Procedures and Guidelines for LITURGICAL Ministries

Addendum

February 2007

Scheduling & Communication

All ministers are now able to access the schedule on-line. On the home page of www.starcc.net there is a section on the left called “Quick Links” then a link “Liturgical Ministries” which will bring you to several options. Here you can:

v     Look at and print the current schedule.

v     Review procedures for Lectors and Ministers of Holy Communion.

v     View the telephone list (password required). Printed list will no longer be supplied.

v     Login to our web server and change your Mass Availability (which Masses out of the entire schedule you can/cannot serve [not available to rookie Altar Servers]) as well as enter in dates you will not be available to serve (password required).

Enclosed with this letter is your username and password. Once you log-in, you will be able to change your password to something easier to remember. You are now responsible for indicating your preferences and dates that you are available. This should ultimately eliminate no shows and lack of coverage at Masses. This is the most high tech we can get with this process. My goal is to reduce our paper consumption. If you are unable to use the computer and internet, please let me know, arrangements will be made to accommodate you.  Altar Servers are required to e-mail me their e-mail addresses (Rookies have done this already). All notifications for Altar Servers will ONLY be conducted through e-mail.

Altar Servers

v     Please remember that only the 25 new altar servers are able to wear gold cinctures. All other “senior” altar servers will now wear red and gold (2) cinctures together. Rookie Altar Servers are not permitted to wear the red cincture with their gold cincture until they have earned a higher rank. All other colored cinctures are now discontinued for use at the Mass.

v     All senior altar servers need to remember that when ringing the bells at the consecration, this is done with three paused rings. You may ask a rookie altar server to show you how they have been trained in this. Everyone must ring the bells the same way, which is this new way. There will be an individual Altar Server Meeting in March where we can review this.

 Lectors

v     You are reminded to kneel for the consecration. If your age or physical condition does not afford you the luxury of kneeling, then the proper posture is to stand in the same location where you would kneel. No one is permitted to stand near the Altar except concelebrating priests. I would also ask if you do not stand near your seats near the ambo.

v     Entrance Antiphons and Communion Antiphons should always be read at Masses with no music. This is done from the Missals that are throughout the church. Please do not use Magnificat, the antiphons are not the same and people can not join in the recitation.

Ministers of Holy Communion

v     You reminded to come up after the priest receives Holy Communion. We are also asking you NOT to exchange the sign of peace with each other as that part of the Mass is concluded. It also is very distracting when you come up and engage one another…it looks like you are welcoming the home run player into the dugout. (P.S. – Let’s go Yankees!!)

v     Also when coming into the sanctuary, all EMHC’s stand on the ambo side. No EMHC should be standing with the Altar Servers.

v     There will be two communion cups used at every weekday Mass (Except most funerals and 6:35am Masses) and at the Saturday 5pm and the Sunday 12noon Masses.

v     You are reminded that the Pope and the Bishop has mandated the rule that only the priest and deacon may purify the sacred vessels. Therefore you are asked to return the chalices to the altar after you have distributed the Precious Blood. You should place the chalice on the Cantor’s Podium side of the Altar. Remember to bow and reverence the Altar upon entering and exiting the sanctuary (if you are not carrying a ciborium or chalice).

Processions

Processions at the beginning and end of Mass currently have all Liturgical Ministers participating. However, if for a medical reason or age, you cannot “keep-up” with the pace of walking down the aisle, please stay in the pew or at your chair. The processions tend not to move at the same pace and it looks awkward because half of the procession is at one location and the second half is way behind.

Priests’ Sacristy

It is a place to gather before Mass, but please remember it is also a place of prayer for the priest as he prepares for the Mass and prays the vesting prayers. Please be conscious of the noise level.

Once again…THANK YOU! You all add to the beauty of this great gift we as a Church have: The Holy Eucharist. We are blessed to be one of the finest parishes in the Diocese and we are doubly blessed to have some of the finest Liturgical Ministers. Congratulations!