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iguana27
Guest
Is this in a gym?
Disinterested, bored, irreverant looking altar servers with punky haircuts
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Iohannes
Guest
Yes, it is in a gym, but they know how to be reverent unlike this Mass in a gym here:
smhs.org/pr/photo_album/Thanksgiving_Mass03.htm
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The_Hidden_Life
Guest
Thank you both for the contrasting picture of the gymnasium Masses. Our parish will begin holding two Masses per week in a middle school gym starting this Fall. I hadn’t given much thought yet as to what it might look like. Now I’m a bit more prepared for what it could be–and more likely what it will end up being! (sigh)
A couple weeks ago, the lone altar server (girl) was spinning the bowl of wafers in her hands on her way up the step to our priest. I grit my teeth hoping she wouldn’t drop it. She was so casual and bored looking (although not as bad as that other picture above). Why bother to volunteer for such a duty if it’s that boring to you? I don’t understand.
A couple weeks ago, the lone altar server (girl) was spinning the bowl of wafers in her hands on her way up the step to our priest. I grit my teeth hoping she wouldn’t drop it. She was so casual and bored looking (although not as bad as that other picture above). Why bother to volunteer for such a duty if it’s that boring to you? I don’t understand.
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ATeNumquam
Guest
It must depend on how they’re trained and what is the parish’s expectation and tradition.
We have kids here every bit as wild and woolly as those described in this thread. But there’s NO WAY they would be tolerated behaving irreverently as altar servers. We have boys and girls, serving together, and they are neither soldier-like, nor, at the other extreme, fidgety, slouching, whispering or giggling. They just carry out the job quietly, reverently and gracefully, because that’s the way they’ve always seen it done, and they know that’s what’s expected of them, too, as altar servers. No one is forcing them to be servers, but we always have plenty, and in many cases they continue to serve until about the age of 14 or 15. Yes, they do wear sneakers under their robes, and heaven knows what else in the way of clothes, but, personally I can live with that because I am happy to see these kids involved with the Mass, and they all do a great job.
Outside of Mass, they look like any other kids.
I think it’s up to those training them to let them know what behaviour is expected, and once a “visible tradition” of this is shown long enough, the newcomers will follow suit, because they SEE that that’s the way it’s done in the parish.
And by the way, reverent altar servers abound not only in my parish, but in the whole diocese, and anywhere else I have attended Mass in New Zealand. (As I’ve said elsewhere, secularism is more rife here than in the U.S., so it’s not that kids here are more religious. Maybe more disciplined in the home, or school, or something
?)
A Te numquam separari permittas - never let me be separated from You
We have kids here every bit as wild and woolly as those described in this thread. But there’s NO WAY they would be tolerated behaving irreverently as altar servers. We have boys and girls, serving together, and they are neither soldier-like, nor, at the other extreme, fidgety, slouching, whispering or giggling. They just carry out the job quietly, reverently and gracefully, because that’s the way they’ve always seen it done, and they know that’s what’s expected of them, too, as altar servers. No one is forcing them to be servers, but we always have plenty, and in many cases they continue to serve until about the age of 14 or 15. Yes, they do wear sneakers under their robes, and heaven knows what else in the way of clothes, but, personally I can live with that because I am happy to see these kids involved with the Mass, and they all do a great job.
Outside of Mass, they look like any other kids.
I think it’s up to those training them to let them know what behaviour is expected, and once a “visible tradition” of this is shown long enough, the newcomers will follow suit, because they SEE that that’s the way it’s done in the parish.
And by the way, reverent altar servers abound not only in my parish, but in the whole diocese, and anywhere else I have attended Mass in New Zealand. (As I’ve said elsewhere, secularism is more rife here than in the U.S., so it’s not that kids here are more religious. Maybe more disciplined in the home, or school, or something
?)A Te numquam separari permittas - never let me be separated from You
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bengal_fan
Guest
yes
just kidding. i can understand the distraction when it comes to fidgeting and not being interested and attentive. the hair on the other hand is a different issue. hairstyles change. what’s acceptable socially changes and we must be willing to change with it. most women do not cover their heads in church anymore and most people don’t have a problem with it. i guess, pick your battles and the only true battle i see is that an alter server should appreciate the mass. i think more grown-ups should get involved in this way and not leave it to the children of the church to assist the priest.
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Marines
Guest
White Dove, I assume you remember the Tridentine Latin Mass when you were young?. I am not sure if the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter has an apostolate up by you but you may want to check for a local approaved Tridentine Mass.
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PioMagnus
Guest
The picture of those servers up there, I printed it off. I have it hanging in my room above my server schedule. I use it to remind myself that I need to be respectful and dignified when serving, as well as teach the other servers to do the same.
In Him, through her,
Pio Magnus
In Him, through her,
Pio Magnus
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_pro-life_teen
Guest
My two younger brothers are altar servers and it is soooooo annoying to watch them because they look so bored all the time and the whole time I’m thinking, “Hellllllo! Don’t you realize what you’re helping with?! Don’t you realize what a privilege it is!?!”
I’ve tried talking with them and my mom talked to them too, but they still are the same way. They’re respectful and knowledgeable but it’s their boredom that gets on my nerves!! (also, they do have kind of punky haircuts, but not faux-hawks or anything like that. They’re 13 and 10)
any advice?
I’ve tried talking with them and my mom talked to them too, but they still are the same way. They’re respectful and knowledgeable but it’s their boredom that gets on my nerves!! (also, they do have kind of punky haircuts, but not faux-hawks or anything like that. They’re 13 and 10)
any advice?
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LilyOfTheFather
Guest
The worst altar servers I have ever seen were at a youth mass celebrated by the bishop of my diocese. They were surly, slouching, and fumbling. Their sashes were tied very loosely about their hips. On the whole I was rather appalled.
The best I have seen are at the parish which I attend regularly. They are well-trained and reverent and do not look sloppy.
The best I have seen are at the parish which I attend regularly. They are well-trained and reverent and do not look sloppy.
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