CHAPTER 1

Acolyte or Server?

In the early years of the Church, lay people helped priests in many ways. Someof them assisted at the celebration of the Eucharist and were sometimes called"acolytes." This word "acolyte" has meant different things at different times inour history. Recently, many people have come to equate "acolyte" with "server."

In 1973, the Catholic Church restored the ministry of Acolyte. This means that,as a church community, we recognize that we need this ministry of service.Someone who is called by God to serve the Church as an acolyte is "instituted"in a special ceremony by the local Bishop or someone selected by the Bishop.Instituted acolytes serve in the following ways:

1. Preparing the altar and sacred vessels before Mass;

2. Preparing the corporal, chalice(s), purificator(s) and Sacramentary for theEucharist;

3. Helping the priest to receive the bread and wine carried in procession;

4. Assisting with incense, especially when there is no deacon;

5. Helping to distribute Communion as a minister of the Eucharist;

6. Cleaning the vessels after Mass, or after Communion;

7. Bringing Communion to the sick and home-bound of the parish;

8. When necessary, conducting most of the ceremony of the Exposition of theBlessed Sacrament;

9. Instructing others who assist at liturgies and other church ceremonies.

This is a longer "job description" than most people realize when they use theword "acolyte." Since most parishes do not have instituted acolytes on a regularbasis, other persons perform some of the acolyte's duties. These persons arecalled "servers," as ministers who assist at the liturgy.

This manual is called The New Complete Server to avoid confusion with acolytes.In many parishes, servers are young people from grammar, junior-high and highschools. In other places, servers may be adults or senior adults who help withthe ceremonies. This manual is called complete, since it can be used by any agegroup in any parish or worshipping community.

Parish Differences

Each parish community does things differently from other parishes. Three itemsthat differ from place to place are the use of incense, the use of bells, andthe vestment worn by the server. The priest, deacon or person delegated by thepastor will instruct the server in these and other matters. Below is a list ofways some parishes or worship communities use these things.

Incense is optional in any form of Mass. When it is used, it is both a sign ofhonor and a sign of our prayer rising like smoke to God (see Psalm 141). Serverswill be told by the priest or his delegate when and how incense will be used inthe parish. There are five times when incense can be used at Mass:

1. In the entrance procession;

2. At the beginning of Mass upon arriving at the sanctuary, to honor the altarand cross;

3. In the Gospel procession, to honor the Word of God;

4. At the preparation of the gifts, to honor the offerings, the altar, thepriest, the othe ministers, and all those gathered for the Eucharist;

5. At the consecration of the bread and wine, to honor the Body and Blood ofChrist.

In the Middle Ages, bells or chimes alerted the people to the most importantparts of the Mass. The bells or chimes were rung before, during and after thepriest prayed the words of Jesus: "this is my body.... this is my blood."Because people can easily see and hear what is happening today, most parishes donot use bells or chimes. They could be used:

1. During the Eucharistic Prayer, after the "Holy, Holy," when the priest holdshis hands over the bread and wine;

2. During the words of consecration, also called the institution of theEucharist narrative.

The final big difference among parishes is the server's vestment. This can varywidely from one parish to another. Servers should take care of the vestment ifthey have one for use at Mass. Vestments can be: alb and cincture, since the albis the usual vestment for liturgical ministers; clean, neat clothes; no specialvestment, since lay persons such as readers and special ministers of theEucharist often use this last option.

It will be up to each parish to choose how the server will assist the faithfulin each of these three areas. Each server is responsible for remembering theinstructions as to what the community's practice will be. Servers might use thispage as a reminder by checking off each item that applies to their parish.

Examples of Servers

Procession Crossbearer (center) flanked by two candlebearers

Deep bow from waist

Kneeling server, in alb and cincture

Standing server, in cassock and surplus

Seated server

Thurifer

Familiar Words and Objects For Servers to Know

Acclamation: literally "a holy shout!" We sing the Gospel Acclamation as a wayof praising God who is present in the Word. We join more fully during theChurch's solemn Eucharistic Prayer when we respond with the eucharisticacclamations it contains.

Acolyte: someone who helps prepare for the liturgical ceremony, leads thecongregation, and assists the priest as a minister of Communion. The acolyte,one of the Church's ministers, is instituted by the Bishop or his delegate in aspecial ceremony.

Advent: the four weeks before Christmas, during which we prepare for Christ'sfinal coming as well as for the upcoming Christmas feast. The priest wearsviolet, which is a traditional color of waiting, preparation, anticipation andexpectation.

Advent Wreath: a festive circular wreath, often made of greens, arranged to holdthree violet candles and one pink (or rose) candle. The candles are lighted forthe Saturday evening and Sunday Masses of Advent, with one additional candlelighted each week...