors follow the senior with hands folded. The servers wait in the rear of the church until the collection is over. If the deacon is not present at Mass: The senior places the sacramentary on the altar and remains in the center of the altar. The juniors proceed to the credence table when the senior brings the sacramentary to the altar. One junior gets the corporal and purificator, the other junior gets the chalice and paten if present on the chalice. Both juniors proceed to the center of the altar where the senior is waiting. The junior carrying the corporal hands it to the senior and the senior unfolds it, and places it in the center of the altar. The junior then hands the purificator to the senior who places it on the right side of the corporal. The junior carrying the chalice and paten hands it to the senior who places it in the center of the corporal. The senior then gets the cross and proceeds slowly and reverently to the rear of the church. The juniors follow the senior with hands folded. The servers wait in the rear of the church until the collection is over.

Presentation of the Gifts

After the collection is finished, the senior leads the procession holding the cross, just like the in the entrance procession, to the center of the altar where the priest is waiting. The juniors follow the senior with hands folded. As you reach the altar, move to the right and stand in front of the first pew. As the priest returns to the altar with the gifts, the senior server returns the cross to the stand and the juniors go to the credence table. The senior server gets the water cruet and goes to the altar. The priest will take the cruet, mixes water with the wine, and returns it to the senior. While the senior is at the altar, the newest junior gets the chalice. The other junior gets the towel, cruet and bowl. All approach the altar - the chalice is presented to the priest, the junior with the water, towel and bowl stands by. The priest will place his fingers over the bowl. The junior will pour the water over the priest's fingers, takes the towel and dries his hand. When the priest is finished, all will bow together (servers to priest). The juniors return to the credence table. The juniors put the bowl, pitcher, and towel on the table and all servers return to their kneelers to participate in the Mass. The newest junior takes the bell from the credence table back to the kneeler.

Eucharistic Prayer

The newest junior will ring the bell when the priest: Holds his hands over the chalice (happens very quickly after kneeling - be prepared). Shows the consecrated host to the people (wait until the priest finishes talking). Shows the chalice to the people (wait until the priest finishes talking). The bell is rung only once for each event.

Communion

The priest will give communion to the servers as he gives it to the Eucharist ministers. Servers will stand as they receive the host. After receiving communion, the servers can sit for a minute, and reflect on the sacrament just received.

Altar Clearing

• All servers go to the altar.
• The senior gives the chalice to one of the juniors.
• The senior folds the corporal and gives the corporal and purificator to the other junior.
• The senior gets the sacramentary.
• All three go to the credence table where the juniors place the chalice, corporal and purificator.
• All three return to their kneelers.

Closing Prayer

• When the priest says, "Let us pray", the senior brings the sacramentary, opened to the proper page, to the priest so he can read the closing prayer. When the priest is finished, the senior closes the book and returns to the kneeler.

End of Mass

When the priest leaves the chair and goes to kiss the altar, the senior gets the cross and all servers go down from the sanctuary and stand in front of the first pew. When the priest turns to leave the senior leads the procession slowly and reverently to the rear of the church. The juniors follow the senior with folded hands.

After Mass

The senior extinguishes the candles. Hang the albs and cinctures neatly in the closet.

Notes:

• Arrive 15 minutes before Mass.
• If you cannot make a Mass it is your responsibility to get a substitute.
• Altar servers should participate fully in the Mass reciting responses and prayers and singing hymns.
• When preparing for Mass, always genuflect if passing in front of the tabernacle.
• Always be reverent and respectful. This will add to the prayerful experience of the congregation.
• If an altar server is not carrying anything, hands should be folded in a prayerful manner.