Ministry Schedules & Training

If you are interested in being trained as a Minister, or to view the most recent schedules, please visit the Liturgical Ministry Schedules & Training page.

Sacristans and Eucharistic Ministers Guide Sheet

Sacristans and Eucharistic ministers at St. Vincent's perform a very important role in our worship.   We thank all those ministers who volunteer to share their gifts with us during mass.  Below are details on their responsibilities.  

Jump to one these sections on this page:
- Eucharistic Ministers' Duties
- Sacristan's Duties
- Other Tips for Eucharistic Ministers
- Reminders

Eucharistic Ministers’ Duties

All Eucharistic Ministers: If two stations complete distribution of the Body and Blood, only one minister of each should proceed to help another station. After distributing Communion, place the Chalices and bowls on the Credence Table. Place the extra Hosts into the Suborium. Place the Suborium into the Tabernacle. All Eucharistic Ministers should help with clean up after the Mass.

Host Center: After exchanging the Sign of Peace, proceed to the tabernacle and bring the Suborium to the Altar. Divide all of the Hosts evenly into the bowls. Always divide the Hosts over the Corporal. Do not break the large Host, the Presider will do this. Place the Suborium on the Credence Table. After Communion, place all of the remaining Hosts into the Suborium and place it in the Tabernacle. Place a second bowl in the Tabernacle only if the Hosts do not fit into the Suborium.

Cup Choir and Host Choir: After receiving Communion (given that the choir is in the loft) proceed directly to the choir loft. Return the Chalice and bowl to the Credence Table and place extra Hosts into the Suborium. Place the Suborium into the Tabernacle. If the choir is not in the choir loft, the Sacristan will direct you accordingly

After Mass Clean Up: Lock the Tabernacle door and return the key to the Sacristy. Bring the two trays and book to the Sacristy. It is very important to purify the Chalices and bowls. See note on purification of Chalices and bowls. When washing the bowls and cups, please be vary careful – don’t scrub or rub vigorously to dry. They are made of very soft gold. Be gentle – treat them with very special care. Wash, dry and return the Chalices and bowls to the cabinet. Lock the cabinets before leaving.

Purification of Chalices and bowls: No Precious Blood or Hosts should be poured down the drain or thrown away, it must be consumed. Consume the Precious Blood. Pour water (a few ounces) into one bowl. Swish the water around the bowl. Transfer the water to each bowl and Chalice, repeating the swishing action. Consume the water after the last Chalice is purified. The Chalices and bowls are now ready to be hand washed.

Definitions

• Credence Table: set up table behind the Altar
• Sacristy: preparation room
• Tabernacle: chamber holding hosts behind the altar
• Suborium: vessel in the Tabernacle holding the Eucharist
• Chalice: cup
• Paten: flat dish with the large Host
• Corporal: altar cloth
• Purificator: napkin for cup
• Cover Cloth: white cloth used to cover Body and Blood after Communion
• Finger Bowl: large glass bowl that Father uses to wash hands during Offertory Rite
• Cruet of water: small crystal pitcher

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Sacristan’s Duties

Before Mass: The Sacristan should arrive at least 20 minutes before mass. Please use the key (located in cabinet to the left of the sink) to open cabinets to prepare for Mass. Prepare the following trays:

Tray #1 (for all Masses)

• 1 Corporal (altar cloth)
• 1 Purificator (napkin)
• 1 Chalice (cup)
• Cruet of Water (small crystal vessel)
• Finger Bowl (glass bowl ¼ full of water)
• 1 Finger Towel (thick small hand towel)

During the Offertory Rite, the Sacristan places everything from Tray #1 and the book on the Altar.

Place the prepared trays on the Credence Table behind the altar. Also, place the book (used during Offertory and Communion Rite) next to the two trays.

Prepare the pitcher of wine and hosts. Pour the wine into the pitcher. To determine the number of hosts needed for each Mass, open the Tabernacle (key located in cabinet to the left of sink) to check on the number of Hosts leftover from the previous Mass. Leave the key in the Tabernacle. (The cabinet doors in the Sacristy should be left open during Mass.

