Being a sacristan is a beneficial way to offer stewardship of time to the church community; and to become a active participant in the Mass.
Sacristan Team Duties:
Being a sacristan is an easy way to share your time and talent with the church. For most Masses the sacristans arrive at church about 20 to 30 minutes before Mass and set up everything needed in the Sanctuary for the celebration of the Liturgy. After Mass they insure all of the holy vessels are returned to the sacristy where they are cleaned for the next Mass; and that the church is secure and safe before departing. This usually involves being in the church for 15 to 20 minutes after the Mass is completed.
General Set-up and Cleanup Effort for Mass:
In general, sacristan duties for most weekday, weekend and Holy Day Masses include:
Set-Up:
After Mass Cleanup:
Being a sacristan is an easy way to share your time and talent with the church. For most Masses the sacristans arrive at church about 20 to 30 minutes before Mass and set up everything needed in the Sanctuary for the celebration of the Liturgy. After Mass they insure all of the holy vessels are returned to the sacristy where they are cleaned for the next Mass; and that the church is secure and safe before departing. This usually involves being in the church for 15 to 20 minutes after the Mass is completed.
General Set-up and Cleanup Effort for Mass:
In general, sacristan duties for most weekday, weekend and Holy Day Masses include:
Set-Up:
- Unlock the sacristy and back door of the church. Unlock front doors if not already unlocked
- Turn on the sound system, check the battery in the lapel microphone and check operation of the altar and podium mikes. Also, place the case containing hearing devices in the back of the church.
- Turn on church, choir loft and vestibule lighting. (Note: Before winter evening Masses, and some early morning Masses, the parking lot lights should be turned on. The circuit breaker is in the south breaker-cabinet in the east end of the altar-server room.
- Remove the tabernacle key from the sacristy cabinet and put it in the tabernacle. Open tabernacle and check the quantity of consecrated hosts in the ciborium. Re-lock the tabernacle and leave key in lock.
- Fill a ciborium with hosts from the refrigerator. Fill cruets with water and wine from the refrigerator and place them in the tray. Place ciborium and water and wine on the Offertory Table.
- Fill silver pitcher with a small amount of water. Place pitcher, bowl, small purificator and hand towel on credence table - or - leave existing towel and purificator on table if not soiled. Soiled items go into laundry drawer.
- Set up a Chalice: Put a purificator over chalice. Place paten with a large host on top of the purificator. Cover with a pall, folded corporal and appropriately colored veil. Set on credence table.
- Set the Roman Missal on the right server's chair; or on the table next to the server's chair. Place the missal stand on the altar.
After Mass Cleanup:
- Turn off the sound system and stow the lapel microphone in the sacristy cabinet drawer. Move the hearing device case back to the sacristy and plug it back into the charger leaving case open.
- Make sure the tabernacle is locked, remove the key and place it on the sacristy cabinet hook.
- Remove the veil from the chalice, fold in and place it in the sacristy cabinet drawer with appropriate colored items. Remove purificator and place in soiled linen box. (It is routine to set a chalice up for the next Mass, but not install the colored veil.)
- Put ciborium back into the sacristy cabinet.
- Empty water from the bowl and pitcher and place them on rack at west end of sacristy cabinet. (OK to share pitcher water between two weekend Masses.)
- Put wine and water cruets in the refrigerator and place the tray on top of the refrigerator.
- Turn off church lights including parking lot lights, if necessary.
- Leave the hand towel and purificator on the credence table unless they are badly soiled—then replace.
- Make certain ushers have picked up the money basket (if applicable)
- Check to make sure altar candles are extinguished
- Lock the back and sacristy doors.
Funerals:
Funerals require a little more time and effort. Sacristans might also work with the mortuary or family during setup. In general the duties are the same as other Masses, plus the following:
Set-Up:
Clean-Up:
Funerals require a little more time and effort. Sacristans might also work with the mortuary or family during setup. In general the duties are the same as other Masses, plus the following:
Set-Up:
- Arrive at church about one hour before the funeral. In addition to unlocking the sacristy, make sure the front doors are unlocked. (Note: Most mortuary's now have church keys.)
- Move the Easter Candle from the vestibule placing it near the east end of the altar on the lower floor. (Note: The candle is rather heavy and is easier to move with two people.)
- Remove the funeral pall, with storage tray, from the sacristy cabinet and place it on the back pew or table (only when there is a casket.)
- In the event of a cremation, assist the mortuary, or family, with placement of a table in the center in front of the communion rail. The server's missal table can be used.
