ALTAR SERVERS TRAINING

ANNUNCIATION OF THE LORD PARISH

Message from our PastorsDear Servers

As your title indicates, your primary role is to serve. First, you serve God from loving and prayerful hearts. Secondly, you serve the priest through specific actions and attention to the practical details of the liturgy. Lastly, you serve the congregation by your attentive posture and attentive disposition to the prayer of the Mass and the sacred atmosphere of the liturgy.

The many instructions and rules in this manual are meant to help you perform well your duties, which are always to be done for the greater glory of God.

As pastors, we are very concerned that the Mass here at Annunciation of the Lord be a prayerful and meaningful experience for us all. We count on your good service to help make this happen.

We thank you for saying yes to being an altar server and we pray that it will be a fulfilling experience for you now and in the years to come.

Peace and Blessings,Fr. Yves MarchildonFr. Dennis Hayes.

General Rules If you notice an alb that needs attention throughout the year, please

contact me with the size and I will look after it. In the winter you can bring shoes to change into before entering the

Sacristy, if possible. This helps to keep the gowns clean at the bottom. Please email scheduler any dates (or pertinent information) that will assist

in coordinating a schedule that works with your family’s routine. If no specific instructions from families are received, people are scheduled on a rotational basis to the Mass time requested. Deadline for submissions is given each month.

Schedules are sent via email; limited hard copies are available in the mailbox for altar servers (located just outside the parish office and Sacristy).  Schedule is also posted on the Sacristy bulletin board. Please try to keep the sacristy copy up to date with switches so that the priests know who is helping them. We try to keep ~One month posted. After the schedule is posted, any switches that are necessary are made between families of other servers.  Scheduler does not coordinate your switches or changes in the schedule once it is posted. Schedules are also posted on the parish website under: ministries>liturgy and worship>altar servers> documents. Direct link to altar servers: http://www.annunciation-ottawa.org/index.cfm?load=page&page=250 >go to documents.

General Rules: 2 PART In case of absences, please try to contact someone else on your team for

the Mass to tell them that you will not be present, or find a replacement/switch, so the other servers will not be waiting for you. The servers have different routines with the candles and cross they must prepare for before the service starts if they are short a server. On short notice, 48hrs or less, please contact others by phone.

Arrive at least 15 minutes, preferably 20 minutes before Mass. Sick children should not serve at the Mass for obvious health and safety reasons.

(ex. Coughing and ‘runny’ noses.) Servers who are not scheduled can ‘check out’ who’s showing up in the Sacristy

just in case there is an opening because of an absence. We function with 1-3 servers, ideally with 3. Please respect the ‘5 minute’ rule of silence prayer before the Mass.

Special Masses (Christmas/New Year/Ash Wednesday/Easter week) are scheduled by volunteers only and sometimes require extra practice (1/2hr--hr) before the service.

High school students: Altar Serving can be applied to community service hours. Keep track of your hours.

Dress code:NO SHARP JEWELRY/EARRINGS. The fabric

snags easily on sharp edges.Hair must be combed/ brushed neatly.Teeth must be brushed.Try to wear neutral colours, avoid bright colours

or designs that show through the gown.Khakis are a neat option.Always wear shoes, dress shoes preferred. Proper

sandals permitted in summer, but no bright colours, no crocks or flip-flops. Big boots should not be worn.

Before and during Mass.Try to arrive 15 minutes before Mass.All servers should wash their hands before they dress.Go where the albs are kept and find your size. You can

hang up your jacket, if you have one, on the same hanger that was used for your alb.

Once you have put on the alb, take a cross and put it on. Make sure to put on the hood of your alb before putting on the cross and then pull the hood down after.

Find out in the schedule what job are you doing.Servers should be gowned, candles lit/cross and ready for

procession at the doors to the church 5 minutes before the Mass starts.

Before and during Mass. (2)Use your indoor voice before Mass starts, the

congregation should not be distracted from their quiet preparation before Mass.

Talking at the altar should be kept to a minimum during the service.

Please cover your mouth when you yawn during Mass.Face forward, do not sit and turn your body to face the

congregation, especially at communion time.Walk when in the Sanctuary, do not run.Make sure to waist bow to the altar as you cross the

Sanctuary.Move together as a team

Introductory Rite: The procession starts when the singing starts. Do not start walking until you hear words being sung. Walk normally, not too fast or not too slow, and maintain the same pace throughout.

