Preparing the Altar for Mass

[Nippon_Guy]

Dear all,

This is my first posting to this forum. I’m quite excited about having contact with other Catholics. I’m in Japan and at the moment I don’t know any other English-speaking practicing Catholics here. So this forum would seem the place to be.

My question is. What are the priest’s responsibilities in regard to preparing the altar before and after mass? And, what restrictions, if any, are placed on the laity in regard to the same?

My question comes about because this past Sunday, our priest of three years expressed his desire to have parishioners help him with the altar. We are a very small community with about 25 parishioners, adults and children attending. In 15 years at the parish, this was the first time a priest had asked for such assistance.

Regards,
Nippon Guy

 

[eoff]

I believe there is no problem with lay people preparing the altar and cleaning it after mass, however, it is the priest’s responsibility to cleanse the sacred vessels.

In the USA it is standard practice for lay people to do these things.