Altar server arrival

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CyrilSebastian

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What is the earliest an altar server should arrive before Mass?
 
As a sacristan, I love when altar servers arrive early because it makes it easier on me when I know I have enough servers and do not have to go and scramble for servers at the last minute. I have servers arrive at church sometimes five minutes before Mass. I know that most of them are young and do not drive; therefore, they rely on their parents, but it is helpful when they arrive early (20-25 minutes prior to Mass).
 
Depends on what they have to do
For example when I am in charge of our main Sunday mass, I arrive 30 - 40 minutes early, to set up and get ready for the other servers to arrive ( numbering sometimes up to 30 at one mass!) However for a regular server 15 - 20 minutes is normally excepted. Also if you are aware that you are doing a job that involves some prep time e.g thurifer, then it is worth taking this into account as well.
 
I can’t speak for anything else, but in the Usus Antiquior the server(s) should be present early enough to allow for the preparation of the altar, i.e, making sure the proper candles are lighted, the cruets filled, etc. Being present and vested about 15 minutes before Mass would probably be enough lead time, but it could be more depending on particular circumstances.
 
We start looking for replacements for any that haven’t shown up yet, 15 minutes before the start of Mass. I don’t think it’s possible to be too early, though.
 
15 minutes is the rule at my parish, though it depends if everything is set up ready for you.
 
jmcrae said:
I don’t think it’s possible to be too early, though.
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Any altar servers who show up more than an hour before Mass will wait outside the church because I haven’t yet arrived to open it. But that’s a practical matter, not a liturgical one. 😉

Once the church is open, there’s no such thing as “too early.”
 
malphono said:
I can’t speak for anything else, but in the Usus Antiquior the server(s) should be present early enough to allow for the preparation of the altar, i.e, making sure the proper candles are lighted, the cruets filled, etc. Being present and vested about 15 minutes before Mass would probably be enough lead time, but it could be more depending on particular circumstances.
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In those parishes I think they also stay afterwards to “unprepare” the altar, etc. Our FSSP-OF parish has five servers staying 15-30 min after Mass to do that.
 
The altar boys at my parish arrive about 15-20 minutes early to prepare the altar and sanctuary. They should arrive at the time that is requested by the priest or master of ceremonies.
 
I’ve seen one altar server in particular, whose parents almost always arrive late, show up after Mass starts and head for the sacristy, which can only be accessed by walking beside the sanctuary and in front of the servers already in place, to don the alb and join the group. Now the alb is laid on a back pew for that server to don if arriving late.
 
I arrive one full hour before Mass begins because my bus runs once an hour. If I took the next bus, I would be decidedly late.

Servers are encouraged to arrive at least 15 minutes prior or risk being replaced.

One of our servers arrives plenty early, because his sisters are sacristans, but he prays with the public rosary in the church until about 10 minutes prior when he arrives in the sacristy to vest.
 
We ask that our servers arrive and vest 20 minutes before Mass.
 
Catholic_Duck said:
Depends on what they have to do
For example when I am in charge of our main Sunday mass, I arrive 30 - 40 minutes early, to set up and get ready for the other servers to arrive ( numbering sometimes up to 30 at one mass!) However for a regular server 15 - 20 minutes is normally excepted. Also if you are aware that you are doing a job that involves some prep time e.g thurifer, then it is worth taking this into account as well.
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Please pardon my ignorance but, what kind of mass uses 30 altar servers.
 
thylton said:
Please pardon my ignorance but, what kind of mass uses 30 altar servers.
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I’ve been to Mass with many altar servers, tough never as many as 30, and most of them had no other role but to be vesred and present. If they are well trained they serve as models for the younger folk in the congregation.
 
Phemie said:
I’ve been to Mass with many altar servers, tough never as many as 30, and most of them had no other role but to be vesred and present. If they are well trained they serve as models for the younger folk in the congregation.
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They should be more than vested and present, I would think. Where I’ve seen many servers, many of them hold candles if nothing else. Unless they’re very young.
 
I do not know what they do for the OF, but our EF chaplain prefers the altar boys to be there at least 15 minutes before Mass. As the sacristan and head server, I really appreciate it.
 
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