Links to Neighboring Parishes:

St. Therese Parish,  St. Thomas More Parish

HOW TO SERVE MASS

AT ST. PIUS X PARISH

Setup before Mass:

• Be present 15 minutes ahead of time. Don’t rush in at the last minute. The set up should be completed 5 minutes before starting time.
• Let the priest or deacon know you are present.
• Put on an alb that fits you, a cincture (tie) of the proper color, and a cross.
• One server lights all six candles. During Easter, the Easter candle is also lit. The server who lights the candles is responsible for putting them out after mass.
• Make sure the cruets of water and wine and the ciborium with the large host is put out for offertory. If there is no large host in the ciborium, ask for one.
• Put the chalice and purificator on the credence table.
• Put the finger dish and towel on the credence table in the sanctuary.
• Assist in bringing the other ciboriums and cups to the credence table.

Processional to the Altar:

• Decide who will be the BOOK SERVER, CHALICE SERVER, and CROSS SERVER.
• The Line Up:
• Cross Server Leads
• Book & Chalice servers (side-by-side)
• DEACON / or reader with Gospels
• Readers (side-by side)
• Priest
• When the people start singing, walk at a reverent pace, slightly slower than normal 2 pew lengths apart.
• When reaching the sanctuary the cross and chalice servers move right, the book server and the others move left.
• The priest genuflects, along with the Book and chalice servers. The cross server does not genuflect.
• Enter the sanctuary and go to your places.
• When the priest says, “Let us Pray” The BOOK SERVER brings the book to him.

Setting the Altar

• When the Priest takes the Children’s collection:
• BOOK SERVER: Bring Sacramentary to the center of the altar.
• CHALICE SERVER: Bring chalice and purificator to the center of the altar
• CROSS SERVER: Bring one stack of ciboriums to the left side of the altar, uncover them and return the covers to the table. Then, take the remaining ciboriums to the altar, uncover them and return the lids to the table.
• Each server carefully takes 2 full communion cups to the right side of the altar.
• The CROSS SERVER is responsible for bringing the purificators to the rights side of the altar.
• WHEN THERE IS A DEACON, he will help you set the altar.
• IF THERE IS NO DEACON, you will set it by yourselves, unless the priest decides to help you. After the altar is set, be seated until the priest is ready to receive the gifts.

Offertory:

• Go with the priest or deacon to receive the gifts. He will give one item to each of you.
• Go to the side of the altar.
• The priest/or deacon will take the Ciborium first.
• The priest/or deacon will take the water and give it back.
• When the priest or deacon has given the water back to the server, ALL THREE SERVERS GO TO THE CREDENCE TABLE.
• One takes the finger dish,
• One takes the towel
• One takes the water
• Return to the side of the altar so that whoever has the finger bowl is in the middle.
• Pour the water over father’s fingers. After he has dried his hands, return the items to the table and return to your places behind the kneelers.

What do after Offertory:

• After you have returned your items to the credence table, stand behind your kneeler.
• KNEEL after the Holy, Holy.
• Pay extra special attention during the Consecration.
• STAND (behind your kneeler) for the Our Father
• At the Sign of Peace, go to the priest and deacon and offer them the sign of peace.
• Kneel as the Priest and Deacon receive communion.
• When the communion distributors come up, stand in the middle of them so that you are directly behind the priest and deacon.
• Reverently receive Holy Communion. If you are not going to receive, shake your head no.

After Communion:

• Receive Holy Communion reverently.
• BOOK SERVER: Remove the Sacramentary from the altar.
• CHALICE SERVER: Bring water cruet and set on the altar.
• Leave everything else on the altar and return to your places until the priest or deacon puts the ciborium back in the tabernacle.
• After the priest closes the tabernacle, the SERVERS go to the side of the altar.
• The priest or deacon will clean the vessels at the altar.
• The BOOK & CROSS SERVERS help remove the ciboriums & CHALICE SERVER removes the chalice after they have been cleaned.
• Place the items on the credence table and return to your place.
• When the priest stands and says, “Let us Pray” The BOOK SERVER brings the Sacramentary to him.

The Dismissal:

• The deacon (or priest) says: “The Mass is ended, go in peace.
• The Cross server gets the cross.
• Father & Deacon kiss the altar.
• All proceed to the front of the sanctuary as in the beginning and line up as shown below:
• The BOOK & CHALICE servers genuflect with the priest and deacon.
• The CROSS server does not genuflect.
• After the priest genuflects, the CROSS SERVER leads the ministers out
• Please walk at a normal pace about 2 pew lengths apart from each other at a reverent, not overly slow, pace.

What to do After Mass:

• Whoever lit the candles is responsible for putting them out.
• Hang up the communion crosses
• Help bring the chalice, cups, ciboriums, purificators, cruets, & finger dish to sacristy
• Hang up your alb, cincture (tie), & cross neatly.

There should never be albs, cinctures, or ties on the floor.

• Say a short prayer, thanking the Lord for inviting you to serve.

Remember to thank God for each opportunity you have to serve at God's

Holy altar as a Mass Server!

A Server’s Prayer

Open my mouth, O Lord, to bless your Holy name.

Cleanse my heart from all evil and distracting thoughts.

Enlighten my understanding, inflame my will, that I may

serve worthily at your Holy Altar.

O Mary, Mother of Christ, the High Priest, obtain for me

the most important grace of knowing my vocation in life.

Grant me a true spirit of faith and humble obedience so

I may ever behold the priest as a representative of God

and willingly follow him in the Way, the Truth, and the

Life of Christ.

Amen.

Visitors since February 2006

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This site was last updated: 11 May 2008

25 Oct 06