The Ministry of SERVERS

“SERVING GOD AND

GOD’S PEOPLE AT MASS”
 ALTAR SERVERS’

IDENTITY & MISSION

 The Ministry of SERVERS

ALTAR

- Altar of the Word

- Altar of the Eucharist
 The Ministry of
ALTAR SERVERS

SERVERS = ministers
The name server clearly points out what they do
at mass: serve God and God’s people by helping
the priest and his fellow worshipers to praise
God as well as they can.
 The Ministry of
ALTAR SERVERS

a. Clergy

b. People

c. God
Why does the priest need servers to
help him at mass?
CLERGY
Priest cannot do everything at mass and so
different kinds of people must help him:
deacons, readers, and acolytes. Today,
servers are doing some of the tasks that the
acolytes were doing in the past such as
preparing the altar and sanctuary before the
mass and making the responses.
 The Ministry of
ALTAR SERVERS
In the past, acolyte would carry the
chalice, candles and other items needed
for the mass. He would prepare everything
for the mass and then help the priest in the
altar. When mass is over, the acolyte
would pack everything up again and carry
it out.
Who are the acolytes?
They are young men who are studying to be
priests, and their serving in the altar gives
them a good chance to learn what they
needed to know about the mass. That is
exactly the main reason why the church
would say that only boys could serve at the
mass, because only men could be priests.
 The Ministry of
ALTAR SERVERS
But presently, servers do not need to be studying to
be priests, and not all servers will become priests
when they get older.

In 1994, PJP II (Pope John Paul II) allowed girls to

serve at the altar, and if the diocesan bishop will
permit too. It is good that girls have now joined
boys at altar servers almost everywhere in the
United States but not here in the Philippines.
PEOPLE
SC 14: “The Church earnestly desires that
all the faithful be led to that full, conscious,
and active participation in liturgical
celebrations called for by the very nature of
the liturgy.”
Part of the ministry of the servers is to help
set the pace for all who take part in the mass.
What you do there and how you do it can
help other people to understand the mass
better and make their love for God stronger.
 The Ministry of
ALTAR SERVERS
As server, you should try to become very
involved in the mass, so that other people will
become involved also.

You should always keep in your mind that the

people in church will be watching you carefully.
However, they are not so interested to see if you
make mistakes, but they like to see what it means
to be really involved in the mass. NOTE: People
will take more interest in the mass if they see you
taking more interest in it while you serve.
 The Ministry of
ALTAR SERVERS
“It makes difference how we carry the
candles, whether and how we genuflect or
bow, what kind of posture we have when
sitting or standing, whether we seem to be
prayerful and interested when we are not
performing any actions.”
Bishop Untener
 The Ministry of
ALTAR SERVERS
Even at mass, our outward actions and
appearance tell others a lot about how we
are feeling on the inside. At mass, our
action and appearance should show that we
love God and God’s people. It should be
clear to all who see that we think serving is
worth doing and worth doing well. We
should try to be the best servers we can be.
GOD
 Service is more than helping others. It is about
who and what you are.
 It is thus more than what we do in the church –
it is the way we live at home, school and play;
it is how we treat and live with others.
 Serving in our church reflects what we do all
the time.
SPIRITUALITY OF AN ALTAR SERVER
S – acrificial
E – nthusiastic
R – epated Act
V – irtuous
I – nspiring
C – heerful
E – xcellent
PROFILE OF AN ALTAR SERVER

1. Reverence
2. Discipline
3. Decorum
4. Piety
5. Brotherly
WHAT DOES THE CHURCH EXPECT OF YOU?

 first, to know what you are doing

 second, to render a true holy service

Serving is a craft, which the Church

expects to be carried out well.
SACRED

OBJECTS
DIFFERENT KINDS
 Sacred Vessels
 Sacred Linen
 Sacred Vestments
 Liturgical Books
Sacred Vessels
Paten
Chalice
Ciborium
Intinctorium
Cruets (Plate)
Pitcher & Basin
Communion Plate
Bell
Sacramentary Stand
Thurible
Incense Boat
Processional Cross
Processional Candles
Monstrance
Lunette
Pyx
Aspergillum
Oil Stocks
Sacred Linen
Corporal
Pall
Altar Cloth
Purificator
Finger Towel
Sacred Vestments
Cassock/Soutane
Surplice
Alb
Chasuble
Stole
Dalmatic
Cope
Humeral Veil
Cincture
Mitre
Crozier
Pectoral Cross
Ring
Skull Cap or
Zucchetto
Pallium
Liturgical Books
Sacramentary
Lectionary
Gospel Book
Collectio Rituum
LITURGY &

HOLY MASS
WHAT IS LITURGY?
 it comes from the Greek word for a public
duty, a service, a public organization
 Christian liturgy: we are not anymore talking
of what we do but what God does
 Vatican II: “an action of JC, an action of
eternal worship in which he involves us, the
members of His Mystical Body, the Church”
Where Christ is present during the Liturgy?
 in the assembly of the people
 in the sacred minister
 in the proclamation of readings
 in the sacraments
 in the Mass (presider/people/bread and wine)

As a server, you are part of the signs and symbol of the

Liturgy, able to help or hinder the meaning and power
of worship.
 4 Kinds of Liturgical Observance

1. Solemnities
2. Feasts
3. Memorials
4. Ferials
 5 Seasons of the Year

1. Advent
2. Christmas
3. Lenten
4. Easter
5. Ordinary
 Liturgical Colors

1. White
2. Red
3. Green
4. Purple/Violet
5. Rose
 The Liturgical Setting
1. Altar
2. Lectern
3. Commentator Stand
4. Presidential Chair
5. Tabernacle (with Vigil Light)
6. Credence Table
7. Offertory Table
8. Sacrarium
9. Sacristy
 4 MAIN PARTS OF THE MASS

