A Quick Refresher Course

A Quick Refresher Course On
How To Perform Your Duties At Mass

How to Dress

For each of the positions of service during the Church's liturgy please come appropriately dressed. During the liturgy the focus is on worship of the Eucharistic Lord and the ministers should not be a means of distraction to the faithful as they are about to enter into intimate communion with their Lord. Thus, sloppy or immodest dress is inappropriate for service at the altar. Altar servers should wear pants (not shorts) and shoes (not flip-flops). For daily mass these guidelines may be slightly relaxed, but lectors and extraordinary eucharistic ministers should generally still not look sloppy or overly casual.

Altar Serving

Altar serving is the most involved of all three of our positions during mass. You must arrive at least 15 minutes early and get dressed in a white alb, a cincture, and a cross around your neck. Ten minutes before mass starts you are to light the candles on the altar and the easter/advent candles if necessary. You then go to the back of the church and prepare for your entry. If you are the only server carry the big crucifix. If there are two servers, one carries the cross and the other carries the book. With three servers one carries the cross and the other two carry candles. Any more than three process simply with your hands in prayer position. As you process the cross comes first and the candles follow side by side. Once you've reached the altar the cross shifts to the right end, the candle on the right moves over next to the cross and the candle to the left moves to the left. After the priest(s) genuflect or bow the cross goes to the back to be put away and the candles go up to the altar servers table.
The next thing that must be done is when the priest says "let us pray" one server must go up with the book and hold it for him while he reads. it is best if you stay slightly off to the side so that you are not blocking the view of all the congregation.
From there mass continues normally until the reading of the Gospel. When the priest moves to the altar to bow two altar servers go to the table and pick up the candles and hold one on each side of the pulpit. After the priest says "the word of the Lord" the servers return the candles to the table and go back to their seats.
After the homily one server goes to the table and takes the priests chalice, all the other chalices, and any extra ciborium to the altar. In the mean time the other two servers go to the front of the altar to receive the gifts with the priest. These are placed on the altar as well. Then after the priest presents the bread one server brings him the water. After he presents the wine one server brings him the and washing bowl and towel. This can be done with two people if you feel unstable carrying the bowl and the towel at the same time.
This is the end of your duties aside from holding the book one more time while the priest reads the closing prayer and processing out.

Lectoring

It is always good, when lectoring, to arrive about half an hour early so that you can go over the readings and know who you are working with, if anyone. If you are the only lector, You will read the opening welcome, the first and second reading, and the prayers of the faithful. If there are two lectors, one will read the opening welcome and the first reading and the other will read the second reading and the prayers of the faithful. When you lector sit on the left side of the church if your facing the altar in the first pew so that you don't have to come all the way across the altar to get to the pulpit. The opening welcome and the prayers of the faithful are in the lectors notebook. To know when to go up for the opening welcome just watch the altar servers in the back, when they are lined up and the priest is with them its time. The priest will usually try and get your attention or give you a nod to let you know they are ready. Be sure to read slowly and into the microphone. Don't always look down at what your reading but don't stare at the congregation so long you lose your place.

Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist

When you are a Eucharistic Minister, or EM, walk up to the altar during the "Lamb Of God." If you are the leader you stand in front of everyone else and give communion to all the other EMs. If you are not you stand in a line behind the priest. The leader and the priest gives everyone either a chalice or ceborium and you go to the closest position to you that fits what you've been given.
As the people process toward you, if you are carrying the body they have their arms crossed over their chest place your hand on their forehead and give them a short blessing. If they have their hands cupped then lift the host to eye level and say "body of Christ," and then place it in their hand. If their hands are folded closed you place the host on their tonge. If you If you are on one of the sides and finish before the middle has, go to the middle and assist them.
If you are carrying the blood, when someone walks to you present the chalice and say "Blood of Christ." Let them take it and wipe the spot where they took a sip, then rotate one quarter turn so that the next person is drinking from a clean spot.
Once everyone has received communion, the body is placed on the altar for the priest to put back in the tabernacle, but the blood must be consumed. Any leftover you have drink and then place the chalice on the altar servers table. Don't forget to wash your fingertips in the little bowl on the table.