ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY PARISH, WALLA WALLA
STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE
BEFORE MASS
1. Arrive and be dressed 15 minutes before the Mass begins.
• Make sure your alb is the right size. The hem should be right above the tops
of your shoes.
• Check the calendar to make sure your cincture is the right color.
2. Check to make sure that everything is set up for the Mass. (If there is a visiting
priest, talk to him ahead of time to make sure he is aware of the way we usually
do things. Ask if he needs anything.)
3. Gather in the library with the priest, lectors and Eucharistic ministers and
anyone else who will be in the entrance procession.
• Make sure you talk to the other servers to determine who will carry the
candles and be the cross-bearer.
• Remember, candles are used only if there are at least two servers.
• Light your candles, but leave them on the table until the prayer is finished.
ENTRANCE PROCESSION
4. After prayer, the altar servers will line up in the following order:
• Incense bearer (thurifer) (if any) and boat bearer (if any).
• Cross bearer (crucifer).
• Candle bearers.
If there is only one server, he or she will carry the cross, and there will be no
candles. If there are two servers, they carry the candles, and a Eucharistic minister
carries the cross. The candle bearers walk side by side behind the cross bearer.
5. As soon as the congregation has started to sing, the procession begins. Don't
delay.
6. At the foot of the steps, the cross bearer goes the right; puts the cross in the
stand; and moves to the seat next to the musicians, remaining standing.
7. The candle bearers stop at the foot at the steps; wait till the priest bows; go
round the altar on the left and right; and put the candles on the altar, about
halfway between the center and the edges of the altar. The Gospel book is
placed in the center of the altar between these two candles.
8. The servers go to their chairs and remain standing. They take their seat, one
next to the priest, one next to the cross bearer, remaining standing.
GREETING
9. The priest begins the Mass with the sign of the cross.
10. The priest may provide an introduction explaining the readings or welcoming
people to Mass.
11. In the penitential rite, we recall our sins and ask God for forgiveness. Pray the
general confession or penitential act along with everyone. For the Kyrie, respond
with “Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.”
12. The Gloria (“Glory to God...”) will then be sung (not during Advent and Lent).
13. After the Gloria, the priest says, “Let us pray….” This is the cue for the server
standing closest to the credence to take the sacramentary or missal to the priest
for the opening prayer. Stand at the priest's right hand if you are tall (so that the
priest can look out at the whole congregation) or in front of the priest if you are
not as tall (so that you can rest the book on your chest).
14. After the prayer, close the book and place it on the credence. Everyone
takes a seat at this point.
LITURGY OF THE WORD
15. First reading: The lector comes forward to read the first reading. You remain
seated.
16. The psalm is said or sung. You remain seated.
17. Second reading: The lector comes forward to read the second reading. You
remain seated.
18. Gospel acclamation (Alleluia): When the choir begins to sing the Alleluia, the
two servers that brought in the candles go and get their candle, and stand on
either side of the altar. The cross bearer stands, but remains in his or her place.
The priest or deacon picks up the Gospel book. Proceed to the ambo: one
candle bearer, the priest or deacon, and the second candle bearer. Take your
sides to the left and right of the ambo. Hold the candles straight and quietly.
19. The priest or deacon reads the Gospel and ends with “The Gospel of the
Lord,” and everyone responds with “Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.” The candle
bearers remove the candles to the credence and carefully blow them out. Then
the candle bearers return to their seats and sit down.
20. The priest or deacon gives the homily.
21. After the homily, all rise for the profession of faith (“I believe in one God...”).
Remember to bow at the words “and by the power of the Holy Spirit was
incarnate....”
22. All stand during universal prayer. After the final “Amen,” the congregation sits
down.
LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
23. After everyone has been seated, the ushers collect the offering. This is your
cue to carry the following to the altar:
• The sacramentary or missal. Place it at the left side of the altar.
• The chalice, paten, purificator and corporal. Place the chalice at the right
side of the altar. Take the corporal off the chalice, place it at the center of
the altar and unfold it like you open a book.
• The communion cups, each with a purificator.
• The water cruet.
When you are done and the ushers are still collecting the offering, return to your
seat and sit down.
PRESENTATION AND PREPARATION OF THE GIFTS
24. Two servers go with the priest to the foot of the steps to receive the gifts: the
money, as well as the bread and wine. The money goes at the foot of the altar;
the bread and wine, on the altar.
25. The priest adds a drop of water to the wine and hands the cruet to a server.
The server remains standing next to the altar with the cruet.
26. Another server gets the bowl and towel from the credence (towel folded
over his or her left arm). The other holds the water cruet. When the priest has
concluded the presentation of the gifts, the two servers move to the altar for the
handwashing. One holds out the bowl, and the other pours some water over the
priest's hands, When the priest has dried off his hands and returned the towel, the
servers bow to him and return the bowl, towel and cruet to the credence.
