ST JOHN FISHER PARISH
ALTAR SERVER GUIDELINES

Introduction

The server is a member of the assembly who assists the priest during the Eucharist and other liturgical ceremonies so that the liturgy can be conducted with grace and reverence. Servers should be active and full participants in the celebration with the understanding that they are first and foremost members of the assembly. The server expresses this by singing, praying and keeping silence along with the rest of the assembly.

Servers are expected to be appropriately prepared, committed to giving their time and talent to their parish community, and willing to serve God's people. They should be able to understand the Eucharistic celebration and the other sacred rites.

Responsibilities

Servers are to arrive 15 minutes before Mass begins. If the server is unable to attend they are to make sure to have a replacement server at Mass. Servers carry the cross and the processional candles. They hold the book for the priest when he is at the chair. They carry the incense and censer and assist him when he receives the gifts from the people. Servers wash the hands of the priest, and assist the priest as necessary. The servers help the sacristan to prepare the altar and sacred vessels before Mass and also help to take in the vessels and tidy up after Mass.

Position of the Server

Youth Servers should vest in albs. The server should be wearing black shoes, if not; black shoes are on supply outside the sacristy. At all celebrations, servers should be quiet, neat, clean and simply dressed.

Duties during the celebration of Mass

Beginning of Mass:

The servers assemble at the head of the procession with the candle bearers on each side of the cross bearer followed behind by the rest of the procession. (At all processions the cross bearer stands between the candle bearers).

The servers process to the sanctuary and leave just enough room for the priest to be directly in front of them. The lectors therefore will be behind the servers. After bowing the servers place their candles at the altar and go to their places.

Before the opening prayer, the priest will signal to the server to come forward with the missal. After the priest says "Amen," the server closes the book and bows to the priest.

Gospel Procession:

At Sunday Mass during the Gospel acclamation. Two servers will come before the altar, bow and take the two candles. After the priest takes the Book of the Gospels the candle bearers will walk before him to the ambo. The candle bearers stand at either side of the ambo throughout the Gospel facing the priest. After the Gospel is proclaimed the servers return the candles to the altar, bow and go to their places.

At weekday Masses there is no Gospel procession but the altar servers will still take the altar candles and stand on each side of the ambo while the priest proclaims the Gospel.

Preparation of the Gifts:

After the intercessions. The servers prepare the altar. They bring to it the missal (and stand), the chalice, paten, pall and purificator. At Sunday mass the cross bearer flanked by two candle bearers go down and escort the offertory procession to the sanctuary. The servers also assist the priest when he receives the gifts brought up by the people. One server takes the basket collection and the other server takes the book of offerings. At weekday masses only one server remains with the priest.

A server then approaches the altar with the cruet of water for the priest to pour into the chalice. After the priest says the Prayer of Blessing the servers come forward to wash his hands. The servers are to make sure they pour a generous amount of water over the priest's hands. After the priest dries his hands, the servers bow and go to their places.

Communion Rite:

The servers remain standing in the sanctuary from the Our Father until the sign of peace. Servers then come forward to the altar and receive the sign of peace from the priest. They then go back down to their places. Servers do not wander around the Church giving the sign of peace.

During communion (after the priest goes down to distribute communion) a server removes the missal and stand from the altar.

After communion when the priest stands, the server brings over the missal for the concluding prayer. The server remains holding the book until the priest says "Amen". The server then closes the book and bows to the priest.

Concluding Rite:

After the final blessing two servers take the candles from the altar and with the cross bearer come before the sanctuary (leaving just enough room for the priest to stand before them). The cross bearer stands between the two candle bearers. The lectors stand behind the servers. After bowing, the servers proceed to the sacristy.

After Mass:

In the sacristy the servers bow to the processional cross. Then working quietly and without haste they carry out their assigned tasks given by the sacristan.

Conclusion

Serving in the church is a special privilege. It allows us to be close to the altar, to carry the cross, to carry the light of Christ, to wear the robe of baptism, to hold the book of the prayers and to carry the thurible. How wonderful and blessed this is!