Weekday Mass

bb book bearer

(Hold the Sacramentary with two hands.)

C Celebrant (Presider of the Mass)

br bell ringer

Definitions:

Sanctuary is the space surrounding the altar; usually this space is elevated.

Sacramentary is the prayer book for the celebrant; normally it is red.

br

C     —>         ALTAR +

Assignments:

Server #1—book bearer (bb)

Server #2— bell ringer (br)

At the beginning, br gently rings the bell hung by the door, and all walk toward the center aisle. br and bb wait for C at the 1st step of the sanctuary; bb is on the right side of C and br is on the left side of C.

At the step of the sanctuary, the altar servers follow the posture of C. If C bows, then the servers bow together with him; if C genuflects (kneels), then they genuflect with him.

After the bow or genuflection toward the altar, the servers go to their seats. bb sits on the outside seat near the altar.

When C says, “Let us pray”, bb goes to C with the Sacramentary in hands. After C finishes saying the opening prayer and closes the Sacramentary, bb places the book on the altar and then goes back to his/her seat.

Posture: Sit during the first reading and psalm.
Stand during the proclamation of the Gospel.
While standing, if your hands are freed, fold them upright.

Next, bb holds the cruet of wine while br holds the cruet of water and wait for C. After C returns the cruets to the servers, the servers put them back on the credence table.

Then, the servers bring water and towel for C to wash his hands. br places the tower over his/her wrist and holds the bowl, and bb handles the water pitcher. C places his hands over the bowl and bb pours the water over the hands of C.

When C says, “Pray, brethren, that our sacrifice …”,, br and bb go standing below the step of the altar as shown below:

At the end of “Holy, Holy …”, all kneel down

When C elevates the Body of Christ, br rings the bell. When C elevates the Blood of Christ from the chalice, br rings the bell again.

At the end of “Amen” for the doxology (“Through him, with him, and in him …”), the altar servers stand up and remain where they are for the entire prayer of the “Our Father”.

At the invitation to offer the sign of peace (“Let us offer each other the sign of peace”), the servers go directly toward the altar to exchange the sign of peach with C and with one another. (Note: Servers do not leave the sanctuary.)

At the end of the exchange of the sign of peace, the servers stand by the altar, near the credence table, preparing to receive Holy Communion.

Posture: Kneel during the Eucharistic Prayer.
If your hands are freed, fold them upright.

After receiving the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, the altar servers return to their seats.

While C is distributing holy communion to the congregation, bb picks up the Sacramentary and places it on the little table next to the chair of C.

When C returns to the altar from giving holy communion, bb gets the cruet of water and be ready to pour water into the chalice of C. bb puts away the cruet and wait by the credence table for C to finish purifying the chalice and communion cups. One by one, C hands to bb the communion cups and chalice to be put away on the credence table.

Posture: Sit up straight.
While standing, if your hands are freed, fold them upright.

When C starts going toward the altar, the altar servers walk together toward the center aisle, at 1st step of the sanctuary, and wait for C as they did at the beginning of the Mass.

Genuflection Line-up:

Facing the tabernacle and altar, all genuflect or bow together with C and proceed back to the sacristy. (Note: The line up for exit procession is in the same order as the line up for the entrance procession).