Postures

Prayer Hands
Believe it or not, what you do with your hands is very important! When you are standing or sitting and your hands are busy, or if you can’t seem to sit or stand still, you will be a source of distraction for your friends and family in the pews and the other altar servers.

When you are standing at the pew or moving to your duty on the altar, your hands should be ABOVE your waist folded in PRAYER HANDS. When you are sitting, your hands should be FOLDED on your lap.

Prayer hands have a symbolic meaning. It represents a candle. You are a light of Christ!

Prayer hands are held between a  45 - 60 degree angle at the chest level. Not 90 degrees sticking straight out. That looks bad.



Standing
BE ALERT! Do not slouch, yawn, or play with your hair. Do not play with your cincture.. Stand straight with prayer hands. Do not lean your hands on the pew rail. Your eyes should be focused on the mass so that you are aware of any needs by the Presider.



Walking
Walking should be done with your back straight and head held high with decorum and dignity.. Pace should be unhurried and deliberate. Hands should be upright in prayer Hands and never down at your side.

If you are walking with other servers try to keep in step. The secrets of a good procession are (1) spread out and do not crowd each other, (2) look straight ahead and (3) move at a steady, decorous, and dignified pace. At funerals and processions of the Blessed Sacrament a slower pace is more appropriate. 

Servers always act as a team. A "set" of servers should move in sync and at the same pace. 

Sitting
Sit erect in the pew with your hands folded on your lap. Do not slouch. Both feet should be kept flat on the floor. Ideally your hands should rest on each thigh or knee, fingers together, elbows relaxed, back straight. Don't sprawl about and cross your legs. This looks untidy. 

Rise and sit at the same time, immediately going into prayer hands when standing.



Silence
Except for making the proper responses, silence is maintained at all times. Nothing is more distracting to the priest or congregation than to see altar servers whispering together. The only exception is if a duty needs to be passed to another server or guidance is being given. This should be done as quietly as possible. No other talking should take place.

Kneeling
Your body should be upright with prayer hands above your waist. DO NOT drape your hands over the pew rail.

Servers must learn to kneel without the use of a kneeler. To kneel, lower yourself to your right knee first and then bring the left knee down, and then prayer hands. 



Genuflecting
When servers process in and cross to their pew, they will genuflect at the foot of the stairs. Prayer hands will genuflect together. Candle holders will follow and genuflect together. The cross bearer will place the cross on the stand and genuflect in front of the tabernacle. 

You genuflect at the beginning of Mass upon entering and leaving the church (such as a processional and recessional). Subsequent times you pass in front of the tabernacle you will reverence the tabernacle with a bow. 

To genuflect, stop, turn and face the tabernacle (in prayer hands position), wait for the other servers to arrive, together move your right foot back as you bend your left leg and bring your right knee to the floor even to the instep of your left foot. Pause, make a sign of the cross, and then stand together. Move to your pew.

When you genuflect look at a spot straight ahead at eye level - like the tabernacle. This will help you keep your head up.

Bowing
There are two bows: a bow of the head, and a profound bow of the body at the waist.

A bow of the head is a simple is a simple nod up and down of your head, bringing your chin down to your chest and back up.

A bow of the body is at the waist with prayer hands or your hands at your side.

The cross bearer and candle bearers and thurifer will bow their head at the altar at the processional and recessional at St. Laurence and then genuflect upon passing the tabernacle. Prayer hands will make a profound bow of the body. The design of St. Laurence has the Tabernacle off to the right of the altar.

You bow your head when receiving any objects (such as the cruet from the deacon or priest). 

Do a profound bow to a bishop when you approach him or leave him. 

Do a profound bow at any mention of the Lord Jesus and Our Lady and the Holy Trinity (eg twice during the Gloria, or when saying "Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit). 

Please avoid doing any of these:

• No chewing gum in church, especially when serving
• No running anytime in church
• No horseplay in the Altar Server room – this is a time to prepare for mass
• Cells phones & smart watches should be left in the altar server room and never taken in to the church