ALTAR GUILD MANUAL
Preparation for Eucharist
Preparation in the Sacristy
1. Check church calendar on wall by piscina/sink for color to be used. Remove wrapped
vessels from cabinet above sink and replace cloth bags in cabinet for storage after service.
2. Fill silver bread box with 40 wafers for 10 AM service. When a large number of
worshipers are expected, Easter Sunday for example, fill the box with 80 wafers. Place a
priest's host on paten. Check with priest for special services (wedding, funeral, feast day,
etc.).
3. The cruet with the gold design and stopper with gold metal cross on top, fill this cruet
with wine to slightly above bottom of the handle, about 2/3 full. Unopened wine is kept in
lower cabinet to the left of the sink. Open bottles are kept in the lower cabinet to the right
of the sink. Wine is stored in the Parish House refrigerator in hot weather.
4. Fill a plain cruet with bottled water to the top of the design, using a plain stopper.
5. Remove linens from drawer: a purificator, lavabo towel, corporal, and white pall, all with
the same design, along with appropriate colored veil and burse containing extra
purificator.
Setting the Credence Table
1. A clean white linen table cloth covers top of credence table. This cloth may be reused
several weeks.
2. Place the water cruet on table to the extreme left rear of the credence table with the
handle pointing toward outside wall. The lavabo bowl is placed on the left side, forward
of the water and toward the center. The lavabo towel is placed in front of bowl.
Altar Flowers
1. The box containing the vase liners with arrangements must be picked up from Royalty's
Flowers and Gifts (453 Price Ave.) between 8:00 AM and 11 :00 AM Saturday.
2. Place them in the vases on altar next to candles.
3. Powers are removed after the service and wrapped in a piece of foil. They can be given to
the person who donated them or to persons designated by the priest. Placing them in a
clean aumbry candle "vase" makes them easier to transport.
4. Vase liners are returned in the box to Royalty's Monday or Tuesday along with the
following week's order. If the person donating flowers has no preference, we ask for
"seasonal mix". The current cost of flowers is $25.00. Special flowers may be requested
and cost must be verified by florist.
Gospel Book
1. The red Gospel Book is place in the center of the altar, in front of the veiled chalice,
facing toward the congregation.
2. During the week the Gospel book remains on the second shelf of small table containing
alms basins.
Veiling the Chalice
1. The altar is first draped with the fair linen.
2. In order of placement, beginning on fair linen:
a. Corporal - the 12 inch linen square placed at the center of the altar about 1 inch from
the edge where the priest will stand, with embroidered cross closest to the back edge
of the altar
b. Chalice - cup used for wine, placed in the center of the corporal
c. Purificator - 6 inch linen square folded in thirds, placed across the chalice so the
middle third covers the chalice
d. Paten - small plate, rests on the purificator
e. Priest's host - large wafer, placed on the paten
f. Pall - linen square, placed on top of paten with the cross design up
g. Veil- color of the season, centered on the pall, with the sides folded inward
h. Burse - flat colored folder, placed on top of the veil, 2 clean purificators inside with
opening facing priest
3. Place missal and stand left of the veiled chalice on an angle as to be read from priest's
position. If service bulletins are available, place one beneath the missal stand.
4. The chasuble is draped over the altar railing, closest to sacristy door. It is placed front
down with neck opening toward altar. The back bottom hem is folded over altar rail.
5. Altar candles are replaced when they reach 6 inches. The torch candles are replaced also
when they get too short. Used altar candles may be used in the torches if they are less than
6 inches. Always use drip catchers around the torch candles.
6. The Aumbry candle must be burning all the time that there is reserved sacrament in the
Aumbry. Change this candle as needed (about once a week). Replacements are in the
sacristy under the right side counter.
After the Eucharist
1. Remove all items used during the Eucharist to the sacristy. Wafers that were not
consecrated may be returned to jar. Wine that was not consecrated may be poured back
into the wine bottle. Water in the lavabo bowl may be poured down the right sink. Water
remaining in the cruet has been blessed and should be poured into the piscina. The chalice
and paten should be rinsed out into the piscina first. Then they may be properly washed
on the right side along with other vessels. Special care should be taken with the chalice to
wash it with soap, rinse, and run very hot water around the rim, both inside and out. The
base of the chalice is hollow and should not be submerged in water. Vessels are dried and
returned to the cabinet above the sink, replacing them in their cloth bags.
2. Wine from the reserved sacrament that has fermented should be poured down piscina and
the cruet rinsed once in the piscina following up with water in the sink.
3. After the last service, the chasuble should be hung in the closet next to the piscina. Only
the fair linen and the candlesticks should remain on the altar during the week.
Polishing
1. At least every other week (weekly if possible) the two small alms basins - top and bottom,
the top of the lard alms basin only and the inside of the two candle snuffers should be
cleaned and wiped clean of all polish.
2. Polish the bread box as needed.
Laundering Linens
1. Church linens are laundered in the homes of Altar Guild members. This should be given
priority and the lines returned promptly to sacristy.
2. Wine and lipstick are the most troublesome stains. Both can be removed by soaking in
warm water and a stain removing detergent overnight or longer if necessary. They may
then be washed out by hand or gentle cycle in the washing machine. Let pieces dry
completely before folding them. Purificators are folded in perfect thirds; corporals should
be folded in thirds, wrong side out to be more easily spread upon the altar. Lavabo towels
are folded in thirds long ways and then again in half. Please do not press the fold with the
iron. Iron and ironing board are available in sacristy for ironing fair linens and other large
items.
3. Wax spots can be removed by placing a blotter under the linen, a piece of brown paper
over the spot, and using a hot iron. A blob of wax, after firmly set, may be taken off by
carefully scraping with a knife. Then the hot iron treatment is applied if a spot is left.
(Was may be set by rubbing with an ice cube).
PARAMENTS
Paraments - cloth or tapestry hangings used to adorn the space for worship (in liturgical
colors)
They include:
Superfrontal for altar
Pulpit hanging
Lectern hanging with two Bible markers; also include matching: Chasuble and
stole, burse and veil and alms basin liners.
