Sacristans oversee the completion of tasks which supports the liturgy or may delegate those tasks to others. These primarily include set‐up, assistance during the liturgy and clean‐up. Sacristans ensure articles of the liturgy are clean, organized, inventoried and accessible for the liturgy. Sacristans may also collaborate with the other liturgical ministers or others involved in preparing for liturgy.

   Sacristans assume the demanding task which will entail a personal time commitment for study and prayerful preparation. It will be essential for those in formation to be familiar with the rituals of the Mass as well as other liturgies, and to develop a reverence and sensitivity for liturgical presence within themselves and towards the sacred articles they may be handling.

   Sacristans must be willing to enter initial and ongoing formation and be responsible for their scheduled duties. They may need to provide a substitute in their absence, but they may not ask someone who is already scheduled for another ministry at the same liturgy.