Mass	# of Hosts	Amt. Of Wine
Saturday 5:00 PM	200	1 cup
Sunday 8:00 AM	100	8 oz.
Sunday 10:00 AM	700	1 ½ cups
Sunday 5:00 PM	900	3 cups

Additional hosts are located in the tall cabinet. Each sleeve contains approximately 100 hosts. Place the hosts in a bowl and place one large host on top of the smaller hosts. Place the bread and wine on the table in the main aisle of the church. Sacristans – please be flexible and be aware of variations in the size of the congregation at each mass. It is better to have too many instead of too few.

During Mass: It is your responsibility to set the Altar during the Offertory Rite (following the Prayer of the Faithful). Place the Corporal on the altar with the cross facing you. Place the book on top of the Corporal. To the right of the Corporal, place the Chalice, Purificator, Cruet of water, Finger Bowl and Finger Towel. As the Priest washes his hands, proceed to the altar to return the Finger Bowl, Finger Towel and Cruet of water to the table behind the altar.

After exchanging the Sign of Peace, proceed to the Credence Table. Carry the tray of cups to the Altar. Place the cups on the Corporal and pour the Precious Blood into the cups. Use the Purificator to wipe any drips.

Immediately following communion, collect the book and Corporal and return them to the Credence Table behind the altar. Place the Cover Cloth over the Hosts and Precious Blood.

Never delete cups or bowls at any Mass.

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• Please, please, please, be on time. Everyone needs to arrive on time – AT LEAST 15 MINUTES before the Mass starts.
• If you cannot attend a Mass for which you’re scheduled, PLEASE try to find your own substitute from the phone list you have received. If after calling at least five people you are unable to find a substitute, then please call the parish center (773) 325-8610. Leave a message for the sacristan to be left in the Sacristy before mass.
• If you know you cannot attend Mass on a certain weekend, please leave a note inside the cabinet door in the Sacristy BEFORE the schedule for that weekend is published so that you will not be scheduled on that day.  If you are scheduled, you are responsible for finding a substitute.
• Sacristans should place the names scheduled EMs who did not attend Mass on a card and leave it for Sister Marie.
• All Eucharistic Ministers should move to the Altar immediately after the Sign of Peace. EMs are asked to make an effort to greet their fellow EMs with the Sign of Peace as they are gathering at the Altar.
• EMs should form their arc or line closer to the altar. We’ve gotten into the habit of being too far back.
• If the line you’re serving finishes early, you can go to assist at another line – but only one additional Cup EM and one additional Host EM should go to a particular line.
• Please feel free to help the Sacristan and Host East to ready the Precious Blood and Eucharist for distribution. For example, the book can be taken back to the Credence Table. The trays holding the cups and bowls can be brought to the Altar. The trays can be returned to the Credence Table.
• The Sacristan and Host Center should work to the side of the Altar when dividing the Hosts and Precious Blood before Communion.
• Ministers of the Cup – please continue to move to the Altar 2 at time to receive the Precious Blood, face the congregation while receiving, and then offer the Precious Blood to Ministers of the Host.
• When transporting the bowls or placing them on trays, do not stack the bowls ever (not even with something in between them), they are made with very soft gold.
• Ministers of the Host – if you run out of Hosts, please walk over to another Minister to obtain more. Breaking Hosts in half should be a last resort.
• Please make appropriate clothing choices as you prepare to come to Mass. Shorts, bare shoulders, T-shirts, and worn-out jeans are regarded by many people who worship with us as a sign of an overly casual approach toward assisting the Sunday Mass – which is, after all, the most important thing we as Catholics do together. Nice jeans are fine, but otherwise, if you wouldn’t wear it to work, we ask you not to wear it to church.
• Relax, be comfortable, and adapt to any last minute changes that may take place.

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Reminders:

Please feel free to help the Sacristan and Host Center to ready the Precious Blood and Eucharist for distribution. For example, the book can be taken back to the Credence Table. The trays holding the cups and bowls can be brought to the Altar. The trays can be returned to the Credence Table.

Ministers of the Cup – please continue to move to the Altar two at time to receive the Precious Blood, face the congregation while receiving, and then offer the Precious Blood to Ministers of the Host.

Do not put the bows and cups so far back on the Altar – just make it look nice.

When transporting the bowls or placing them on trays, do not stack the bowls ever (not even with something in between them), they are made with very soft gold.