Order of the procession Thurible (on special occasions only) Cross Candles Other servers Priest and Deacon.

Upon reaching the altar, head bow and the proceed to place the cross and candles where they belong and then to your seats. Do not sit down right away!

If you are not carrying anything, when you reach the altar, waist bow, walk on the tiled floor until you reach the steps on the side, then proceed to your seat. Do not sit right away.

LITURGY OF THE WORD, LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST AND CONCLUDING RITE

Liturgy of the Word (readings/Gospel): Stand and sit as the congregation does and try to participate. Try not to fidget or do

anything distracting. Remember your purpose is to help the congregation pray and concentrate on the Mass.

Liturgy of the Eucharist: After the “Prayers of the Faithful,” proceed down to the first step and take the gifts to the

credence table.

Concluding Rite: Once the final blessing has been given, be ready to leave the sanctuary the same way you

entered. Once the music starts, the cross bearer will proceed to carry the cross and the candles will follow.

If you are not carrying anything, walk down the steps and on the tiled floor until you reach the center aisle. At this point, the cross will stop and turn around, to face the altar and wait for the other servers and the priest.

When the priest waist bows the altar, the servers who are not carrying anything waist bow as well, then turn and process out. The servers carrying the cross and the candles may head bow when the priest bows.

Roles of an Altar Server:Cross

We have two different types of Crosses: a Heavy and a Light one. They are both located in the wall in front of the office

The Altar server carrying the Cross is always the first one in the initial procession.

The Cross Bearer intervenes four times during the Eucharistic celebration:

First (initial procession): The Cross bearer must start walking when the choir begins to sing. Upon reaching the altar, head bow and then proceed to leave the Cross to the place where it belongs.

The light Cross is left in the stand next to the chair (in the right side of the altar.

The heavy Cross is left in the stand underneath the big Cross (next to the candles).

Then you can have a seat in the second chair after the light Cross stand. Remember that the chair next to the Father’s seat is reserved for the deacon.

Second (procession for gifts): After the “Prayers of the Faithful,” the deacon or another altar server will start setting up the altar (note: it could be you if you are the only one serving). When they finish take the Cross and go to the back of the Church.

Wait for the ushers or the people carrying the gifts (bread and wine) to tell you that they are ready. A hint: start walking when you see the Priest standing up and walking to the front of the altar.

Then, leave the Cross in the same stand where you got it from and remain standing next to your seat.

Third (lead the Eucharistic Minister): Get the Cross as soon as you finish receiving communion.

When you see that all the Eucharist Ministers have a Ciborium (blue bowl) in their hands start walking towards the confessionary. It is located behind the choir and scent-free area, near the back of the Church.

When that line of communion is finished walk towards the center isle of the Church and wait there. The Extraordinary Minster will tell you when to walk again to the altar as in the initial procession. A hint: start walking when the Priest goes to give communion to the choir.

Fourth (final procession): After the Priest gives the final blessing the choir will start singing.

At this point grab the Cross and start walking towards the back of the Church through the center isle. Stop at the second pew and turn around (facing the altar). Turn around when you see the Priest turning around and walk out nor too fast or too slow.

Book

The Book (Roman Missal) will be set up before each Mass so it will be ready to use once you get to the altar. You will always find a ribbon coming from one of the edges of the Book. It indicates the page where it should be opened

The Book Bearer intervenes two times during the Eucharistic celebration:

First: In the beginning of Mass the Priest will say some prayers. Next, you will hear the choir singing the Glory. The song will finish with the words “In the glory of God the Father. Amen.” At this point, get the book and open it in the page where the ribbon is. When you hear the Priest saying: “Let us pray,” take the book to the Priest. After he reads the prayer go back to your seat.

Second: After giving Holy Communion, the Priest or the Deacon will clean the altar (put things away) and then they will go to their seats. He will remain in silence for a couple of minutes. As soon as the Priest stands up grab the book and open it in the page indicated by the ribbon. Once you hear the Priest saying: “Let us pray,” take the book to the Priest. After he reads the prayer go back to your seat.

