------- ALTAR SERVERS -------

ThankyouforacceptingtheinvitationfromyourChurchfamilytobecomeaMinister“AroundtheTable.”ServinginthisspecialwayhasaprofoundimpactonthewayourSt.PaulMissionStatement,“ToLiveAsTheBodyOfChrist,”comestolife.

ThepurposeoftheEucharisticLiturgy,aswellasallSacraments,istomakeusholy,tobuilduptheBodyofChristandtoworshipGod.TheLiturgy“nourishes,strengthensandexpressesfaith.”(CCC1123)Bysaying,“Yes”tothiscalling,Iagreetothefollowing:

ü IcommittoserveinthisoneLiturgicalMinistryforatwo-yearperiod.ü IunderstandtheimportanceofmyministryintheoverallmissionofourParish“ToLiveAsTheBodyOfChrist.”

ü IwillapproachtheCelebrationoftheEucharistwithaspiritoftheJoyofChrist.ü IwillpreparemyselfduringtheweekbeingreflectiveoftheupcomingReadingssothatIwillbepreparedspiritually,physicallyandemotionally.

ü IwillarriveontimeanddressappropriatelywhenIamscheduledtoserve.ü IwillfindareplacementintheeventIcannotserveatmyscheduledtime.ü WhenIamnotscheduledtoserve,Iwillbeabetterparticipantinthepewbybeingattentive,listening,andrespondingenthusiastically.

Bysigningbelow,Iagreetoalloftheabovestatements:Ministry:___________________________________________________________________Masspreference:(circleone) 5:30 8:00 10:30PrintedName: ____________________________________________________________Signature: ____________________________________________________________Date: ____________________________________________________________

MINISTRYCOMMITMENT

PURPOSE

ThisMinistryManualisbeingprovidedtoallMinisters"AroundtheTable"tocreateabetterunderstandingandzealforauthenticworshipatSt.PaulParish.Thisinformationisnotonlyinstructionofhowtocarryouttheministry,buttobetterunderstandwhyweworshipthewaywedo.Wewanttorejuvenatethedeep,spiritualmeaningofbeingaparticipantinMass.AsSt.Augustinesaid,"Beholdwhatyouare.Becomewhoyoureceive."EverytimewecelebratetheSacredBanquettogether,wearefulfillingJesus'commandto"DothisinmemoryofMe."WebelievethattheRisenChrististrulypresentintheLiturgyinthePresider;intheHolyEucharistasHisrealpresenceofBodyandBlood;intheWordproclaimedfromtheSacredScriptures;andintheCommunitygatheredinHisName.Wewanttorediscovertheimportanceofcelebratingwithjoy,reverence,andessenceofthePaschalMystery.Fromthetimeoftheapostles,Christianshavecontinuallycometogethertocelebrate,tolistentoScripture,andtoofferThanksgiving.TheLiturgyisacommunalencounterofChristthatbringsusalltogetherasaSt.PaulFamily.Ourmaingoalistofosterfull,activeandconsciousparticipationintheLiturgicalCelebrationinordertoencountertheLivingGodintheWordandEucharist,thenreturntotheworldfulfillingourbaptismalcalltodiscipleship.Astrained,prayerfulLiturgicalMinisters,wewillhelpplantthatwhichGodwillgrow.Wedonotneedtoreinventanything.WedonotneedtodecidewhatLiturgywillbe.TheChurchhasalreadyplannedtheLiturgy.Itisnotashoworperformancethatpeoplecometoobserve.TheLiturgyisaSacredCelebrationofthePaschalMysterythroughwhichtheMysteryofChristamonguscomesaliveinallthepeoplepresent.Therefore,wewanttomakeourpreparationandattainmentoftheexperienceofLiturgyatSt.Paulapriority,notalast-minuteexecutionofdutiesandtasks.CCC1070states,"…everyLiturgicalCelebrationisanactionofChristthepriestandofthisBodywhichistheChurch,isasacredactionsurpassingallothers."WewanttorecognizeeverypersonwhojoinsourCelebrationasequal,necessarymembersoftheBodyofChrist.WewanteachandeverypersontobereceivedwithJoy.We,asMinisters,willservethemwithJoy.WewanttoalwaysbeawarethatJesusChrist,ourRisenLord,isindeedpresidingateachMass,proclaimingHisWord,sharingHisBodyandBlood,andsittingnexttousextendingHisHandinthesignofpeace.First,weaskyoutopersonallyprayregularlyforthesuccess,graceandinsighttomoveintheDivineFlowofmeetingChristinareal,personalwayasaMinisterofourParish.PrayerwillalwaysbetheheartofMinistry.Prayerservestocontinuallyrenewandstrengthenustoserveourbrothersandsisters.

AnawarenessofthesacrednessofyourMinistrywillnaturallyfollow.Weareprivilegedtohavebeencalledandinvitedtoserveinthisspecialway.ThegreatresultwillbeacontinualrenewalofourlovefortheEucharistandtheSacraments,andafruitfulweeklyexperienceofLiturgy.

THEMINISTRYOFALTARSERVER

AltarServersareaveryimportantpartoftheLiturgyastheyassistthepriestontheAltarduringtheSundayMassesandHolyDaysthroughouttheyear.BoysandgirlswhohavereceivedtheSacramentofFirstHolyCommunionserveinthisMinistry.

