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Guidelines for Sacristans

PROCEDURE FOR SACRISTANS at Jesus, Our Risen Savior

Prior to setting up the Altar and assembling the various Ministers, A Prayer should be said, Thanking God for this opportunity to serve Him in this special way.

The Sacristan is in charge of all things pertinent to the Mass and must be prepared so the Celebrant need only concern himself with the Mass without distractions. The only interaction with the Celebrant other than identifying yourself as the Sacristan is does he need anything special. (For Visiting Priest this interact could take longer than normal. as you have to show him where things are, plus provide any of his special needs.)

  1. Turn on the Audio System if you are serving the first Mass of the day, and turn it off after Mass, if your Mass is the last one for the day.
  2. Make a quick survey of the Altar to determine the amount of Consecrated Hosts that are in the Tabernacle; Leave the Key on the Tabernacle; the status of the Sanctuary Candle; locate the plastic Gospel Holder on the Altar a few inches in front of the Altar microphone; Smooth the Altar cloth and the Corporal; and Check the two Oblation bowls for Holy water, condition of the Purificators, and cleanliness. Any item(s) that require changing then do so.
  3. Determine the number of Minister of Communion stations needed and so indicate on the Sign Up sheet. Place a new Sign Up Sheet on the counter adjacent to the refrigerator.
  4. The Sacristan is in charge of the Mass and should make sure Ministers of Communion, Lectors, Altar Servers, and Ushers are available and ready to do their respective jobs. If not, then find replacements. During Mass, they should position themselves so they are easily found from the Altar in case the Celebrant needs them during Mass.
  5. Fill the Ciboriums with hosts based of the typical number of people normally attending that Mass. ( It is desired that only a few Consecrated Hosts be left in the Tabernacle after Mass.)
  6. Fill Chalices with wine about two thirds full. The Number of Chalices needed are based the typical number of stations for your Mass. (Normally 4 are required for Sunday Mass and 2 for week day Masses)
  7. Fill two matching Cruets 2/3’s full, one with wine and the other with water.
  8. The Ciboriums, Cruet of Wine, and the Priests Paten with a large Host on it are to be placed on the small table at the rear of the Church ready for the Offertory Procession. (Currently the Priest’s Paten matching their Chalice are too small to hold the large Host, so the large Host is placed inside the top Ciborium.)
  9. Assemble a Dressed Chalice, the Chalices filled with wine, the Cruet with the water, a number Purificators matching the number of Chalices plus one for spills, the Lavabo Bowl with a small pitcher of water, and a towel on the large tray. Carry to the Credence Table on the Altar and assemble them on the table. (The previous Sacristan may have left items on the Credence to aid you, this can be determined when you survey the Altar per Item 2 above.)
  10. Place the Lectionary with the ribbon at the first reading on the left side of the Ambo. Place the book with the greeting on the middle of the Ambo ready for the Lector.
  11. Remove the Gospel book in front of the Ambo and bring it to the rear of the Church. If there is a Deacon, identify where the Gospel book is located, as he will it carry back to the Altar in the Procession; if no Deacon , then one of the Lectors will carry the book; and if only one Lector then the Sacristan carries the Gospel Book. The Gospel Book carrier positions themselves directly behind the Altar Servers and raises the Book over their heads as the procession starts. At the Altar they do not stop to bow but proceed directly to the Altar and position the Gospel Book in the clear plastic holder in the middle of the Altar.
  12. If a Deacon or Concelebrant are not at Mass, and after the Celebrate finishes taking Communion, proceed to the area behind the Altar, positioning yourself to the Celebrants right at the edge of the Altar. The Celebrant will give you Body of Christ, and then hand you his Chalice. Take the Chalice and give yourself the Blood of Christ, then give the Blood of Christ to the Ministers on the Altar. When you finish, place the Chalice on the Altar and cover it with the Pall. Either pick up the Ciborium or the Celebrant will hand it to you, and you move to the center aisle and start giving Communion. When finished return the Ciborium to the Altar or give it to the Celebrant. Wash your fingers in the Oblation bowl and position yourself at the right hand of the Celebrant at the edge of the Altar. The Celebrant will give you the Ciboria that contain the Consecrated Hosts, which you are to place in the Tabernacle. After locking the door to the Tabernacle, bow and turn and leave the Altar, bowing again at the foot of the Altar.
  13. After Mass and the sacred vessels have been purified, remove them from the Altar plus any other items to the Sacristy for cleaning. After cleaning, either store the sacred vessels or leave them on the tray for the next Mass. There is a box in the Sacristy to hold the used purificators and towels.
  14. If this is the last Mass of the day, and the sacred vessels have been stored, turn off all the lights except the one that illuminates the Crucifix, and the one that illuminates the Holy Family; and lock up the Church.

The above procedure is for the normal weekly or Sunday Masses. However there are other Masses that require additional items and they are:

Baptism

  • The Pascal Candle is to be lit;
  • Fill the Baptism Font;
  • Have the White Garment ready;
  • Have the Special Candle ready;
  • Have the Sacred Oils (SC & OC) available;
  • Have a sliced lemon and towel for the Celebrant to clean the oil off his fingers; &
  • If the Celebrant is not there yet, obtain the Baptism Rites book from the cabinet and place it on the
  • counter for him.
  • There is a wide drawer in the Sacristy that contains the items mentioned above.

Funeral

  • Lay out the Funeral Pall for the Morticians to cover the casket (Either hanging or in the bottom wide drawer in the cabinet where the sacred vessels are stored;
  • Fill the Holy water bucket partially full, and have the aspergillum available for blessing the casket;
  • Light the charcoal right before Mass in the thurible (censer), and have fresh incense (Check with the Celebrant as to what kind he desires.) in the boat. Place additional charcoal on the shelf under the credence table and instruct the Altar Servers to check the charcoal at the Offertory, adding charcoal if required: &
  • If the Celebrant is not there yet, obtain the Funeral Rites book from the cabinet and place it on the counter for him.

Weddings

  • A small Paten for the ring(s);
  • A Microphone (Portable one from Choir); &
  • If the Celebrant is not there yet, obtain the Marriage Rites book from the cabinet and place it on the counter for him.

Easter Vigil

  • Easter Fire:
  • Fill the Holy water bucket partially full, and have the aspergillum available;
  • Light the charcoal right before Mass in the thurible (censer), and have fresh incense in the boat.
  • Place additional charcoal on the shelf under the credence table and instruct the Altar serves to check the charcoal at the Offertory, adding charcoal if required. Have the Sacred Oils (SC & OC) available; &
  • Have a sliced lemon and towel for the Celebrant to clean the oil off his fingers.

Confirmation

  • Have the Sacred Oils (SC & OC) available; &
  • Have a sliced lemon and towel for the Celebrant to clean the oil off his fingers.

Thank you for your service!

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