At a pontifical mass (the Bishop is celebrant), there are a number of additional servers:

• MC to the Bishop - attends to the Bishop and directs the mitre and crozier bearer.

• Mitre and crozier bearers - assist the Bishop by holding the mitre and crozier.  They do not act as extra servers.

Before mass

The bugia (7th candle) is placed on the altar behind the Epistle side altar candles, by the altar guild.  A server should light the candle before mass.

The episcopal ewer & basin are placed on a side table near the cathedra.

The salver (plate) for the zuchetto is placed on the Gospel-side credence table.

The vimpae are collected from the sacristy and set out for the mitre and crozier bearer in the vestry 

The mitre and crozier bearers vest in cassock and surplice, and wear the vimpa over the surplice.

Entrance and Introductory Rites

The servers, Subdeacon and Deacon proceed in as usual.  The Subdeacon and Deacon stop at the foot of th altar.

The MCB processes just behind and to the left of the Bishop (if deacon chaplains are present, then just behind them), the mitre and crozier bearer are to his right, or just behind him if there are two. 

Upon reaching the chancel, the MCB receives the crozier and then the mitre, either directly from the Bishop or from a deacon. He gives these items to their bearers.

The Bihsop and MCB then move to the foot of the altar with the Deacon and  Subdeacon.After reverencing and censing the altar, the Bishop moves to the cathedra with the Subdeacon and deacon. The subdeacon moves quickly into the pew ahead of the Bishop to get to his spot. 

All the servers move to their positions in the chancel pews. 

The MC to the Bishop remains in front of the the cathedra.

During the Collect, the mitre bearer passes the mitre to the Subdeacon, who hands it to the MCB when ready. After the Collect, the MCB places the mitre onto the Bishops head, and then takes his seat next to the mitre and crozier bearer. 

Liturgy of the Word

Towards the end of the Collect, the MC makes his way to the lectern to intone the Lesson, pausing to bow to the Bishop coming and going.

Towards the end of the Psalm, the Subdeacon makes his way to the lectern to intone the Epistle, pausing to bow to the Bishop coming and going.

At the Gospel, the thurifer moves directly to the cathedra, and the  Bishop imposes incense & blesses the deacon from the throne.

After the blessing of the deacon, the Bishop moves to the center of the chancel with the MCB and mitre and crozier bearers. The MCB removes the mitre & gives the crozier. 

After receiving the blessing, the deacon moves in front of the Subdeacon and then the Gospel procession proceeds as usual.

After the Gospel, the Subdeacon and candle bearers bring the missal to the Bishop to kiss.  They then proceed as normal.

The MCB gives the mitre (and usually takes away the crozier, its Bishop’s prerogative – remember to take crozier first when doing so… think about it) for the homily

As the Bishop re-enters the chancel the MCB follows behind and retrieves the mitre (and crozier), returning with them to his place behind the throne for the Creed, Petitions, and Penitential Rite

For the announcements, the Bishop will need the mitre and crozier both at least for the blessings.  Unless these are done by the Rector or other priest. 

Liturgy of the Eucharist

After the Offertory Sentence, the MCB follows the Bishop back to the altar, where he again takes away the mitre and crozier. These are given to their bearers, who will keep them now until the end of communion. 

The Bishop returns to the cathedra as the deacon and subdeacon prepare the altar. 

When the altar is prepared, the Bishop and MBC move to the altar.

At this time the MCB should move the bearers to the foot of the altar to kneel for the Eucharist and there to receive communion 

The MC stands on the Gospel-side footpace, with a salver ready to receive the Bishop’s zucchetto (skull cap) after the Prayer over the Gifts (before he turns to the people and says “Lift up your hearts…”) 

The Subdeacon takes the zucchetto off the Bishop's head and passes to the MC 

The acolyte and deacon do not hold the Bishop's chasuble during the second censing.

During the Eucharistic prayers, the acolyte and deacon stand slightly back from the Bishop, while the MCB stands at his side and assists the Bishop with the missal.

At the Pax, the Bishop exchanges the peace with the deacon, and then with the acolyte.  The acolyte and deacon then exchange the peace with each other.

After the communion of the faithful, the Bishop returns to the Cathedra as the deacon and acolyte the ablutions at the altar.

After communion, the MCB takes care to ablute the Bishop’s fingers using the ewer & basin near the cathedra

After the ablution is complete, the MCB returns the zucchetto to the Bishop

After the the ablutions at the altar are complete, the deacon and acolyte return to their places next to the Bishop.

The servers all move to their places in the chancel pews, kneeling.

Post Communion, Blessing and Dismissal

The Post Communion prayers are said from the cathedra.

After the Postcommunion Prayers, but before the Blessing, the Bishop ( with the MCB, deacon and acolyte) moves to the center of the chancel.  The MCB gives the Bishop the mitre and crozier.

After the blessing, the altar party moves to the foot of the altar.  All genuflect and assemble for the recessional.

The MCB joins the recessional again just behind and to the left of the Bishop