27. The servers take their place at the side steps of the altar. They remain
standing as the congregation rises for the prayer over the offerings.
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER
28. All stand during the preface dialogue, the preface and the Sanctus (“Holy,
holy, holy...”).
29. After the Sanctus, all kneel for the Eucharistic Prayer. The server in charge of
the altar bells rings them at three places during the Eucharistic Prayer:
• When the priest lays his hands on the gifts. (“...so that they may become for
us the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ”)
• When the priest elevates the Body of Christ. (“Take this, all of you, and eat of
it; for this is my Body, which will be given up for you.”)
• When the priest elevates the Blood of Christ. (“Take this, all of you, and drink
from it, for this is the chalice of my Blood, the Blood of the new and eternal
covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of
sins. Do this in memory of me.”)
NOTE: When you forget ringing the bell at one or more of these points, don't try
to catch up. Keeping quiet is better than ringing it too late.
30. After the concluding doxology (“Through him, and with him, and in him...”)
and the Amen, everyone rises.
COMMUNION RITE
31. Stand for the Our Father. Keep your hands folded.
32. At the sign of the peace, be sure not to block the way from the altar to the
tabernacle as you shake hands with whoever is there.
33. The servers line up behind the altar along with the Eucharistic ministers. After
the Agnus Dei (“Lamb of God...”) is sung, they receive Communion and return to
their seats, where they remain standing.
34. After Communion is finished, the servers clear the altar. All items are taken to
the credence.
35. The priest purifies (cleans) the liturgical vessels at the credence. The servers
remain standing at their seats.
36. The priest returns to his seat and sits down. The servers and the congregation
sit down. A brief silence follows.
37. The priest rises. All rise. The priest says, “Let us pray.” The server closest to the
credence picks up the sacramentary or missal and takes it to the priest. (See
above, No. 13.) After the prayer is finished, the sacramentary or missal is returned
to the credence.
CONCLUDING RITES
38. The priest reads the announcements.
39. The priest blesses the people. Then the priest (or the deacon) pronounces the
dismissal.
40. As the concluding hymn is sung, the priest, deacon (if any) and servers move
to the front of the altar. The cross bearer takes the cross from its stand. All line up;
at a sign from the priest, bow to the altar; and turn around and process to the
back of the church: first the cross bearer, then the candle bearers (without
candles!), then the deacon (if any) and the priest. The procession passes behind
the confessional and ends in the library.
41. In the library, the priest says a blessing.
42. The servers can then put back the cross, get the candles from the credence
and return them to the library, and then hang back up their albs and cinctures.
* * *
REMINDERS
• When you hold anything in your hands (such as the cross or a candle), do not
bow and do not make the sign of the cross, even if everyone else does.
• Always pay attention, especially to the priest. He may ask you for help at any
time. If he does, respond immediately.
• Don't leave the sanctuary during Mass for any reason except in case of
bathroom emergencies or illness – or when directed to do so by the priest.
• Serve at every Mass that you scheduled for, or make arrangements to have
someone cover the mass.
• Always move slowly and with dignity. When you make a mistake, pretend that
nothing went wrong. People will likely never notice the mistake, but they will
notice if you get nervous. When you forget to ring the bell, don't try to catch up
and ring a little later.
• Be quiet and dignified when serving at the altar. You are a role model. In
particular, remember good posture at all times:
- When you are standing, keep your hands folded in front of your chest. Stand
with both feet firmly on the floor.
- When you are kneeling, keep your hands folded in front of your chest. Let
your back and your upper legs form a straight line. Don't sit on your heels.
When kneeling down or rising from your knees, don't use your hands to push
yourself up. Your hands never need to touch the floor.
- When you are sitting, place your hands in your lap. Keep both feet on the
floor, side by side, bent at the knees. Don't cross your legs. Don't stretch them
out. Don't sit at the edge of the chair.
- Do not play with your cincture or your cross. Don't stretch. Cover your yawn,
sneeze or cough.
- Keep your back straight, except when bowing. When you bow, don't bend at
the hip but curve your back.
• Make sure that your alb and cincture are returned the way you want to find
them.
• Attend altar server training classes.
• And don't forget:

A prayer to St. Tarcisius, patron of altar servers
Dear St. Tarcisius,
you lived in a dangerous time to be a Christian.
Despite the risk, you held fast to your faith
and bravely chose to defend the body of Christ
present in the Eucharist
at the expense of your own.
To the last moment you cherished Jesus' gift of himself.
Intercede and pray for us
that we may have courage and a deep faith.
Pray that we may never forget
how precious a gift the Holy Eucharist is for us.
You who are now united with the Lord,
please obtain for us the petitions we are seeking.
We thank you for your intercession and prayers.
Amen.
