Guidelines for Liturgical Ministers
We as ministers volunteer so we might help others become more aware of what it means to worship God. Rules and guidelines are important so we may be consistent, less distracting, and most helpful.

General Guidelines for All Ministers
The following guidelines apply to all ministers of St. Rita's: ushers, sacristans, lectors, ministers of the host and cup, and altar servers.

Punctuality: Arrive at least 15 minutes before Mass and go to the sacristy to let Father know you have arrived.

Preparation for Mass: It is vital we are in the sacristy prepared to serve, that means being dressed in robes, medallions, etc., 15 minutes before Mass begins.

• If you are not there 15 minutes before Mass, Father may have to find a substitute for you. Once a substitute is found that person will assume the duties for that day regardless of whether or not you are there. NO EXCEPTIONS
• If you know in advance that you will not be at your assigned Mass please get a substitute who performs your same ministry. If you can't find anyone be sure to contact Father with as much advance notice as possible.

Dress Code: We as ministers help set the tone for spirituality and respect. Please dress neatly.

• Wear clothes with the liturgical colors of the Mass day if at all possible.
• Wear the robes, medallions, etc., appropriate to the Mass or as requested.
• The minister of the host should wear a robe unless directed otherwise by Father.

Task Sharing:

• Be sure that all of your specific tasks are completed before leaving Church.
• Check with other ministers to see if they need help before or after Mass (especially on special Holy Days such as Christmas and Easter) and ask for other's help when needed.
• Help keep wax off the carpet by setting an example and holding the candle lighter upright.

Guidelines for Ushers
As ministers we serve by offering hospitality and assistance before, during, and after Mass.

Before Mass: It is necessary to arrive at least 15 minutes before Mass to prepare for your duties.

• Prepare bulletins and similar materials
• Monitor/change interior temperature by opening windows as necessary and on hotter days turning the fans on for air circulation.
• Turn on lights.
• Place reserved signs/ribbons if requested.

As People Begin To Arrive:

• Hand out bulletins with a smile and a welcoming greeting.
• Direct people to the front pews.
• Discourage people from going to the choir loft (balcony) unless there is an overflow.
• Do not let people be seated during the prelude music or scriptural readings.
• Offer to help people who have mobility problems get to their pews.

During Mass:

• Be vigilant for special needs during Mass (illness, falls, First Aid, fainting, need for 911 help, etc.).
• Phones to call for 911 emergencies are at the bottom of the stairs in the Father Baffaro Room and also in the hall kitchen.
• A wheelchair and defibrillator are in the Reconciliation Chapel closet next to the statue of St. Peter
• Be prompt when performing your various tasks, such as bringing people forward for communion.
• Be sensitive to the parishioners' choice regarding receiving communion. Offer them the opportunity to go to communion but if they do not stand or come out of the pew move on.
• Be sensitive during the offertory collection so it is not felt that you are looking into the collection basket as the parishioners donate.

After Mass:

• Check the pews for bulletins, collect them and bring them back to the ushers' stations.
• Tidy up the pews and hymnal book racks as you look for forgotten bulletins.
• Remove any ribbons or reserved signs not required for the next Mass.
• Close any windows and turn off any fans.
• Bring any groceries or similar contributions to the hall kitchen.
• If it is the last Mass on Sunday place any empty pregnancy aid contribution containers in the closet behind usher station No 2, next to the statue of St. Peter.
• Tidy up the ushers' stations.

Guidelines for Sacristans
As ministers we prepare the sanctuary and altar cloths for Mass.

After Saturday Vigil Mass:

• Reset the lectionary for the following Sunday Mass.
• Put out a second set of cups and purificators, fill the cruets, and fill the basket with hosts.
• Verify servers have returned their robes to the closet and have completed their chores.

After Sunday Mass:

• Place the sacramentary on the altar and the lectionary on the lectern for the weekday Masses.
• Put out the weekday cups and place the clean purificators on the side tables.
• Change altar cloths and lectern overhang.
• Verify servers have returned their robes etc. to the closets and completed their chores
• Check with Father to see if the artificial flowers are to be returned to the flower room.
• On the 1st Sunday collect the money from the Pregnancy Aid collection and put in a separate bag in the file cabinet to the left of the desk with the other collection money bags.
• Turn off the lights in the sanctuary.

