Alter Boys

[Melissa]

Well, I use the term altarboys because in my parish, it is restricted to males. We have First Communion for the second graders in May (First Confession is creeping right up on me–in January My middle son is at that age). Boys from the First Communion cohort are invited to join the altarboys in the fall following that First Communion.

The oldest one now is in his 20s (only when he’s home from college), and I’ve heard he’s on the road to seminary after college graduation. My own son has talked about a possible vocation to the priesthood since he started serving. For this reason, I believe it is a very good thing to encourage the boys to be altarboys (so, I disagree w/ the opinion of John Lilburne)–promoting vocations to the priesthood is a definite good thing.

 

[hilde_the_dog]

This whole thread made me very thankful that our alterBOYs are instructed by one of the parish priests

 

[paramedicgirl]

Melissa:

Well, I use the term altarboys because in my parish, it is restricted to males. We have First Communion for the second graders in May (First Confession is creeping right up on me–in January My middle son is at that age). Boys from the First Communion cohort are invited to join the altarboys in the fall following that First Communion.

The oldest one now is in his 20s (only when he’s home from college), and I’ve heard he’s on the road to seminary after college graduation. My own son has talked about a possible vocation to the priesthood since he started serving. For this reason, I believe it is a very good thing to encourage the boys to be altarboys (so, I disagree w/ the opinion of John Lilburne)–promoting vocations to the priesthood is a definite good thing.

You are fortunate, Melissa. At my parish we only have altar girls serving the Sunday Masses, though there are two boys who serve the Saturday night Mass. It’s sad that we only have two male altar servers in our parish, but those boys are so reverent and know their Catechism so well. I have been praying for vocations for them, if that is God’s will.

I have heard the opinion of others here that altar girls suppress altar boys, and I believe that is what has happened in my parish.

 

[Melissa]

Yes, I know I’m lucky w/ my parish, and wish more were like mine.

I know that some have said that if the boys had any serious intentions, the fact that girls are also serving wouldn’t deter them from joining the ranks, but at least w/ my son, I know he never said anything about possibly being a priest until after he had started serving.

In the parish, I know some people have pestered our pastor about allowing girls to serve too (it is permitted by our bishop), and our pastor’s constant response has been that there are an adequate number of boys serving (well over 30, and I think it may be over 40), and so he has no need for adding girls. But then he also rather actively recruits the boys–perhaps to make sure there are plenty of altarboys to serve at all of the Masses so that he doesn’t “need” to allow girls to serve as well.

 

[Bruised_Reed]

Bruised Reed:

I imagine it’s just a matter of time before there will be adult women as altar servers. Won’t that be grand!

/sarcasm

I feel I need to clarify my position on this after reading the posts that quote my post upthread - I don’t want female altar servers and I would have to find a new parish if I went to one that had ones who were female and adult.

I used to travel an hour to go to a regular Catholic church that only had alter servers that were male. The long-time pastor retired, the associate pastors were rotated out and the new pastor started having girls as servers and came out of the sanctuary for the homily. The parish hasn’t been the same.

Also, to clarify, I’m a chick; this is a chicks perspective. Don’t let the bike throw you off.

 

[CollegeKid]

Do deacons participate in the Mass at all? I’ve heard that they’re responsible for “helping” with parish needs but I really only have a vague idea of what they do. Also, how are ministries, like the ministry of acolyte, different from Holy Orders? What other ministries are there?

 

[AltarMan]

Bruised Reed:

I imagine it’s just a matter of time before there will be adult women as altar servers. Won’t that be grand!

/sarcasm

Yeap, and once they make inroads, they’ll suck-up every altar-boy position, parish by parish…

 

[AltarMan]

Melissa:

Yes, I know I’m lucky w/ my parish, and wish more were like mine.

I know that some have said that if the boys had any serious intentions, the fact that girls are also serving wouldn’t deter them from joining the ranks, but at least w/ my son, I know he never said anything about possibly being a priest until after he had started serving.

In the parish, I know some people have pestered our pastor about allowing girls to serve too (it is permitted by our bishop), and our pastor’s constant response has been that there are an adequate number of boys serving (well over 30, and I think it may be over 40), and so he has no need for adding girls. But then he also rather actively recruits the boys–perhaps to make sure there are plenty of altarboys to serve at all of the Masses so that he doesn’t “need” to allow girls to serve as well.

May God bless your pastor…

 

[I_A]

dictionary.com:

alter -

1. To change or make different; modify: altered my will.
2. To adjust (a garment) for a better fit.
3. To castrate or spay (an animal, such as a cat or a dog).

altar -

1. An elevated place or structure before which religious ceremonies may be enacted or upon which sacrifices may be offered.
2. A structure, typically a table, before which the divine offices are recited and upon which the Eucharist is celebrated in Christian churches.

This thread suddenly becomes so much more humourous now.