Please dress appropriately. It is most important to be reverent.
There is a signup sheet in the vestibule. Check off your name on the ministry list and select the position that you will serve on the Mass Assignment sheet. Sign your name on the position that you will serve. The serving positions are numbered. This number will show you where to stand to serve.
You may sit with your family wherever you would like to sit.
As soon as you hear “ Lamb of God”, approach the altar:
-Proceed to the side that you will be serving.
-After Father consumes the Precious Blood, come up onto the altar and line up on the side. The rug is a guideline of where to stand. The first position next to the altar is the cup. The next position is the host. If there are more than 2 cups (10:30am) the positions are cup, host, host then cup. See example at the bottom of the guidelines.
If you end up in a different position than what you signed up for IT IS OKAY. Just remain where you are. Please do not cross behind the Altar.
-For those with the Precious Body, you should say, “The Body of Christ.” After a response of “Amen” place the Precious Body in their hand or on their tongue.
-For those with the Precious Blood, you should say, “The Blood of Christ.” If a person comes up with their hands crossed over their chest they are coming for a blessing. Simply say, “God bless you.” Do not give them the sign of the cross.
The Eucharistic Minister in the 4th position (on the Right side), led by an Usher will go to the back of the church to give Communion to those unable to come up to the altar.
If you run out of Precious Blood, please place the purificator over the chalice and remain standing in your spot until Father has finished. If you run out of Precious Body, please remain standing in your spot until Father has finished. If there is Precious Blood left, please go up on the side of the altar to consume or give the chalice to Father to consume.
After distributing communion, you will hand Father or the Deacon your ciborium. Father or the Deacon will purify all sacred vessels on the Altar.
Please return to the position at the bottom of the step and all ministers wait for Father to put the ciborium with the Precious Body into the tabernacle. Bow and return to your seat.
After the recessional hymn, ministers can bring the vessels back to the sacristy. The priest chalice is purified on the altar there is no need to clean Fathers chalice. The finger bowl and towel can be left for the next Mass. Bring back all other items (cups and ciborium, water cruet and wine cruet) to the sacristy. Please do not wash the cups used by the people (this must be done by a priest or deacon) Leave the cups on the side of the sacrarium (sink). Wipe the ciborium’s and cruets and store them away for the next Mass.
***In case of a dropped host, the Minister should ideally consume it immediately as a sign of respect for the Blessed Sacrament. If, however, it is not possible or prudent, the host should be brought immediately to a side table or the tabernacle and placed in a small vessel of water to dissolve. While this demands a pause to the distribution of Holy Communion, it can also serve as a moment of silent catechesis on the dignity and care we owe to the Blessed Sacrament.
***In case of a spill of the Precious Blood, the Minister should stop distribution immediately and tend to the spill, making certain no one walks on the Precious Blood, perhaps assisted by ushers. Purificators should be used to clean the spill immediately, which should of course be washed in the sacrarium.