Guidelines for Lectors
As ministers we proclaim the Word of God and speak for the assembly in our Prayers of the Faithful.

General Suggestions:

• Pray that your reading may be for the glory of God.
• Try to utilize the excellent "Handbook for Lectors and Gospel Readers" that is available in the sacristy to better understand the readings and how they should be delivered.
• Practice your readings thoroughly before you actually read.
• Read slowly and clearly.
• Observe punctuation and pauses as you read.
• Try to make some eye contact with the congregation as you read.
• At the end of each reading, mentally count to 7 before saying "The word of the Lord".
• It is more respectful not to cross your legs when sitting in the sanctuary.

Preparation for Mass:

• Obtain any special instructions from Father.
• Coordinate with any people reading with you.
• Wear the lector medallion.
• Review the readings, either at the lectionary on the lectern or in the workbook in the sacristy.
• Place the greeting and prayers of the faithful sheet on the lectern.
• Proceed to the back of the church with the Book of Gospels for the Mass procession.

Opening Processional:

• Begin processing when directed by Father. The lector(s) follow the cross bearer, altar servers, and ministers of the host and cups but comes before Father.
• The lector should carry the Book of Gospels high with both hands ensuring that the book's front is facing toward the altar.
• All other ministers, including the lector not carrying the Book of the Gospels, take their places and remain standing. The lector, holding the book high, proceeds to the altar and faces the congregation until Father bows. The other ministers then go into their pews.
• The book is then placed face down toward the front of the altar (toward the congregation) leaving enough room for Father to kiss the altar.
• The lector proceeds to the lectern and waits for Father to open Mass with the Sign of the Cross. The lector reads the introduction for the Gospel and then returns to the pew.

Reading:

• If there is one lector for both readings that lector returns to the lectern for the first reading, returns to the pew before the responsorial, and returns to the lectern for the second reading following the responsorial.
• If there are two lectors, the first lector returns to the lectern for the first reading and returns to the pew before the responsorial. The second lector comes to the lectern after the responsorial for the second reading.
• After the second reading, the lectionary remains open until Father stands for the alleluia. The lector then closes the lectionary, places it under the lectern, and returns to the pew.
• After the Profession of Faith (the Creed), the lector goes to the lectern for the Prayers of the Faithful. After the Prayers of the Faithful are completed by the lector and Father, the lector returns to the pew.

After Mass:

• The lector(s) processes to the back of the Church following the cross bearer and altar servers, but before the ministers of the host and cup and Father. The lector will usually not be carrying any book.
• The lector(s) returns to the altar after the procession, picks up the collection basket, and goes to the sacristy.
• The lector(s) organizes money from the collection basket (ones, fives, checks, envelopes, etc.) and puts it in the Saturday/Sunday offerings bags that are found in the file cabinet nearest the clothes closet on the west wall of the sacristy which is left of the desk. Sunday lectors also remove the candle money from the vigil candle stands on both the Blessed Mother and Sacred Heart sides and from the flower room, and then put the money in the candle money bag in the drawer of the file cabinet left of the desk. The file cabinet is not locked. Father will lock the money bags later.
• Return the lector medallion to the appropriate box in the sacristy.
• Check to verify that the PA system has been turned off before you leave.
• Return the collection basket to the stand alongside the angel holy water font at the back of the church.

Guidelines for Ministers of the Cup and Host
As ministers we serve by helping distribute Holy Communion.

Before Mass: Arrive at least 15 minutes before Mass and go to the sacristy to let Father know that you have arrived.

• Obtain any special instructions from Father.
• Put on the appropriate medallion and the minister of the host should also put on a robe.
• Ministers of the cup should coordinate with each other about their separate duties.
• Go to the vestibule of the church.
• Ministers of the cup will request people from the congregation to carry the gifts to the altar during the offertory. Father and ministers of the cup will greet people in the vestibule 15 minutes before Mass. Please refrain from long or noisy conversations.
• Ministers of the host and cup stand silently at the back of the church as the prelude music begins.
• Begin processing when directed by Father. The ministers of the host and cup follow the cross bearer and altar servers but come before the lector(s) and Father.