HistoryAltarServershavebeenavitalpartofChurchHistorysincetheearliestoftimes.Jesus,Himself,senttwoofHisdisciplestopreparethePassoverMeal.Historically,thisrolewasreservedformalesonly,whoactuallywereservinginordainedministryintheminororderofAcolyte,andwouldultimatelyworktowardordinationasaDeaconandfinallyaPriest.SinceVaticanII,ithasbecomemoreaMinistryoftheyouth,bothmaleandfemale.

WhyAltarServersareneededtocarryitems,settheAltar,andassistthepriestthroughouttheMass.YouarealsoexpectedtoparticipatefullyandjoyfullyintheMassbypraying,respondingandsinging.Pleasebeawarethatyouaresettinganexampletothepeopleseatedinthepewsbyyourattentiveness,respectfulness,andparticipationintheMass.HowBeforeMass1. Duringthecourseoftheweek,readtheSundayReadingssoyouarefamiliarwiththeWordtobeproclaimedandthethemeoftheLiturgy.

2. DressappropriatelysinceyouareservingattheTableoftheLord.Pleasedonotwearbluejeans,shorts,orcasualfootwear.

3. Disposeofanygumorcandy.4. Arrive15minutesbeforeMasstime,putacheckmarkbyyournameontheschedule,usetherestroom,washyourhands,anddressinyourrobe.Checkthecalendarforthecolorbelttowear.

5. Ifyoudonotcheckinby10minutesbeforeMasstime,theSacristanwillfindareplacement.Ifyournameismarkedthroughonthepostedschedule,someoneelsehasalreadybeenselectedtoserveinyourplace.YouwillnotservethisMass.

6. Onceyouarerobedandready,decidewhichserverwillberesponsibleforthe"Book"andwhichwillberesponsibleforthe"Bells."

7. RemainintheSacristytopraywithFatherandalltheMinisters.DuringMass

1. StandoneoneachsideofFather,erectandreadyfortheEntranceProcession.2. AsyouprocesstotheAltar,holdyourhandsinprayerposition.3. TrytoanticipateFather'sinvocation"letuspray"bygettingthebookready.

4. WhensettingtheAltarattheOffertory,the"Bells"ServerlightsthecandlesthenplacesFather'sChalicewiththeHostandPatenontheAltar.The"Book"ServerplacestheBookontheAltar,andsetsthefourchalicesandpurificatorsontheAltar.BothServersthenjoinFatheratthestepstoreceivethegifts.

5. IfyoureceivetheCiborium,placeitontheAltarandremovethelid.PlacethelidontheCredenceTable,pickupthesmallcruetofwater,andstandinplacetoFather'srightsideattheAltar.Ifyoureceivethewinedecanter,movetoyourplaceatFather'srightsidealso,andwaitforFathertoemptyitandhanditbacktoyou.BothreturntotheCredenceTable.

6. OneServerpicksupthetowel,andtheotherpicksupthewaterjugandbowl.GotoFatherforthewashingofhishands,thenreturnthoseitemstotheCredenceTable.

7. Atthistime,the"Book"Serverstandsonthe"Book"sideoftheAltartoFather'sleft.The"Bells"Serverwillstandonthe"Bells"sideoftheAltartoFather'sright.

8. DuringtheEucharisticPrayerkneelonbothkneesfacingtheAltarandFathertodraweveryone'sfocustotheEucharist.Watchattentivelyandrespondenthusiastically.

9. TheBellsarerungatthreepoints,withthreerings:a. WhenFatherholdshishandsoverthegiftsofbreadandwine,andsays,"LetYourSpiritcomeuponthesegifts."

b. AfterFathersays,"ThisisMyBodywhichwillbegivenupforYou."c. AfterFathersays,"DothisinmemoryofMe."

10. StandbehindFatherwiththeEucharisticMinistersandreverentlyreceiveCommunion.OncetheymovetothefronttodistributeCommunion,returntoyourseatsandremainseatedduringCommunion.SingwiththeCongregation--nochatting.

11. WhentheEucharisticMinistersreturntotheirseats,returntotheAltarandhelpFatherfinishclearingit,returningeverythingtotheCredenceTable.TheBookisthelastitemtoberemovedfromtheAltar.The"Book"ServershouldcarryitstraighttoFatherfortheClosingPrayer.

12. FortheRecessional,bothServersproceedtotheAltarwithFather,oneoneachside,andbowwhenhekissestheAltar.The"Book"ServerwillpickupthecollectionbasketandcarryittotheUshers.

13. Pleasehangupyourrobecarefullyinthecloset.ReturntotheAltarandextinguishthecandles.

Sacramentary-theBookthePriestusesduringMass

Chalicewithpatenandhost

Paten-platefortheHost

LargeHost-Tobeplaced

onFather'spaten

Ciborium–holdsthe

BodyofChrist

Cup–holdstheBloodofChrist

WineDecanter

Cruetforwater

Corporal–PlacedontheAltar

Purificators–usedtowipetheCupwhen

servingtheBloodofChrist

TabernacleandRedSacristyLight

Monstrance–HoldstheBlessedSacramentfor

ExpositionoftheEucharist