Does your parish have/allow adult female altar servers?

[Duesenberg]

Does your parish have/allow adult female altar servers? I live in what has become a “progressive” part of California so of course my parish has no formal prohibition which I think is proper. Either the ministry needs to be limited to males-only, or everyone capable needs to be given a shot.

Still, we don’t have any. I wonder why that is? Every once in a while one will surface, but they are quick to fade away. Those that do infrequently pop up are typically very difficult individuals – those with an agenda of some sort. My parish has an abundance of male servers and young female servers, so perhaps that makes a difference as well?

The is a terribly incongruent feel to adult females serving Mass here locally. I wonder if any others have experienced this? Perhaps it’s just the individual adult females who have served Mass in the past in my parish?

 

[otjm]

In my parish, we have neither male nor female adult servers,. We have both as youngsters, including some of both who are in high school.

 

[Cthompson]

In my parish, we have neither male nor female adult servers,. We have both as youngsters, including some of both who are in high school.

Same here…although I have seen a parish in my area with both adult male and female altar servers. The only time I witness adult altar servers is during the daily mass and they’ve always been men at my parish.

 

[LisaB]

I’ve never seen an adult female altar server. I’ve seen young adult male servers but for the most part they are all youth.

 

[RandomAlias]

In my parish, we have neither male nor female adult servers,. We have both as youngsters, including some of both who are in high school.

Same here, more girls than boys, and some younger than high school.

 

[misstherese]

I used to live really close to a male altar server only diocese (Lincoln, Nebraska) but never attended. However, pretty soon I’ll be moving back and plan on attending mass in that area. It will be interesting because I’ve largely attended girl/boy altar server parishes in my life. But even in my small town we never had adult females or adult males serve the altar.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

I see them at weekday Masses. Often, as today, the same person will be reading, serving, and being EMHC. I’ve seen it be an adult man or an adult woman. There is a Sister who frequently does it.

When the Masses are during school hours, you pretty much have to have an adult.

 

[MSSheBear]

At my previous parish adult female altar servers were the norm. At my current parish the altar servers are all children and they only serve at the weekend Masses. Daily Mass has no altar servers. My previous parish didn’t have a school and my current parish has one.

Please don’t laugh, but as a convert I was surprised Masses didn’t require an altar server. I live in a progressive diocese in California where at least one parish doesn’t allow any female altar servers. I don’t miss having altar servers at Daily Mass. I don’t care if the weekend altar servers are women or not.

 

[Duesenberg]

At my previous parish adult female altar servers were the norm. At my current parish the altar servers are all children and they only serve at the weekend Masses. Daily Mass has no altar servers. My previous parish didn’t have a school and my current parish has one.

Wow, that’s interesting. Do you mind saying what diocese you are in? I’m in CA as well and I cannot imagine adult female servers as the norm.

Please don’t laugh, but as a convert I was surprised Masses didn’t require an altar server. I live in a progressive diocese in California where at least one parish doesn’t allow any female altar servers. I don’t miss having altar servers at Daily Mass. I don’t care if the weekend altar servers are women or not.

While not required, I agree, it’s good to have them. I think a lot of parishes simply don’t make the effort. I remember reading when Allen Vigneron was Bishop of Oakland, he had to root-out the practice in a number of parishes where women would assume the duties of a deacon during the Mass. Pretty scary stuff…

 

[JimG]

We don’t have adult servers, only boys and girls. The boys wear cassock and surplice, the girls an alb. They all seem to be very well trained, and some of the more senior servers are trained in additional duties such as assisting with the ablutions.

 

[Duesenberg]

We don’t have adult servers, only boys and girls. The boys wear cassock and surplice, the girls an alb. They all seem to be very well trained, and some of the more senior servers are trained in additional duties such as assisting with the ablutions.

It’s nice to hear your (arch)diocese makes this distinction. The cross dressing of females in priestly garb is always unfortunate.

 

[MSSheBear]

I’m in the diocese of San Jose. I am not naming any of the parishes.

 

[MSSheBear]

Okay, I am going to get confused here, since I have been attending Mass for six years, but most Masses don’t have deacons here so I couldn’t say what the women should or should not have been doing.