1. Introductory Rite
2. Liturgy of the Word
3. Liturgy of the Eucharist
4. Concluding Rite
 INTRODUCTORY RITE
3. Entrance Song
4. Veneration of the Altar & Greeting of the
People
5. Penitential Rite
6. Gloria
7. Opening Prayer/Collect
 LITURGYOF THE WORD
3. First Scripture Reading
4. Responsorial Psalm
5. Second Scripture Reading
6. Alleluia/Gospel Verse
7. Gospel
8. Homily
9. Profession of Faith
10. Prayers of the Faithful/General Intercession
 LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
1. Preparation of the Gifts 3. Communion Rite
- Offertory
- Prayer Over the Gifts -Lord’s Prayer
2. Eucharistic Prayer -Rite of Peace
- Preface
- Sanctus -Lamb of God
- Epiclesis -Prayer after Communion
- Narrative of Institution
- Elevation -Brief Announcement
- Acclamation
- Anamnesis
- Offering
- Intercessions
- Doxology/Amen
 CONCLUDING RITE
3. Final Blessing
4. Dismissal
PRINCIPLE OF
CEREMONIES
 Uniformity of Actions
 Precedence
 Postures and Basic Actions
a. Hands
b. Sign of the Cross
c. Standing
d. Sitting
e. Walking
f. Turning
g. Kneeling
h. Sign of Peace
i. Genuflections
j. Bows
GIRM 2003
 275. A bow signifies reverence and honor shown to
the persons themselves or to the signs that represent
them. There are two kinds of bows: a bow of the
head and a bow of the body.
 A bow of the head is made when the three Divine
Persons are named together and at the names of
Jesus, of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and of the Saint in
whose honor Mass is being celebrated.
GIRM 2003
b. A bow of the body, that is to say a profound bow, is
made to the altar; during the prayers Munda cor
meum (Almighty God, cleanse my heart) and In
spiritu humilitatis (Lord God, we ask you to
receive); in the Creed at the words Et incarnatus est
(by the power of the Holy Spirit . . . made man); in
the Roman Canon at the words Supplices 68 te
rogamus (Almighty God, we pray that your angel).
The same kind of bow is made by the deacon when
he asks for a blessing before the proclamation of the
Gospel. In addition, the priest bows slightly as he
speaks the words of the Lord at the consecration.
Movements in the Sanctuary
c. Books
d. Candles
e. Cross
f. Bells
g. Presentations
Reverences
c. Blessed Sacrament (Tabernacle)
d. Altar
e. Gospel
f. Bishop
g. Faithful
Incensation
 Incensation
 276. Thurification or incensation is an
expression of reverence and of prayer, as is
signified in Sacred Scripture (cf. Ps 141
[140]:2, Rev 8:3).
Incensation
Incense may be used if desired in any form of Mass:
 During the Entrance procession;
 At the beginning of Mass, to incense the cross and
the altar;
 At the Gospel procession and the proclamation of
the Gospel itself;
 After the bread and the chalice have been placed
upon the altar, to incense the offerings, the cross, and
the altar, as well as the priest and the people;
 At the showing of the host and the chalice after the
consecration.
Incensation
 277. The priest, having put incense into the
thurible, blesses it with the sign of the Cross,
 without saying anything. Before and after an
incensation, a profound bow is made to the
person or object that is incensed, except for
the incensation of the altar and the offerings
for the Sacrifice of the Mass.
Incensation
 The following are incensed with three swings
of the thurible: the Most Blessed Sacrament, a
relic of the Holy Cross and images of the
Lord exposed for public veneration, the
offerings for the sacrifice of the Mass, the
altar cross, the Book of the Gospels, the
Paschal Candle, the priest, and the people.
Incensation
 The following are incensed with two swings
of the thurible: relics and images of the Saints
exposed for public veneration. This should be
done, however, only at the beginning of the
celebration, after the incensation of the altar.
Incensation
 The cross, if situated on or near the altar, is
incensed by the priest before he incenses the
altar; otherwise, he incenses it when he passes
in front of it.
 The priest incenses the offerings with three
swings of the thurible or by making the sign
of the cross over the offerings with the
thurible, then going on to incense the cross
and the altar.
Incensing
c. Use of Thurible
d. Carrying
e. Presenting
f. Closing
g. Giving
h. Incensation
PONTIFICAL
SERVING
4 Servers are Directly Associated with
the Bishop:
1. Mitre-Bearer
- the two tails of the mitre (lappets) are held
towards him
- to protect the mitre he covers himself with
the vimpa, a silk-scraf worn around the neck
like a stole
4 Servers are Directly Associated with
the Bishop:
1. Mitre-Bearer
- in procession
- when moving from place to place (if distance is not
too short)
- when seated
- when he stands to speak to the people
- when he receives the gifts
- he baptizes, confirms, witnesses a marriage, during
the laying on of hands in ordination and anointing
of the sick in public celebration
4 Servers are Directly Associated with
the Bishop:
2. Crozier-Bearer
- he holds the crozier with the crook turned to him
- hands to the bishop the staff making sure that the
crook points away from the bishop
- carried in his left-hand in procession
- when moving from place to place
- held in both hands during Mass
- while giving the homily?
- final blessing
- when he confirms, if he wishes
4 Servers are Directly Associated with
the Bishop:

3. Book Bearer

4. Mic Bearer
Practical Tips
c. Foresight
d. Focus
e. Fun
f. Faith