- Put about 2-3" of Holy Water in the Holy Water pot from the dispenser in the back of church. Place the Patent Sprinkler in the pot and place it on west communion rail about 2-3 feet from the rail opening.
- Place charcoal in the Thurible (Censer). Check quantity of incense in the incense boat and add from a container in the sacristy drawer, if needed. Place the boat on top of the censor stand. Light the Censer about 10-15 minutes before Mass and hang it from the Censer stand using the hooks at the top and at mid-pole. (Note: Experienced altar servers may light the charcoal and place the Censer themselves. Just ensure it is done.)
Clean-Up:
- Move the Easter Candle back to the vestibule.
- Empty remaining holy water back into the dispenser in the back of church or in Holy Water fonts. Do Not pour holy water into sewer drain. Place the pot and sprinkler on table at west end of sacristy cabinet.
- Note: If the mortuary has recorded the funeral, leave the sound system on until they remove their equipment. Then turn it off.
- Funeral Pall: The mortuary will leave the pall, loosely folded, in the back of church. The sacristan will pick it up, fold properly, place it back into the storage tray and stow it in the sacristy cabinet. Folding the large pall is a fairly tedious job that takes practice. If sacristans haven't done it before they might make arrangements to have an experienced funeral sacristan help them the first time.
Weddings:
Weddings also require more time than an ordinary Mass. Also, wedding photography can extend the time it takes to complete the sacristan work*. The sacristan should check with the Parish Office, or the family, to understand if the wedding involves a full Mass or a Non-Mass wedding ceremony. Set-up and cleanup will be similar to a regular Mass but will involve using the Holy Water pot, a ring-bowl and a table for the unity candle. The following recommendations are offered:
Weddings also require more time than an ordinary Mass. Also, wedding photography can extend the time it takes to complete the sacristan work*. The sacristan should check with the Parish Office, or the family, to understand if the wedding involves a full Mass or a Non-Mass wedding ceremony. Set-up and cleanup will be similar to a regular Mass but will involve using the Holy Water pot, a ring-bowl and a table for the unity candle. The following recommendations are offered:
- Start cleanup of the altar the instant the ceremony is completed. Secure the tabernacle key, stow the ciborium, chalice, cruets and tray, pitcher and bowl and other altar objects before photography begins.
- If photos are taken after the Mass, the photographer will want the church lights left on.
- Remind the family that photos are to be completed and personal church items removed by 4:00 p.m. This allows a 30 minute period between wedding completion and 4:30 confessions. Be firm if necessary—families are told that they need to be out by 4:00.
- Families are responsible for replacing kneelers, chairs and other church items used during the ceremony, but sacristans can offer to assist. Sacristans ARE NOT required to assist with cleaning up of flower petals, bouquets, personal candles or other items used during the ceremony. But they should remind the family it is their responsibility, if necessary.
Special Masses and Holy Days:
Special Masses for Christmas, Easter, and Holy Days will require some customized effort usually directed by the pastor or church office. However, the basic tasks required to set up and clean up are the same as described above.
Special Masses for Christmas, Easter, and Holy Days will require some customized effort usually directed by the pastor or church office. However, the basic tasks required to set up and clean up are the same as described above.
Weekday Masses:
Unless otherwise directed, sacristan duties for weekday masses at both St. Francis and St. Ambrose are handled by the adult altar servers.
Unless otherwise directed, sacristan duties for weekday masses at both St. Francis and St. Ambrose are handled by the adult altar servers.
Sacristan Teams:
Team members are listed below; Times are scheduled through the Parish office.
Team members are listed below; Times are scheduled through the Parish office.
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St. Ambrose, Erie:
At St, Ambrose, the adult altar servers also serve as sacristans:
St. Francis St. Paul: General Weekend and Special Masses:
Funerals:
Weddings:
Weekday Masses: Adult altar servers also serve as sacristans. |
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Some Reference Information:
"!!Mass-Setup" Card This card is sized to be printed on a 3" x 5" index card which can be carried in a pocket or purse. It also works well when installed on most smart phones. It can be downloaded from the following link in both PDF and Microsoft Word format. The Word format allows addition of personal notes. 
"SacristanDuties"
This document adds a little more detail to the information provided here. Thanks to Mary Boone for pulling this together:
This diagram describes how to turn on the St. Francis altar, window and choir loft decorations during the holiday period.
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This is the community website for the St. Francis de Hieronymo and St. Ambrose Catholic Churches in Neosho County, Kansas. Both churches are located in the center of the historic nine-county southeast Kansas area. We share one of the richest Catholic Heritages in Southern Kansas and the Four-State Region. For more information about our churches, history, organizations or programs browse our site including its links.
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