Sacristans

Have you ever planned a party? We have all gone to lots of parties, but if you have never planned one you know that it doesn’t just happen all by itself. A good party requires planning and preparation. It takes work which most partygoers never see. Mass doesn’t happen all by itself, either. Every Eucharist is prepared and planned by someone. Actually, liturgy planning is usually a group effort by more than one person. … The word liturgy is a general term that includes not only the Mass but all the Church’s official, public praying. (Making Mass a Real Celebration, Thomas Richstatter, O.F.M.)

The Mass is a ritual. There are things that must happen and happen in a certain way. As the Sacristan, you are the one who oversees that all things happen in these “certain ways” (to the best of your abilities). As a servant you must be attentive during the entire Mass.

As Sacristan, you have three main roles: Security (of the sacristy and most importantly, the Eucharist), Mass Set up and Clean Up, and Mass Coordinator. You will serve all three roles each time you are a Sacristan, though some of the roles may play a bigger part than others, depending on the Mass.