Procedures for Altar Servers/Cross Bearers

Procedures
for
Altar Servers/Cross Bearers

The coordinator and scheduler for the Altar Server/Cross Bearer Ministry is:

Marie Winterson — mwinterson@holy-redeemer.org

Functional Descriptions and Glossary:

Altar Servers — those who assist the Presider throughout the Mass.
Cross Bearers — those who carry the Processional Cross in the Processional and Recessional.
Thurifers — those who carry the Thurible or Incense Burner.
Boats — those who carry the Incense Container.
Alb — Long white robe, worn by Servers at Mass.
Corporal — the folded linen cloth used to place the Sared Vessels on at center of the altar.
Purificator — the folded linen cloth used to clean the Chalice.
Lavabo Towel — the terry-cloth towel used to dry the Presider’s hands after he washes them.
Pall — the large white cloth, used at funerals to cover the casket.

Preparations before Mass:

All Ministers at the Altar, whether they be Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Lectors, Hospitality Ministers, or Server/Cross Bearers, should observe a quiet reverence in respect of God, His House, and those who worship Him in it.
Servers and Cross Bearers should arrive at least 15 minutes before Mass. Let the Presider and/or other ministers know you are there. Sign in on the assignment sheet, even if you are a substitute.
Dress Code — Remember, you are taking part in a most important act of worship:

Ladies should wear either skirts or slacks (NO shorts) with a blouse or another nice shirt. NO sneakers.
Gentlemen should wear slacks (NO shorts) all year round with either golf or oxford style shirt. NO sneakers.
Vesture – Alb and Cross for Servers. Cassock and Surplice for Cross Bearers. Make your choice so that its length comes to your shoe tops – too long albs will cause you to trip – too short looks tacky. At the end of Mass return your alb, cross, cassock, or surplice to its proper size hanger and hook.
In General – NO Sneakers, NO shorts — Suggestion: wear school dress shoes.

Servers should check with the Persider about any special information regarding the liturgy, e. g., for Baptisms, Special Blessings, Solemnities, Funerals, Holy Days of Obligation, etc.
Servers should light the Processional Candles.

Order of Regular Sunday Mass:

Processional:
1. One Cross Bearer and two Servers are assigned for each Mass. Should there be only one or two servers (including the Cross Bearer), the Cross is still carried in procession, as it always is; if possible, in this case, place the two lighted candles in the holders in the sanctuary before Mass begins (remember to bring them back to their holders in the rear of the Church when Mass has ended).
2. When you are ready to begin, but are still waiting for the Presider to signal that you are to move to the center aisle, stand in front of the windows near the center doors. Do not stand in the corner of the church at the cross and candle holder.
3. Facing the altar, the order from left to right is: Server One, the Cross Bearer, and Server Two. The Cross Bearer leads the Procession slightly (one step ahead of the two Servers), and maintains a slow reverent pace. The Presider will signal when the procession is to begin.
4. Hold Cross and Candles high enough so that the staff is at least one foot from the floor. This will make it less likely for you to spill hot wax or trip on the staffs.
5. As you reach the altar steps, the Servers should make a slight bow of the head (the Cross Bearer does not bow). The Cross Bearer proceeds to the area behind the Presider’s chair and places the Cross in its stand; the Servers proceed to follow the Cross Bearer and then place their candles in their stands. After placing the Cross into its stand and the candles into their stands, all proceed to the bench and remain standing.
6. After the Penitential/Gloria Rite, the Cross Bearer either brings either the Sacramentary or the binder to the to the Presider to pray the Opening Prayer. (Father Smarsh always uses his large bright red thin Sacramentary.) When the Presider has finished the Opening Prayer, the Cross Bearer returns to his place at the bench.
Liturgy of the Word: Servers and Cross Bearer are to stay seated at the bench and pay attention to the readings (stand for the Alleluia and Gospel) and homily. Stand with and join the Assembly for the Profession of Faith (the Creed) and the General Intercessions (Prayer of the Faithful).
Liturgy of the Eucharist:

Offertory:

