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· When you arrive, check in with the wedding coordinator and the priest who is celebrating the ceremony. Find if the wedding will take place within or outside the Mass. Each priest will do things a bit differently, so be sure to check with them for specific instructions. · Put your alb and cincture on and be ready for further instructions. Candles need to be lit 10 minutes prior to the wedding liturgy. Check with the wedding coordinator as to which candles get lit. It is a good idea to do a walk-through in the sanctuary to familiarize oneself with the set-up. · Typically, servers do not process down the aisle. They usually walk in with the priest from the sacristy (chapel) or the side aisle (church). Bowing takes place before the altar, and unless told otherwise, stand with the priest before the kneelers until after the opening prayer. A server may be asked to take the bride’s bouquet and set it out of the way. · The Liturgy of the Word takes place as normal. During the liturgy, please pay attention to the readings and prayers. Participate where appropriate and please keep a smile on your face. · Right after the homily, the priest will begin the marriage vows. At this time, servers are to bring to the kneelers the ring tray and the holy water. When the priest is finished with the ring ceremony, return the tray and water to the credence table. · If Liturgy of the Eucharist is celebrated, servers take on the normal responsibilities. Often, during the sign of peace, server will take several roses to the couple (found on or near the credence table) for them to present to their mothers. Offer the bride and groom the sign of peace and then hand them the flowers. · After Communion, couples often take a bouquet of flowers to the stature of Mary. Servers typically will give the bouquet to the couple at the kneelers. · If the server has taken the bride’s bouquet at the beginning of liturgy, he/she needs to return it to the bride before she walks down the aisle (after the couple is announce as “Mr. And Mrs. _______”). · At the end of the ceremony, after the bow before the altar, servers exit with the priest to the sacristy or down the side aisle. · Please help the priest and wedding coordinator clean up. |
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Serving a Wedding |
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Serving a wedding or funeral requires extra training, which can be taken after serving faithfully for one year. |
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· When you arrive, check in with the priest and the ICD funeral coordinator (Kathy Prewitt or Mary Jane Smith). Each priest may have slightly different instructions. · Light the candles at the ambo (candles are not carried in procession). Bring the cross to the sacristy. Divide up jobs. Server #1 is the Cross Bearer and Book Bearer. Server #2 carries the pall (long cloth that covers the casket) and is responsible for lighting candles during the Mass. Server #3 carries the holy water in the beginning and is also responsible for the incense. Servers 2 and 3 are responsible for the offertory duties. · When the priest gives you the nod, servers exit the sacristy (carrying the cross, pall and holy water) and bow before the altar (chapel) or the walk to the baptismal font (church). If you are in the chapel, servers will walk tow-thirds of the way down the aisle and stop. Please stand sideways with your back to the pews. If you are in the Church, cross bearer stands at then end of the wooden cross in the floor by the font (facing the font) and the others stand to the side. The priest will use the holy water first and then the pall. · When the opening hymn begins, cross and servers lead in, bow at the altar, and go to chairs. · Mass will proceed in the typical fashion. Please participate in the prayers and songs. The cross bearer needs to remember to get the book to the altar and take the cross to the back to lead the gift precession. Candle bearer has the normal duties. The third server needs to set the altar. · During the Our Father, server #3 needs to light the charcoal in the thurible (incense burner). Make sure the charcoal is lit before returning to the sanctuary. · At the end of Mass, following the Closing Prayer, server #1 get the cross and walks to the far end of the casket (facing the altar). Server #2 walks and stands by the Easter candle. Server #3 gets the incense (thurible and incense boat) and walks to the right side of the priest. As the closing hymn begins, the two servers and the priest walk to the other side of the casket by the cross, pause until the casket is turned around, then cross slowly leads the procession out. · Please help the priest and funeral coordinator clean up. |
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Serving a Funeral |
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Arrive 20 minutes before the start of the wedding or funeral, wearing dress shoes and nice pants/skirt, no jeans. |
