We will use 2 candles for mass instead of 4. Before mass the 2 candles by the lectern need to be lit (do not light the candles by the altar at this time). We will have four altar servers per mass: cross, bells and two book persons.
The cross person will lead the procession in at the beginning of Mass. Walk at a normal pace, you do not have to hurry but do not go real slow-it is a long aisle to the altar. The other three servers will walk about 3-4 feet behind the cross bearer, side-by-side. The deacon will follow with the Book of the Gospel, then the lectures, followed by the celebrant (Father).
Upon reaching the altar, the cross person and one server will go to the left of the altar and wait for the others at the bottom of the steps. The other two servers will position themselves on the right side of the altar at the bottom of the steps and wait for the lectures and celebrant. Please leave the area between the green borders of the carpet vacant. This will give enough room for the 2 lectures and Father.
If the celebrant bows to the altar, we will bow, if the celebrant genuflects, we will genuflect. The cross person will not genuflect. Father Ritchey will genuflect. After the genuflection, the cross bearer will go up the altar steps and place the cross in its holder and proceed down the side steps to the chairs. The other servers proceed to their chairs. The two book servers should be in the chairs closest to the door. The bell person should be in the chair farthest from the door. The cross person should be in the second to farthest chair from the door. These positions will position the bell person next to the bells when it comes time to kneel on the altar steps and will keep the book servers close to the book.
After the Gloria (during Lent and Advent there is no Gloria so after the “Lord have mercy”) the Father will say, “Let us Pray”. This is the signal for the first book person to get the Sacramentary (Book) from the credence table and take it to Father. After the prayer is done and Father closes the book, return it to the table, and return to your seat. The other three servers will WAIT for the book person to return before sitting down for the readings. Whenever possible we want to do all things together, as a team.
After the Creed you can be seated. The ushers will come up to begin the collection. When the choir side ushers are finishing up the last pew the cross person will get the cross and proceed down the center aisle to the back of the church to the last pew to escort the family up to present our gifts. After the cross person has descended the steps of the altar the other servers will set up the altar. We will get the chalice and the book FIRST and thenALL the cups and put them on the altar. The cups should be lined up in an “L” on the side of the altar. Leave the ciborium with bread on the credence table for now. The book can rest on the holder for the Book of Gospels. Remember-the middle of the altar where the cloth is, is reserved for Father. This is the area he will put the bread and wine to be consecrated. The chalice will go on the right hand side of the altar cloth and the book on the left-hand side. At this time we will also light the candles by the altar and extinguish the candles by the lectern.
Setting the altar with FOUR servers:
After the cross person leaves the altar, the two book servers will put the book and chalice and cups on the altar and return to their seats. The bell server will get the candle lighter by the tabernacle and light the candles by the altar and extinguish the candles and return the candle lighter.
Setting the altar with THREE servers:
After the cross person leaves the altar, one server can set the altar as above and
the other server can light the candles.
Setting the altar with TWO servers:
Both servers will put the book and the chalice and cups on the altar. One server will take the cross to the back of the church while the other server lights the candles on the altar and extinguishes the candles by the lectern.
Setting the altar with ONE server:
Hopefully we will never just have one server, but if so: set the altar first, then light the candles, and then take cross to back of church. You will have to start as soon as the ushers start the collections so you have plenty of time.
When the deacon is moving to the front of the altar to receive the gifts, that will be your time to walk along the side steps until you get to the front. The bell server should step up and walk along the bottom step until they are on the far side of the deacon. The book servers shall follow, stopping on the near side of the deacon (Deacon’s right). We will remain here so the deacon can hand us the gifts.
The cross server will lead the family presenting the gifts
and when reaching the altar will place the cross in its holder.
Transfer of gifts should take place as follows:
Each deacon receives the gifts a little bit different. We just need to
make sure that the pitcher of wine, which is very heavy, is placed on
the front edge of the altar. The water can also be placed on the altar but the server should wait for the deacon to add the water to
the wine and then return the water to the credence table. The other server
should put the basket of money on the floor in front of the altar. Do not reach
over the cups on the side of the altar but place items on the front edge of the
altar. The servers (except the one waiting for the water) should get the
ciborium with bread and bring them to the altar and hand them to the deacon
when he is ready for them.
When the altar is set, the two book servers will need to return to the credence
table and wait for Father to come to the altar. The other servers should be at
their chairs. After Father has blessed the bread and wine we can take the water
bowl and towel to the side edge of the altar (not the back) for Father to wash
his hands.
(Note: At Christmas and Easter we may have 2 pitchers of wine coming up, if so the cross person should get the other wine after replacing the cross and place on the alter with the first pitcher of wine.
After the washing of hands the book servers can return to their chairs. We might as well remain standing at this time since we are close to the “Holy Holy Holy” anyway. The server closest to the wall will pass the pads for kneeling to the right and we can place them (not throw them) on the bottom step during the “Holy Holy Holy”. We are missing the first bell because we are not ready for it because we are still in the process of kneeling and adjusting our cassocks. The bells will be next to the chair. Pick them up and put on the steps when kneeling, being careful not to ring them.
When Father does the Invocation (placing both hands over the chalice) we will ring the bell (even if Father is still talking). This happens almost within a minute of when we kneel so we need to ready. We ring the bells to bring attention to the people that something important is going on at the altar. (Father is calling the Holy Spirit down to bless our gifts) We just need a short ring but it should be bold. I don’t think the bells we use can be rung too loud even if we tried.
At the consecration of the bread, when the Father raises the bread to its highest peak the bells are rung again. This should be a little longer ring than the first. We will ring the bells for the last time when Father raises the chalice to its highest peak during consecration.
After the great “Amen”, collect the kneeling pads and pass them to the left so the server can place them by the chair closest to the wall.
After Father receives communion, the Eucharistic Ministers
will come up on either side of the altar. You will come up to receive communion
and line up in front of the credence table. This will give the EM’s room. After
receiving communion we will WAIT until Father and all the EM’s have left the
altar. When leaving the altar to go back to our seats, the last server should
get the water and place on the altar to the right side of the cloth then return
to his seat. When all four servers are
standing in front the chairs you may then SIT
down.
After communion we need to clear off the altar but not until the deacon has left the altar to return the consecrated hosts to the tabernacle. It will be too crowded if we come up to early. Clear off everything from the altar and place on the credence table. Also remove the bookstand. Do not take anything off that Father or the deacons are cleaning. They will hand them to you when they are done, or will leave the altar when they are done.
After communion Father will stand and again say, “Let us Pray”. The second book person will again get the book and take it to Father. When the prayer is over, return the book and return to your chair.
At the end of Mass, Father and the deacon will approach the altar and kiss it. The cross person should remove the cross and walk down the steps, behind Father, and turn and wait. The other three servers should walk around the altar, not over it, lining up the same way as when we came in. After genuflecting, (the cross person does not genuflect), the cross person will turn and lead everyone out of the church. The three altar servers will get behind the cross bearer side-by-side, just as when we came in, followed by the deacon and Father.
After hanging up your robes, the cross person will put the cross in its stand and return to put out the candles. Do NOT blow the candles out, this will spread hot wax over everything, Use the candle lighter and snuff them out. Do NOT return to the church if the closing hymn is not finished.