The altar decorated for our Pentecost celebration!
I have contemplated how to start this article for some time and what kind of catchy title or phrase would draw you in. “Sacristans – the behind the scene dream team”…”Sacristans – CTK stage crew!” While humor is always welcome, the reality is all of these funny monikers cheapen the honor and privilege of serving as a sacristan. By definition a Sacristan is “a prayerful volunteer charged with the care of the sacristy, the church, and all its sacred contents.”
Many of us come to Mass a bit singularly minded; we exchange pleasantries with the greeters, find our pew, say our prayers, and wait for the cantor to tell us it is time for Mass to begin. Other than our own struggles to get children dressed and out the door in time, we don’t give much thought to what happens at church prior to our arrival. Have you ever taken notice if the altar candles are lit, or if the gifts are set on the table to be processed down the aisle, have we checked in to see if Father’s chalice is set out on the credence table along with special linens, do you take note as to where the holy water and purificators are, have we counted out unconsecrated hosts anticipating how many people might be attending Mass, do we know how many consecrated hosts are currently in the tabernacle?
While the rest of us arrive at church and hurry into our pews, a small team of dedicated volunteers carefully prepare for Mass and know the answers to these questions and more. Sacristans ensure all is in place so that our priests can arrive, filled with the Holy Spirit, and not have to think of any details other than celebrating Mass. The role of the sacristan is something so intrinsic to our Sunday experience, they have laid out the ordinary in preparation for the extraordinary to take place.
It takes a special person to fill this role. A sacristan’s ministry is a quiet one filled with deep faith and reverence. It is not a ministry of fame and accolades, but rather a quiet and reflective one. Mass does not go smoothly without the efforts of our dedicated sacristans. If God is calling you to serve in a deeper way at Christ the King, consider volunteering as a sacristan. The time commitment surrounds a Mass you are already attending, you would come a little early to prepare and stay a few minutes later to help clean up the sacristy. If you are interested, please reach out to me at awalsh@ctkhaddonfield.org. I am also happy to answer any questions you might have.
Abby Walsh is the Director of Liturgy & Music.