May Christ
teach us to be a gift to others. The role of Gift Bearer
is a
beautiful way for both individuals and families to participate in the
Eucharistic Liturgy. The Gift Bearers
represent the parish
community returning a portion of God’s gifts to Him in the form of
Water, Bread, Wine and the community offerings. These gifts are
presented as a sign of the community’s desire to incorporate itself in
the sacrifice of Christ.
Early Christians brought wine and bread to be consumed at Liturgy, and
also money and other gifts to be given to the Poor. The bread and
wine recall the last supper Jesus shared with His Disciples. They
ate bread and drank wine because it was their everyday food.
These are the gifts of food, the nourishment necessary for
living. So our bread and wine at Mass represent our everyday
lives, our everyday selves, and the essence of our lives. These
gifts that are brought to the altar, challenge us to give ourselves in
thanksgiving for everything that God has given us.
The water symbolizes the human and the divine natures of Christ joined
in the Mystery of the Incarnation – God becoming human, when it is
mixed with the wine during the Eucharist. The water is also used
for the priest to wash his hands as a symbol of internal purification
in preparation for the most sacred part of the Mass. In the olden
days, it was quite often a real necessity for the Priest to wash his
hands after receiving the gifts of the people – which may have included
fresh fish and live chickens as well as bread and wine.
Being a Gift
Bearer is also a wonderful way to remember a loved one who
has passed away, a special birthday, anniversary or a special family
occasion. Place your families name on the Gift Bearer
schedule at
least one month in advance so that you can be scheduled for that
memorable Mass.
Expectations for
Gift Bearers Come when scheduled. This is by
far the most important thing. If you cannot be unavailable for
your scheduled time, call another family and ask them to take your
place. Remember if others ask you to do it for them, they will
also do it for you. Call to make
arrangements with someone else,
just as SOON AS YOU KNOW you cannot make your time. If an
emergency crops up just before Mass starts, please call either the
parish hall or the rectory and attempt to let someone know.
Be prepared. The Gift Bearers schedule is placed on the Web Site
at least one month in advance and it will also be mailed to your
home. Take a look at the schedule. If you know in advance
that you will not be able to make one of your scheduled times and have
swapped your time with someone else, please let the Secretary know so
that she can change the Gift Bearers announced by the cantor during the
greeting at each Mass.
Gift Bearers are expected to dress appropriately for their ministry,
shorts are not permitted. Also arrive at least 10 minutes before
Mass starts. Review the flow diagram so you will know how to
carry and hand the gifts to Father, depending on the number of Gift
Bearers assigned to the Mass. Please attempt to sit with your
family toward the back of the Church in order to come to the “gifts”
table in as least disruptive a manner as possible.
We greatly appreciate your willingness to serve the parish as a Gift
Bearer, but you certainly can under-stand the pressure it places on
others involved in the Mass if you and your family do not show up for
your assigned Mass or arrive at the last minute.
Last minute substitutes cannot adequately prepare, and this detracts
from the quality of our Mass. Remember, you represent the entire
St. Frances Cabrini parish community in this action. Thank you
for helping to make our Mass more organized and memorable.
Guidelines for Gift
Bearers Take a moment to clear your mind while
the offertory song is being sung. Remember that you are
representing the entire parish as we return to God a small part of the
many blessings that He has given to us. The unleavened Bread and
Wine that you carry will be consecrated to become the Body and Blood of
our Lord Jesus Christ. Treat it with reverence and respect.
Normally there will be three (3) Gift Bearers assigned to each
Mass. The first Gift Bearer, the one on the Left, will carry the
Wine and the Water. This Gift Bearer will be the one to first
hand the gifts to Father. The Wine should be in their Left Hand
and the Water in their Right.
The Second Gift Bearer, the one on the Right, will carry the
Host. This Gift Bearer will be the next to hand the gift of the
Host to Father.
The Third Gift Bearer, the one that walks behind the First and Second
Gift Bearer will carry the Offering. After the Wine, Water, and
Host have been handed to Father, the First and Second Gift Bearers move
apart and the Third Gift Bearer moves forward forming a single line of
all three Gift Bearers. The Third Gift Bearer hands the Offering
to Father.
Once all of the gifts have been presented to Father, he may say a few
words of thanks to the Gift Bearers, then Father, the Deacon and the
Alter Servers move to carry the gifts to the altar. The Three
Gift Bearers still standing in a line in front of the altar, bow
together toward the altar, turn and return down the isle to their seats.
