Altar Server                    Guide Saint Mary Catholic                  Church LLC #237  ALTAR SERVER PRAYER  DEFINITION OF ALTAR SERVER  DRESS CODE  ALTAR SERVER RULES  MASS SETUP - Clean-Up After Mass  ENTRANCE PROCESSION – Greeting - Penitential Rite  GLORIA  HOMILY  PROFESSION OF FAITH (Nicene Creed)  PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL  LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST OFFERTORY COLLECTION Preparation of the Altar Preparation of the Gifts - Preparation of the Wine - Washing of Hands  EUCHARISTIC PRAYER  THE COMMUNION RITE - Sign of Peace  COMMUNION -Lamb of God  CONCLUDING RITE – Blessing  AFTER MASS Altar Server Prayer  O God, You have graciously called me to serve You upon Your altar.  Grant  me the graces that I need to serve You faithfully and wholeheartedly.    Grant too that while serving You, may I follow the example of Saint Tarcisius,  who died protecting the Eucharist, and walk the same path that led him to  Heaven. Thank you, for the trust you have placed in me.  Keep me true to that trust.  I  make my prayer in Jesus’ name, who is with us in the Holy Spirit.                                                                                       AMEN                                                                       Definition of Altar Server Servers are individuals who display a desire for a more intimate union with Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is a great privilege to serve at the Altar of our Lord. Accordingly, Servers have a solemn responsibility to do their assigned duties with dignity and reverence. Our loving Savior becomes present on the Altar, just as He was at the Last Supper and Calvary. Dress Code For Altar Servers Altar Servers should dress appropriately for Our Lord and Blessed Mother Mary.  Be Modest in your dressing  No tennis shoes, men’s sandals or flip-flops  No shorts, t-shirts, or tops or dresses with plunging necklines.  No large hoop earrings, large jewelry etc.  Dress shoes should be worn for the young ladies and young men.  Young Ladies should wear slacks and/or dresses.  Jewelry – jewelry should not be a distraction.  Young men should wear collared shirts with neckties, slack/khaki style pants.                                                                                                                                    Altar Server Rules Serving Mass is not only a duty, but also a great honor, a true holy service. We are servants of Christ. 1. Attend Altar Server Training Class (Mandatory) 2. Attend Confession regularly. 3. Be punctual for Mass. Arrive 15 minutes before mass to prepare the sanctuary and yourselves for mass. 4. Your Cassocks and Surplices should be ironed and washed, not crumpled and/or dirty (notify the proper individual). If wax has dripped on either garments, place them on podium next to the door. 5. Ensure that you have on the ministry cross which is located in the ministry drawer. It should be displayed properly. It should never be played with. 6. Serve at every mass that you are scheduled, or you need to make arrangements to have someone cover your scheduled Mass. 7. Before Mass, ensure that the candles are lit, altar bread, wine, water, towels, bowl, prayer book, kneelers and any other sacramental’s are in their proper place. 8. When at the Altar be quiet and respectful, you are role models. 9. Maintain a prayerful posture at all times during mass (feet together and hands on lap). 10. Be attentive; respond immediately when the priest asks for help. When kneeling maintain a prayerful posture. Mass setup Ensure that all the chalices are clean. The Purificator is put on the chalice with the cross on the chalice to the front, The large host is put on the paten. When we have a normal Sunday Mass only put 1/4 of hosts in the bowl. Masses such as Easter, Palm Sunday, Christmas, etc., more hosts are needed in the crystal bowls. The paten is put on top of the purificator and chalice, then the corporal goes on top of that and then the pall goes on top of everything. The purificator’s are put with each chalices and the silver bowl that father uses to wash his hands. Clean-up after Mass After mass proper preparation should be made. Wash the Chalice’s, Ciborium and Flagon. Get a clean Pall and Purificator’s. The clean Pall is to cover the Chalice. Ensure that the Ciborium’s have hosts. The Flagon should be filled with wine and get clean Purifcator’s for the next Mass. Ensure that the Tabernacle key is placed back in the cabinet (it is not to be left on circular tray). Entrance Procession: Altar server #1 Cross Bearer, will line up in front of the Baptismal Font. Altar servers #2 & #3 – Candle (candles should be lit) Bearers will line up behind the cross bearer, etc.  If there is only ONE server, that server will carry the cross.  If there is only TWO servers, NO candles will be used. One server will carry the cross and the other server will line up behind the cross bearer. If there is three or more servers than TWO servers will carry the lit candles and line up behind the Cross Bearer and the extra servers will line up behind the servers carrying the candles. Walk at a normal speed. Do not proceed into the church when the music is played, wait until the congregation starts to sing. Lead the procession into the church, first the Cross Bearer, second the other servers (all). At the front of the Altar wait for the other ministers and the priest. When all the ministers and priest are at the front of the Altar everyone does a profound bow (with the exception of the Cross Bearer and the server’s with the lit candles. Greeting  The priest begins the mass “Sign of the Cross”. When father has said the sign of the cross, the Altar Server will step forward with the Roman Missal (book). Bow and present the book to father. The book should be raised to the Father and opened to the white ribbon. After the reading, close the book and bow. Return to your chair, “Do not ever set the book on the floor” (when seated place book on your lap, when standing place the book on the chair). Penitential Rite