6/12/07

My question relates to the situation where there is an additional priest or priests in the procession at the commencement of the service as well as the celebrant priest. When should they enter the sanctuary in relation to the celebrant/other servers and do they enter before or after the altar has been incensed. 
Peter Batho
Anglican Church
Australia

REPLIES

Ed Bakker - 7/12/07

Based on my experience - they should process in just before Subdeacon , Deacon and Celebrant. 

On entering the Sanctuary they should genuflect and then go straight to their seats. 

Ed Bakker A/SSM

Postulant TAC New Zealand

Kevin - 8/12/07

If they are concelebrants, "extra" priests (in chasubles) enter immediately after the deacon and immediately before the principal concelebrant. This is a modern way.

If they are not concelebrants, as is preferable (to me!!), then they should sit in choir wearing surplice/cotta and stole of colour of the Mass [and even *biretta*... ha-ha!], in which case they should enter the choir independently before the Mass begins, or two by two after the lay choir in quasi-procession. (Obviously in this "correct" version the priests in choir do not enter the sanctuary)

Or, as happens all over the shop these days, you could invent some piece of interesting ceremonial and give it a meaning you made up there and then, claiming ancient antiquity and historical precedent for it!! 
Sorry for this facetiousness, but I'm afraid (for us spikes) it reflects reality all too often. 

p.s. Any of these options would most definitely take place before the incensing of the Altar.

Kevin S.
Sub sacristan, S. John the Evangelist

Tony Ralli - 10/12/07

I would endorse the need to keep the Celebrant, Deacon and Subdeacon together, whether priests or not. If it is a concelebration, whether or not the Concelebrants are wearing chasubles they should enter behind the Deacon with the chief Concelebrant coming last. 

Any other clergy who are not concelebrating should sit in the choir/chancel entering after the Choir (if any). Dearmer would I think keep the Sanctuary Party (i.e. the MC, Acolytes, Crucifer, Thurifer and Boat Person) with the Celebrant Deacon and Subdeacon, the choir being preceded by the Verger, or if no Verger, by nothing. He is very clear that the entrance is NOT a procession and should not be treated as such.

Tony Ralli

Chair of the Worship Committee

St John’s Canberra

Fr. Shackelford - 13/12/07

In our neck of the woods, the concelebrants process immediately ahead of the celebrant and enter prior to the censing of the altar.

Fr. L. Clark Shackelford
Rector
Emmanuel Episcopal Church
Shawnee, Oklahoma, USA

Terry Delaney - 20/12/07

Thurifer and boatboy
Acolytes
MC
Concelebrating clergy
Celebrant

NB The incense shoud be blessed in the Vestry prior to procession to the sanctuary

Regards
Terry Delaney