At The Offertory: After the Prayers of the Faithful, two ministers of the cup go to the bottom of the altar steps, bow, and proceed to the altar to prepare for the offertory.

• One minister of the cup lights the two altar candles from the Gospel candle.
• The other minister of the cup brings the corporal, sacramentary book, chalice, and purificator from the side table to the altar.
• Place the corporal with the small cross facing up on the altar and the back edge of the corporal at the back edge of the altar.
• Place the sacramentary book on the altar, NOT ON THE CORPORAL, making sure that space is left for Father to kiss the corporal on the altar.
• Place the chalice above and to the right of the sacramentary book on the corporal.
• Place the purificator to the right of the chalice.
• After carrying out these duties return to the bottom of the steps, bow, and return to the pew.

During Communion:

• As Father consumes the Host the ministers of the cup and the minister of the host come to the bottom of the altar steps, bow and go to the side tables of the altar. Each minister of the cup takes a cup and a purificator and places it on the side of the altar. The minister of the host takes the host plate and places it next to the corporal.
• After they have received the Host and Precious Blood from Father they proceed down the steps and administer the Host andPrecious Blood to the congregation.

After Communion:

• After the Eucharist has been served, the minister of the host accompanies Father to the tabernacle to return the unused hosts to the ciborium.
• When Father closes the tabernacle and goes to his chair the minister of the host then carries the host plate to the altar, picks up the chalice and brings them into the sacristy through the altar door. The host plate, cups, and chalice will be purified after Mass. The minister of the host returns through the St. Rita door to the pew.
• The ministers of the cup consume any remaining Precious Blood and then proceed to the middle of the bottom altar steps and face the altar remaining standing until the tabernacle is closed and Father is seated.
• One minister of the cup returns the empty cups to the sacristy through the altar door and then returns through the altar door and goes to the bottom of the steps. One minister of the cup removes the used purificator, corporal and sacramentary book and places them on the shelf below the lectern.
• Any remaining ministers of the cup remain at the bottom of the altar steps standing facing the altar until the other ministers of the cup return. They all bow and return to their pews.
• No purification of the host plate, cups or chalice will occur until after Mass.

After Mass:

• The ministers of the host and cup process to the back of the Church following the cross bearer, the altar servers, and lector(s), but before Father.
• The minister of the host purifies the sacred vessels in the sacristy and a minister of the cup assists. A reverent silence should be maintained.
• The purification of the sacred vessels is a five step process:
  1. Rinse host plate with water into cups.
  2. Rinse cups with water into chalice.
  3. Drink all rinsed water from the chalice.
  4. Wash all vessels with hot water and dry thoroughly.
  5. Place all the vessels in the cabinet to the right of the desk.

Guidelines for Altar Servers
As ministers we represent the assembly by assisting Father during Mass.

Before Mass: Arrive at least 15 minutes before Mass and go to the sacristy to let Father know that you have arrived.

Preparation for Mass:

• Obtain any special instructions from Father.
• Put on the appropriate robe.
• Coordinate with any other altar servers for special tasks i.e., who will carry the cross etc.
• Altar servers not carrying the cross should light and carry processional (Gospel) candles.
• Go to the back of the church with the cross for the cross bearer and the processional (Gospel) candles for other altar servers.
• Begin processing when directed by Father. The cross bearer and altar servers come before the ministers of the host and cup, lector(s) and Father.

During Mass:

• If Father has instructed you to ring the bells during the Gloria remember to hold them upside down so that they will not ring while you are walking.
• At the Offertory, after Father washes his hands and you have returned the water and water dish to the side table, please remain at the side table until the music has stopped and the entire congregation is standing.

After Mass:

• The cross bearer and altar server process to the back of the Church before lector(s), ministers of the host and cup and Father.
• Return to the sacristy.
• Bring the cruets, water dish, and purificator to the sacristy.
• Rinse the water dish and then take it along with a clean purificator and put them on the side table behind the lectern.
• If flags or the incense boat and thurible were used return them to the sacristy.
• Extinguish the Gospel candle and the candles on both the main and upper altars unless otherwise directed by Father.
• Extinguish and return to the sacristy the processional/Gospel candles.