HOT SPRINGS — Sacristans in churches around Arkansas must bring a prayerful reverence to their duties, volunteers say.
A sacristan, also known as a sexton, is someone in charge of the sacristy and its contents, including sacred vessels and vestments. The position is often filled by a lay person.
Four volunteers were recently interviewed about their ministry to their local parishes. They often spend four to 12 hours a week at the church, depending on the requirements of the pastor and number of assistant sacristans.
Many priests express feelings similar to Father Linus Ukomadu, pastor of St. John the Baptist Church in Malvern, who said, “There are many volunteers who come forward to help with the liturgies here in Malvern. I hesitate to list them. I am afraid I will forget someone and they all contribute so much of their time.”
In many parishes there is no resident priest, or the priest assigned also ministers to one or two other churches. Volunteers who are trained as sacristans help the priest in any way they can. Sometimes, when a priest is celebrating Mass at several churches, communication between sacristan and celebrant is as old fashioned as leaving notes in the sacristy or as up to date as cell phones and e-mails.
The duties of the sacristans are as varied as the people who assume this role. Few parishioners sitting in the pews realize all that is necessary to prepare and maintain the worship space and to have in place the items needed for Mass, Benediction, a reconciliation service or other liturgy.
Regina Weiner, who serves at St. Mary Church in Arkadelphia, receives help from the Altar Society, which share many of the duties of keeping the church clean and ready for Mass or other liturgies.
“A sacristan must have an understanding of the demands of the liturgy and of having the church ready for worship,” Weiner said. “They must know what items are needed and know where those items are stored. They must treat these items with reverence and dignity.”
Dee Wynn of St. John Church in Hot Springs, who has been a sacristan for almost 25 years, said she has to listen to the desires of the individual priests.
“Each priest does baptisms and funerals differently and will want the necessary items set up differently,” she said. “It is important to show the proper respect for handling all the vessels that are used to bring Christ to the altar.”
Charles McDowell of St. Mary Church in Hot Springs said pastor Father Alan Rosenau, a former Episcopalian, calls him a “verger.” In the Episcopalian church a verger is the one that procures the items for the worship service as well as being a behind-the-scenes “jack of all trades.” The title is appropriate because when McDowell served as church secretary, he sat up a system of ordering that ensures the availability of such things as votive candles, Communion hosts and ashes for Ash Wednesday.
McDowell was trained in his sacristan duties by the late Msgr. Leo Riedmueller when the pastor first came to St. Mary Church 16 years ago. McDowell has several assistants who help prepare the sanctuary for the Sunday Masses. However, he personally changes the cloths on the two altars. The altar linens are imported from Belgium, and he also sees to their laundering and care.
“For every Mary, there has to be a Martha. And I guess I’m a Martha,” McDowell said.
When Msgr. Riedmueller was in residence, McDowell cooked for the priest and he also aided with the church dinners. Besides his duties as sacristan, McDowell still serves as the choir director and organist for the Sunday Mass at St. Mary.
Carol Cruz and her husband Larry are co-sacristans at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Hot Springs Village. They have been involved in this ministry for about two years. The Cruzes served as assistants under the former sacristan, Terry Sczerzen, who trained the weekly volunteers.
The Cruzes praise their assistant sacristans. About 25 to 30 parishioners take part in this ministry by volunteering for a week at a time to take the responsibility of setting up for daily Mass. Carol Cruz trains the volunteers and there is a sacristan’s manual if needed that is left in the sacristy for the volunteer.
During the Christmas and Easter seasons, the Cruzes supervise the decorating of the sanctuary. At Sacred Heart, the congregation is older than in the average parish and therefore, there are more funerals. The Cruzes are assisted at the funerals by a separate ministry, headed by Dorothy Weber. These laypeople serve as liaisons for the church and the families and the funeral homes during the vigil and the funeral Mass. The couple average five to seven hours a week at the church building, depending on what services are scheduled.
They also take care of stocking the Catholic publications rack, ordering hosts from the Carmelite Monastery of St. Teresa of Jesus in Little Rock and other items necessary for the worship services.
Each sacristan, whether trained two years ago or 25 years ago, voiced a great reverence for what they do. Many have learned from experience as they serve different priests during different services.
