People who bring up the offertory gifts at Catholic Mass are known as gift bearers. They represent the congregation, carrying forward the bread, wine, and monetary collection. This symbolic gesture honors God by offering the fruits of creation and the work of human hands. Gift bearers can be anyone in the congregation, including individuals, couples, or entire families. When gift bearers are needed for a weekend Mass, our parish secretary will call you the week before to see if you are available to serve. If you would like to be included on the list of gift bearers, please register with the link below.
If you are selected to bring up the gifts, the process is simple and requires no training:
1. Wait for the cue: Once the collection begins, make your way to the back of the church.
2. Collect the gifts: The ushers will hand you the items to carry, which typically includes two people carrying the wine and the bread, followed by one person carrying the collection basket. (An usher will assist you if you have fewer than 3 people.)
3. Walk forward: Proceed slowly down the main aisle reverently, walking behind the altar server. The wine and the host bearers are behind the altar server, and then the collection basket bearer at the back.
4. Present to the priest: Approach the priest and hand him the hosts first, and then the wine. Host and wine bearers split and move to the side, and the person holding the collection basket moves forward to the middle. Hold the collection basket up for Father to bless. Do not give it to him.
5. Bow to the altar: After blessing the collection basket, all gift bearers bow to the altar and return to the back of the church. Hand the collection basket back to the head usher.