 

[Duesenberg]

I’m in the diocese of San Jose. I am not naming any of the parishes.

I didn’t ask you to.

Okay, I am going to get confused here, since I have been attending Mass for six years, but most Masses don’t have deacons here so I couldn’t say what the women should or should not have been doing.

You would realize there was something wrong. They vested as deacons, read the Gospel and preached during the Mass.

 

[Usige]

No.

Not that I would say they aren’t allowed, but since we have 8 instituted acolytes (not headed towards Holy Orders) and three men in clerical formation I think they might feel out of place.

 

[Duesenberg]

Not that I would say they aren’t allowed, but since we have 8 instituted acolytes (not headed towards Holy Orders) and three men in clerical formation I think they might feel out of place.

Are you in the Diocese of Lincoln NB, perchance?

 

[Usige]

Nope.

Our bishop just reinstated instituted acolytes as a stable ministry maybe 3 or 4 years ago. It was to be a trial, but apparently the clergy appreciated having well trained men instead of children so it has been growing. It only took 45 years since Ministeria Quaedam, but I hope it is a trend that continues.

Now if we would see a growth in implementing instituted lectors as a stable ministry per MQ that would be wonderful. As it is I get weird looks sitting in the sanctuary wearing an alb and reading the epistle. Some still wonder why I am given priority to carry the Book of the Gospels if a deacon isn’t present and why we can’t just alternate. It is slowly dawning on them that acolytes and lectors have a specific office and that readers and altar boys are there to fill in the gaps. I am sure that if we had 8 instituted lectors that some would take personal offense to being bumped from reading.

 

[Duesenberg]

Our bishop just reinstated instituted acolytes as a stable ministry maybe 3 or 4 years ago. It was to be a trial, but apparently the clergy appreciated having well trained men instead of children so it has been growing. It only took 45 years since Ministeria Quaedam, but I hope it is a trend that continues.

That’s wonderful. I’m curious about just how critical the selection process must be given the permanence of the institution? Do acolytes receive formation in your parish?

Some still wonder why I am given priority to carry the Book of the Gospels if a deacon isn’t present and why we can’t just alternate. It is slowly dawning on them that acolytes and lectors have a specific office

That would cause out-and-out sexist-based hatred around here, sad to say. I suspect the fact the “office” is open only to men is the reason it’s not more exercised around here.

 

[Usige]

That’s wonderful. I’m curious about just how critical the selection process must be given the permanence of the institution? Do acolytes receive formation in your parish?

It is partially driven by the individual pastors. The bishop desires that any man that petitions be an experienced sacristan and requires a letter of recommendation from the pastor. I would say there is more discernment than say an EMHC, reader, et cetera, but not as much as we went through before being accepted as aspirants for diaconal formation. They also are required to attest that they will cease functioning in the ministry if they enter into an invalid marriage, cohabitate, or otherwise lead a lifestyle incompatible with serving at the Lord’s altar.

Part of the application is a detailed training plan that includes Liturgical Duties, Training and Formation Plan, and a continuing education agreement. The initial training must include relevant sections of the GIRM, Redemptionis Sacramentum, Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy, Code of Canon Law (230, 897-898, 907, 910-944), and Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharist Outside Mass. There is also required training on care of sacred vessels, proper cleansing, dressing the altar, overview of various liturgical rites, etc.

Like I say, it’s not as comprehensive as clerical formation, but goes way beyond a 30-60 minute training session each year.

That would cause out-and-out sexist-based hatred around here, sad to say. I suspect the fact the “office” is open only to men is the reason it’s not more exercised around here.

I think the same would happen in most areas. I get a pass mainly because it’s explained like “he’s a instituted lector… It’s part of formation to the diaconate”. Linking it to formation for something else makes it more palatable than if it was a stable office I guess.

 

[vsedriver]

our parish has a few adult servers, both male and female. Our parish is aging and there are fewer kids. Nothing to do with fallen away Catholics but due to a lack of jobs in the area. So our parish priest asked adults to help step in so we can continue to have Mass daily. The adult servers are very devout and good Catholics. Most attend daily Mass. The few women servers are also the ones who care for the vessels and linens.