Can women be included in the washing of feet on Holy Thursday?

[Is_it_okay_to]

I see in our parish bulletin that for the first time women will be included in the washing of feet on Holy Thursday. It is my impression that this is not permitted. I think you have answered this question before, but I need you to direct me to your answer, and particularly to whatever documents address this.

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston sought clarification from Rome over whether women could be included in the washing of feet on Holy Thursday. The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments “affirmed the liturgical requirement that only the feet of men be washed at the Holy Thursday ritual” but provided for “the archbishop to make a pastoral decision concerning his practice of the rite if such a decision would be helpful to the faithful of the archdiocese” (source).

So, in short, the Vatican has begun to allow for pastoral decisions to be made in local areas as to whether the feet of women should be washed on Holy Thursday. If your diocese allows for it, then your parish can allow women to participate in the ritual.