Female Altar Servers

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Just curious - how many of you have parishes where the altar servers (boys and girls) don’t participate at Communion time.

My sister’s parish in the Omaha Archdiocese does not require the altar servers to participate during Holy Communion. It might be because the priest, deacon and the 10 EMHCs just assume you will receive in the hand and have no need for the palent…(or however its spelled) but I think its not a good idea…I may have mentioned this before.

Having altar boys only CAN differ on the priesthood possibilities - my diocese doesn’t allow altar girls at all (which I am glad about) and we have a great group of young men at our own diocesean seminary studying to become priests. Of course results may vary…

Maybe altar girls would result in vocations to the religious life, but maybe not. But I don’t see a need especially if there are enough boys and young men at the parish to serve.
 
THANK YOU for that article

I especially loved this part

Female altar servers will be involved in some of the liturgies in accordance with local diocesan practice, he said. And, just as at the Vatican, men and women will alternate reading the Scriptures and the prayers of the faithful.

See!!! Women can read in the Vatican!!! Sad that some people think that women should not be allowed to read scripture or be Eucharistic ministers or be altar servers when even the Pope uses them on a regular basis! 😃
 
In our parish we don’t use the paten so the altar servers are usually sitting watching the action or staring off into space – that’s when there are altar servers.

It’s not unusual to have an adult leave his/her pew and go set the altar at the offertory and stay for the presentation of the gifts and the lavabo and then return after Communion to clear the altar.
 
Carolinagirl411 said:
See!!! Women can read in the Vatican!!! Sad that some people think that women should not be allowed to read scripture or be Eucharistic ministers or be altar servers when even the Pope uses them on a regular basis! 😃
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Yes, women can read in the Vatican. They just cannot be altar servers. That is reserved to boys or seminarians.

And no, they cannot be Eucharistic Ministers. A Eucharistic Minister is a priest or bishop. A Minsiter of a Sacrament is the one who confects it. Women cannot confect the Eucharist.

They CAN, however, be a minister of Holy Communion.
 
As to Phemie’s post about 2 boys out of hundreds have gone on to be priests from her parish, if there were hundreds of girls serving there, you would not get one to be a priest.

As for Benedict XVI having female servers over here, considering what VII says and what the New Mass has for prayers, and, as importantly, doesn’t have for prayers, the issue concerning servers is pretty low on the totem pole.

Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us
 
Brendan said:
Yes, women can read in the Vatican. They just cannot be altar servers. That is reserved to boys or seminarians.

And no, they cannot be Eucharistic Ministers. A Eucharistic Minister is a priest or bishop. A Minsiter of a Sacrament is the one who confects it. Women cannot confect the Eucharist.

They CAN, however, be a minister of Holy Communion.
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Ok we call them Eucharistic ministers in our Parish but i guess they are ministers of Holy Commmunion. Did you not read that article? The pope is using female altar servers so I guess technically they CAN be…since the Pope allows it. Read the article
 
Carolinagirl411 said:
Ok we call them Eucharistic ministers in our Parish but i guess they are ministers of Holy Commmunion. Did you not read that article? The pope is using female altar servers so I guess technically they CAN be…since the Pope allows it. Read the article
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My point is that he does not regularly use them, as you claim.

The Vatican itself has a school for boys that provides the servers for the Masses conducted in St. Peter’s and St. John Lateran. They, along with seminarians doing their service as Instituted Lectors make up the regular altar servers for the Pope.
 
Carolinagirl411 said:
I would hate to have to tell my future daughter “No sweetheart, I know you want to serve Christ in the mass and show your earnest devotion but since you are a female you aren’t allowed to.”
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The way to serve Christ in the Mass is through attentively paying attention and following the order of Mass.

The Mass is not a “jobs program” for the unemployed where everybody has to be “doing” something…
 
Carolinagirl411 said:
Did you not read that article? The pope is using female altar servers so I guess technically they CAN be…since the Pope allows it. Read the article
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No the point is the Pope or, more likely, one of his aides has decided to respect the local customs by using servers which the applicable Diocese provides for him. In the same way as when he visited a German Shrine he wore vestments which were a fairly horrible colour.

There is no question of whether they can be allowed. The question is whether they should be. The Pope has decided that the Diocese of Rome, his own Diocese, should not have Altar girls, just as his predecessor, despite allowing local ordinaries to take their own decisions, choose not to have Altar girls in the Diocese. The fact that a few Altar girls will serve a Mass with the Pope in a few American Diocese does not indicate anything about his view on the matter, indeed the article doesn’t make clear if His Holiness even knows that he’ll have female Servers yet.
 