During the Collection the Cross Bearer should place the Sacramentary to the left of the corporal (Fr. Smarsh’s Sacramentary should be placed in the center of the altar), unless you are instructed otherwise. The servers place all the chalices that have been set out on the Credence table, on the right or Ambo side of the altar, together with one purificator for each chalice. Purificators should be placed on either corner of the altar. (Note: Do not place any Communion Bowls or Pyxes on the altar at this time.)
As the Presider goes to the crossing to receive the gifts, one server will stand on the left of the Presider to receive the wine; the other server will stand on the right of the Presider to receive the paten or ciborium (with the bread). The collection bag will be given to the Cross Bearer who is also on the right of the Presider. (The bag is then placed in the slot in the door to the left of the tabernacle).
The servers place the paten or ciborium and the wine pitcher on the Altar between the Chalices and Sacramentary. They then return to the Credence Table. One server brings to the right or Ambo side of the altar the water pitcher and lavabo dish and the other brings the lavabo towel, unfolding it to make it readily usable by the Presider. After the Presider has washed and dried his fingers, the servers will bow to the Presider. The water pitcher, bowl, towel, and wine pitcher are returned to the Credence Table. The servers then return to the their bench to be seated.
Servers kneel or stand following the actions of the congregation.

Sign of Peace:

Exchange the Sign of Peace with each other and the Presider.
Place the Communion bowls and pyx, if needed, on the right (Ambo) side of the altar, taking care not to disturb the chalices or block access to the purificators.

Communion:

After the Presider has received Communion the Cross Bearer/Altar Servers should complete the semi-circle with the Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion around the altar and receive Holy Communion, should they wish.
After the Presider begins to distribute Holy Communion, the servers should clear the altar. Do not remove any chalices remaining there. The Cross Bearer removes the Sacramentary. Servers remain seated at their bench (they do NOT leave the Sanctuary, except in case of illness).

Closing Prayer: As for the Opening Prayer, the Cross Bearer should bring either the Sacramentary (for Fr. Smarsh) or the binder to hold it for the Presider when he says, “Let us pray”.

Recessional:

As the Presider completes the Final Blessing the Cross Bearer proceeds to the Cross, at that point the Servers move to their candles. They do not remove their candles from their stands until the Cross Bearer, as the leader, begins to descend the steps.
All three then proceed to the first pew in the middle aisle, turning to face the altar.
When the Presider bows, the Cross Bearer turns (the Servers turning toward the Cross) and leads the procession to the rear crossing.
When the Cross Bearer/Servers arrive at the rear crossing, they stand in line facing the center aisle. They remain in place before the double doors until the Presider (and Deacon) reverence the Cross as he comes to the rear crossing.
After the Presider reverences the Cross, Cross Bearer and Servers process to the cross/candle holders in the corner of the church; extinguish the candles and place the candles and Cross in the holders. Do NOT extinguish the candles until you are at the candle/cross holder.
The Servers will then hang up their Cassocks, Surplices, Crosses and Albs neatly (on their hangers) in the servers’ closet. EXCEPTION: Servers at the 12:00 Noon Mass return the candles to the altar candle holders, after hanging their Albs and Crosses.

Order for a Wedding Mass: Weddings are special occasions, and are never alike. Check with the Priest prior to Mass to determine what to do.

Order for a Funeral Mass:
NOTE: The Mass is the same as the Sunday Mass with a few exceptions. Check with the Priest.

The following are exceptions to the Sunday Mass:

The Cross Bearer continues as the Book Bearer.
Prior to the Processional, the Pall is placed over the casket. The Thurifer should hold the Holy Water, which will be used for blessing the deceased, and places it on the back table after the Presider sprinkles the casket.
Processional — The Thurifer processes behind the other Servers, carrying nothing.
If incense is to be used, the Thurifer should go to the Sacristy to light the charcoal during the homily.
During the eulogy (usually after the Communion Prayer later in the Mass), the Thurifer goes to get the thurible from the Sacristy, then stands in the back of the Sanctuary.
In some cases, one Server may have to assume the role of Boat to hold the incense.
At the recessional, the Thurifer leads the recession carrying the Thurible through the main church doors. The other Servers go to the left side of the plaza and stay there until the casket is put in the Hearse.

USCCB Guilines for Altar Servers