1. Prepare for the task.  Before you arrive at church, be sure to wear good clothes, such as a collared shirt and pants. However, in some albs, wearing a collared shirt is impractical. In addition, wearing smart clothes is not imperative as the congregation cannot see what you are wearing. However, be sure to wear smart, presentable shoes that you can easily walk in without tripping, as the congregation probably will see these. Refrain from wearing trainers, high-heels or flip-flops. If you have long hair, tie it back or wear it in a ponytail so that it does not get caught in anything. In some churches, altar servers often carry candles, so by not tying back your hair, you could risk it catching fire.

2. Arrive at church at least 20 minutes before Mass begins.  The earlier you arrive, the more time you will have to prepare. When you first arrive at the church, be sure to remove any gum or candy you have in your mouth. It would be distracting and disrespectful to be chewing or eating something before or during the Mass.  (REMEMBER: You may not receive Holy Communion if you have consumed anything other than water one hour before Mass. If you do eat or drink something before Mass, you may wish to refrain from receiving Communion to avoid a Mortal Sin) If you will not be receiving Holy Communion, please do not serve.

3. Go to the Sacristy the altar serving albs are kept. Try not to talk loud, but whisper. Put on your alb correctly by buttoning it up or zipping it up all the way. Sometimes robes simply go on over your head. Albs are usually girdled with a cincture, so be sure to put one on that is not too long and not too short. Try to wear it at around the same length as the other servers, but if you are unsure, again, ask a member of the clergy. If any of the albs are ripped or torn, let the priest or deacon know. Remember to choose an alb that fits you, coming down to your shoes.

4. Decide who will be doing which jobs. Usually the Master of Ceremonies or deacon will decide this, but often the choice will fall on the most senior server available. If you are unsure which jobs need doing, ask the deacon or priest.

5. Wait for the priest or deacon and, on some occasions, the bishop to join you at the entry to the church. And once you process into Mass, please--NO TALKING DURING MASS. Always have your hands joined. The lead server should rotate the younger servers in different duties. Different servers will lead the procession. Often it is the job of the cross bearer (crucifer), sometimes accompanied by the acolytes/candles, but a lot of the time, the thurible bearer (or thurifer) will lead. Don't start heading up the aisle until the priest tells you to or gives you a signal. Once you arrive at the sanctuary, stand off to one side of the center, wait for Deacon and Father to join you, genuflect if you are not carrying anything. If you are carrying something (e.g. cross or candles), make a profound bow before the altar. Next proceed to your seat, where you should stand. When going around the altar, make sure that you and your partner go around on alternate sides; one should go around the left of the altar, whilst the other should go around the right.

6. Stand at your seats singing during the opening hymn, which will have been sung during your procession up the aisle. After the hymn has concluded, the priest will welcome the congregation. After the Collect (opening prayer) you will sit down, as will the congregation.

7. During the homily, listen attentively to what the priest has to say. It usually relates to the scripture readings of the day, and carries important information about the Faith.

8. At the preparation of the gifts, sometimes called Offertory, bread and wine are brought to the altar. Sometimes a cross bearer goes down the central to accompany the gifts to the altar. Most of the time, the priest and deacon will go to the entrance to the sanctuary to receive the gifts and hand them back to the servers to place on the altar.

9. Bells - ring three times each for the elevation of the Host and the chalice. Kneel after the Agnus Dei (Lamb of God).

10. Follow the local custom when receiving the Holy Communion. After receiving communion, servers will return to their seats.

11. After the priest or deacon sings or says the dismissal, all of the servers will move to the entrance to the sanctuary in their pairs, usually in the same order that they processed up in. Walk forward past the altar, giving enough room for the other servers and clergy to stand behind you before turning to face the altar. Everyone in the procession will genuflect (except if you are holding something in your hands. You may bow your head, however). Turn and process to the back of the church by walking up the main aisle. The priest and deacon will usually stop at the entry of the church to talk to the congregation as they leave.

12. Clean up. A server's job is not over at the end of Mass. Before hanging your robe back up, extinguish all of the candles using a candle snuffer to avoid blowing hot wax onto yourself, the altar or the floor. According to parish custom, the deacon/Master of Ceremonies may tell you if something extra needs to be done, or if something has been forgotten, e.g. preparing for another Mass. Hang up your alb neatly and cincture in their respective places.

Tips

• Always go to the bathroom before mass. This is proper etiquette that is required.
• Be quiet in the sacristy and avoid making unnecessary noise. At this time you can say a prayer before Mass begins.
• Hang up your vestments after using them. Do not dump them on the floor of the cupboard, which is disrespectful to your church custodians.
• When walking or sitting, hands should be held in one of two positions, locked together either at the chest or waist.
• If two servers need to move then they are to move together, just don’t move without your partner. Usually servers will have partners, unless they are doing certain jobs, such as bearing the cross.
• Be ready to help the priest or deacon, especially if he is a visitor to your parish. He may ask you some questions about how Mass takes place in your church. If he does, try to answer them clearly and concisely.
• Try to spread things out evenly between you and the other servers. Don't make one server do all of the work! If there is an M.C or the deacon is distributing the jobs, they will make sure that this is so.
• Most Priest now don't usually genuflect at the Altar. They only genuflect at the Tabernacle. If so, bow at the Altar and do not genuflect.
• Remember that during Mass people are watching you. They do make comments to the priests and the M.C. about the servers' behaviour at Mass. Although this is usually praise, it is sometimes the opposite. To avoid this, you should not laugh or talk while serving. However, you may give instructions during Mass and help out servers if they are unsure what to do.