Guild Enrollment Ceremony
May take place outside of Mass, but preferably takes place during Mass, after the Homily and before the Creed/Universal Prayer/Offertory.
Roles¶
- Celebrant: Preferably the Pastor.
- Master of Ceremonies: Recommends the candidates to the Celebrant. Preferably the Guild Chaplain.
- Servers to be enrolled.
Preparation¶
- Enrollment register, Sacristy table.
- Guild Medals, one per Server to be enrolled.
- Aspersorium, near Credence Table.
- Print-outs of the Guild Enrollment Ceremony, one per Server to be enrolled and one each for the Celebrant and Master of Ceremonies. At each person's seat.
If there are enough vestments, all Servers to be enrolled vest and sit in choir. If not, then only those serving the Mass vest, and those not serving Mass sit in the front pew on the Gospel side.
Ceremony¶
During Mass, this immediately follows the Homily.
- Master of Ceremonies calls forward those to be enrolled:
- "Let those who are called to the ministry of serving at the Altar please come forward..."
- All those to be enrolled file from seats into a line across the foot of the Sanctuary, facing the Crossing Altar. All should have the leaflets with the words of the ceremony.
- Those who come from the pew simply file out and South across the front of the Sanctuary.
- Those who come from the Sanctuary come down the North side of the Crossing Altar and join at the end of line of those who came from the pews.
- When all those to be enrolled are in place in the line, those who came from the Sanctuary Genuflect while those who came from pews Profound Bow.
- Kneel, stand, and respond as the leaflet directs. When it directs to sit, instead remain standing.
- After the recitation of the Guild Promise, the Master of Ceremonies brings the Aspersorium and medals to the Celebrant, who blesses them.
- The Celebrant, attended by the Master of Ceremonies, approaches each man to be enrolled in turn, placing the medal on him and saying the words of enrollment. All stand in their places until everyone is enrolled.
- When finished, the Celebrant returns to the foot of the Crossing Altar and gives a blessing.
- At Amen, all reverence the Altar and return to their places. Those returning to the Sanctuary should Genuflect in their place at the foot of the Sanctuary before entering. Those seated in pews should Profound Bow.
After Mass¶
All those enrolled sign the Guild Register book in the Sacristy.