Altar boys (o sorry i mean) "servers"

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I wonder if boys do not want to be altar servers because their role is greatly reduced in the OF Mass. I don’t see it having much to do with girls, but rather because altar servers are more like “waiters.” In the EF, the servers answer all the prayers of the priest. In the OF, I usually do not even see the servers move their lips, much less answer the prayers along with the congregation. They just hold the book for the priest, bring the cruets, etc. Otherwise they look bored and do not participate in the Mass. If the server had more of a role than just holding a book and carrying cruets, boys might have more of an interest in serving.
 
lak611 said:
I wonder if boys do not want to be altar servers because their role is greatly reduced in the OF Mass. I don’t see it having much to do with girls, but rather because altar servers are more like “waiters.” In the EF, the servers answer all the prayers of the priest. In the OF, I usually do not even see the servers move their lips, much less answer the prayers along with the congregation. They just hold the book for the priest, bring the cruets, etc. Otherwise they look bored and do not participate in the Mass. If the server had more of a role than just holding a book and carrying cruets, boys might have more of an interest in serving.
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That’s an interesting point. I don’t voluntarily frequent the OF so I have little first-hand knowledge, but from what I’ve seen, that just about sums up the server’s role. (Quite a far cry from the EF, but I digress.)
 
lak611 said:
I wonder if boys do not want to be altar servers because their role is greatly reduced in the OF Mass. I don’t see it having much to do with girls, but rather because altar servers are more like “waiters.” In the EF, the servers answer all the prayers of the priest. In the OF, I usually do not even see the servers move their lips, much less answer the prayers along with the congregation. They just hold the book for the priest, bring the cruets, etc. Otherwise they look bored and do not participate in the Mass. If the server had more of a role than just holding a book and carrying cruets, boys might have more of an interest in serving.
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Good point. I have altar served for both Forms, and I find myself taking my duties much more seriously when I am serving the EF. After all, in the EF altar servers are critical- in the NO, optional at best.
 
JuanCarlos said:
Good point. I have altar served for both Forms, and I find myself taking my duties much more seriously when I am serving the EF. After all, in the EF altar servers are critical- in the NO, optional at best.
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This is very true. For the daily Mass in my parish (OF), there are no altar servers.
 
At my parish, the norm is to see 3 or 4 altar girls running around with absolutely NO altar boys in sight. I’ve heard people say “the girls do it because the boys don’t want to”… Well, the boys don’t want to because they aren’t needed… I wish my pastor would at least require an equal number of boys and girls.
 
MariaG said:
Our church allows girl servers. But we have overwhelming more boys than girls. It helps that the teens continue to choose to serve. In fact, a couple of boys are going to a vocational discernment retreat.
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Same here. I am curious as to why the OP chose this forum instead of the Liturgy forum. I was under the impression that girls were not allowed to serve at a TLM.
 
pnewton said:
Same here. I am curious as to why the OP chose this forum instead of the Liturgy forum. I was under the impression that girls were not allowed to serve at a TLM.
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I am also curious. And you are right. Only male servers are allowed at a TLM.
 
pnewton said:
Same here. I am curious as to why the OP chose this forum instead of the Liturgy forum. I was under the impression that girls were not allowed to serve at a TLM.
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o sorry i probably should have but it just seemed traditional to me. Having priest and only boy altar servers.
 
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