Being a sacristan is a very beneficial way to serve your church community, and an active way to participate in Mass. 

The starting point for all sacristans is a deep love for the Eucharist. Under the general direction of the clergy, the sacristan undertakes the overall preparation for liturgical celebrations. Specific duties include:

Preparing the Holy Eucharist for the celebration of the Mass. This includes readying the wine, water and bread and putting them in place before the start of Mass.

Setting up the altar. Sacristans may also arrange the Lectionary and lector notebooks.

Assisting the altar servers and other liturgical ministers with directions or questions. Sacristans ensure that all liturgical positions are filled for the Mass.

Cleaning the holy materials after Mass. The holy containers for the water, body and blood are cleaned and stored in the sacristy. Everything is set back in place before sacristans leave the church.

Requirements

To become a sacristan, you need not already be a liturgical minister, but some experience with liturgical service is helpful.

In addition, sacristans should:

• Have the following spiritual dispositions and/or willingness to work to develop them: humility, radical hospitality, gratitude and reverence.
• Have 1.5 to 2 hours to give to the celebration of each assigned Eucharist. Be able to allow a longer time if the set-up is for a special liturgy such as Christmas, Holy Thursday, Easter, etc.
• Prepare to celebrate the Mass by reading the scriptures and by praying.
• While a sacristan may not be scheduled to serve at more than one Mass per weekend, a willingness to be scheduled at more than one Mass time (e.g. 8:00 or 11:00) is necessary.
• Be open to preparing for special liturgical celebrations such as July 4, Thanksgiving, Confirmation or First Eucharist.

Weekday Masses

Duties for weekday Masses are not as formal and are done on a much smaller scale. However, this is an extremely important ministry at St. Rose of Lima.

The ministry leader for Sacristan's is Brian Hott.

If anyone is interested in becoming a Sacristan, please call the office and set up an appointment to speak with Father Nicodemus.