Sacristans

Duties

Firstly, prepare the church for Mass which deal with minutiae such as ensuring the notices are up to date, that the Mass leaflets are put out for the Sidesmen and setting up the lighting.

Secondly, prepare the basics for the Liturgy of the Word, setting out and marking up the various books used at Mass, and thirdly, prepare the sacred vessels and the bread and wine.

Put on the lights in the sanctuary to provide a focus for early Massgoers, open the altar rail gates and light some votive candles.

The housekeeping comes next. Are the holy water stoops full? Does the sanctuary light need changing? Count out the hosts.

Lastly, there is attending the Priest. I like to draw an analogy with an old-fashioned barrister’s clerk, who would make sure that his “guv’nor” was properly turned out before going into court, sometimes with the aid of a clothes brush!