Candles If there are only two servers, the Cross must be processed with

them, never the candles by themselves. Never process with only one candle.

If you are a Candle bearer, you are in charge of lighting up the candles 5 min before Mass. The Candle Bearers intervene three times during the Eucharistic celebration:

First (initial procession): The Candle bearers are always the second ones in the initial procession. They are meant to follow the Cross while they are walking towards the altar. Once they reach the altar, the candles are left at the foot of the big Cross.

Second (Gospel): After the first, psalm and second reading are read; the choir will start singing the Alleluia

At this moment you proceed to pick up the candles (they are underneath the big Cross). Then, walk and stop at the end of the altar. Wait for the Priest to approach the altar and bow.

After the Priest bows, he will start walking towards the ambo. Walk before him as if you were leading him. Then stand next to the ambo. One on the left and one on the right as shown in the picture. Hold the candle at a height that you can hold still without moving back and forth for the duration of the Gospel reading. This avoids distraction for the congregation.

Third (final procession): After the Priest gives the final blessing the choir will start singing the recessional song.

At this point grab the Candles and start walking towards the back of the Church through the center isle (following the Cross). Stop at the beginning of the second pew and turn around (facing the altar). Turn around when you see the Priest turning around and walk out not too fast nor too slow.

• Setting up the Altar

After the Creed, the “Prayers of the faithful” are said. Then the priest will sit down. At this time, the setting up of the altar takes place.

The first step is to take the chalice from the credence table (with the corporals, pall and purificator on it) to the Altar.

If a Deacon is present, put the chalice on the Altar and he will set it up. If there is not a Deacon, then an Altar server sets it up.

If you are the one setting up the altar, take first the small corporal and put it in the center unfolding it systematically. The second corporal should be placed on the right side about an inch apart from the small one

At this moment another altar server should be bringing the book from the back to the sanctuary. The book should be placed in the left side of the altar. If you are the only server, you can bring the book after arranging the corporals, pale, purificator and chalice

After placing the corporals on the altar, take the pall and the purificator and put them in between the two corporals. Remember to leave around an inch from the bottom edge of the altar to the corporals.

Once the altar set up is completed it should look like this:

The cruet with the wine and the lead of the ciborium should be placed on the credence table. Remove the leads of both cruets before moving them. One altar server carries the wine cruet and another carries the water cruet.

•Preparation of the Gifts

The server in charge of the offertory walks down to the first step and waits with the priest and deacon (if present) for the gifts to be brought. The deacon or priest will hand the altar server the wine and the other walks along the deacon or priest to receive the lead of the ciborium.

After that, you need to take them to the deacon or, if there is no deacon present, to the Priest. Once the Deacon or priest has poured the wine and the water into the chalice and returned them, the servers head bow and return to the Credence table to prepare for the washing of the hands.

The server carrying the water then picks up the lavabo (transparent bowl) while the server who was carrying the wine leaves the cruet on the credence and takes the hand towel and opens it for the Priest

As the two servers approach the altar, the server with the water and lavabo must be on the right side, while the server with the towel is on the left.

When the priest has finished washing his hands, slight head bow and return the lavabo and water to the credence table.

•BellAs soon as the choir starts singing the “Holy, Holy” go to the first step and face the altar. When the song finishes kneel down.

Once the priest has elevated the host, the server is to ring the bell three times. After the priest elevates the chalice, the server is to ring the bell in the same manner. When the priest says: “The mystery of faith” stand up and go back to your seats.

•Communion timeAfter receiving communion all altar servers, except the Cross bearer, stand next to an Extraordinary Minister, Priest or Deacon while they are giving communion to the people. The main goal is to make sure that all persons in the communion line (especially the ones receiving the Body of Christ on their hands) consume Him.When the extraordinary minister, priest or deacon go back to the altar; follow them and go back to your seat.

The altar servers sitting next to the credence table should be attentive. The priest or deacon will hand out the ciborium for you to take them to the credence table. Put them on the corporal and DO NOT stack them.

If a deacon is not present you might need to help the priest to fold the corporals on the altar. DO NOT LIFT the open corporal from the altar. Fold it without lifting it and bring it to the credence table.