Joe17 said:
As to Phemie’s post about 2 boys out of hundreds have gone on to be priests from her parish, if there were hundreds of girls serving there, you would not get one to be a priest.
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I can’t argue that point, obviously.

Since I don’t know if either of the two men ordained was ever an altar server I can’t tell if that had a bearing on their vocation. I believe the older one was raised by the nuns at the convent from the time he was old enough to go to school (as were his brothers and sisters). I don’t know much about the other one.
 
Lepanto said:
The way to serve Christ in the Mass is through attentively paying attention and following the order of Mass.
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agreed 100%
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Lepanto:
The Mass is not a “jobs program” for the unemployed where everybody has to be “doing” something…
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There is a purpose, however, for Altar Servers. In my parish holding the Book, setting the Altar, etc. They are also EXPECTED to show good example to the congregation as far as showing attention and participation. I understand the yearning to want to help out in any way with the Celebration of Mass. I am far more frustrated with the kids, especially the boys who choose to not serve because it might interfere with a soccer or football game. In my parish the girls are needed because there are not enough boys.
I don’t think we have had a vocation from my parish (which is close to 100 years old) yet. Girls have been serving for maybe the past 10, so it is hard for me to make the link that using boys only as servers encourages vocations to the priesthood.
In my diocese (huge-urban+suburban) it would be difficult to change back at this point anyway.
 
Lepanto said:
The way to serve Christ in the Mass is through attentively paying attention and following the order of Mass.

The Mass is not a “jobs program” for the unemployed where everybody has to be “doing” something…
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Well maybe my main problem is that I used to be protestant, up until Easter Vigil of this year. While I was protestant I was very active in the service. I read scripture, played music, organized things, and never ONCE was I told I couldn’t do something b/c I was female. Yes I know it is important to focus on the mass b/c Christ is the most important aspect. However, there are people out there that show their devotion by doing something and not everyone was meant to sit there quietly. I think just b/c someone happens to be female and has the desire to serve (not be a priest) she shouldn’t be denied. Sitting quietly is not for everyone and if there is a task to be done and it is desired to be done by a female then by all means let her.

Its like how some people who want a religious life, some choose the cloistered life and others choose the missionary life where they are ACTIVE b/c that is the BEST way for THEM to show their devotion! Women aren’t trying to take over the church so I don’t see why men are so threatened by their desire to be of help. Some people have personalities in which they have the need to actively serve to actively participate. Not everyone has this gift. It should be utilized and not suppressed.
 
This is an interesting thread. In my parish, altar girls have definitely reduced the number of boys serving. I believe I have read in the past a good analysis of the issue from a CA contributor (I cannot specifically remember who, however). The analysis indicated that in many parishes girls and women are the large majority of the volunteers as servers, readers, organizers, etc. and that almost no men participate in the parish at these levels. The nature of males and females was considered to be a large contributor to this state of affairs, as it was stated that it is generally difficult to get large numbers of men to participate and when women start taking over these positions the men find it easy to walk away and let the women take care of things. Anecdotally I have read that many parishes are completely controlled by the women of the parish. The point of the article was that it is important to have men and boys involved in these positions and that we should do as much as possible to encourage them to do so. Thus, reserving one are (altar boys) for the boys may be a good thing to do. Something to think about.
 
my question is

why are men having so much trouble participating with women… do all men have major EGO problems? No they do not. I have met several men that do not have any problems working with women. I am going to marry one of them very soon. So…people are so eager to use women as the scapegoat for the male’s lack of desire to serve. If a man wants to do it, he should step up and do it.
 
Carolinagirl411 said:
Well maybe my main problem is that I used to be protestant, up until Easter Vigil of this year. While I was protestant I was very active in the service. I read scripture, played music, organized things, and never ONCE was I told I couldn’t do something b/c I was female. Yes I know it is important to focus on the mass b/c Christ is the most important aspect. However, there are people out there that show their devotion by doing something and not everyone was meant to sit there quietly. I think just b/c someone happens to be female and has the desire to serve (not be a priest) she shouldn’t be denied. Sitting quietly is not for everyone and if there is a task to be done and it is desired to be done by a female then by all means let her.

Its like how some people who want a religious life, some choose the cloistered life and others choose the missionary life where they are ACTIVE b/c that is the BEST way for THEM to show their devotion! Women aren’t trying to take over the church so I don’t see why men are so threatened by their desire to be of help. Some people have personalities in which they have the need to actively serve to actively participate. Not everyone has this gift. It should be utilized and not suppressed.
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It’s great that some have this desire to “do” things at Mass, but I assure you, paying attention at Mass and following its proper order is no less valuable.

If some have a need to do more, that’s wonderful! But the Mass is not the personal property of any of us to tailor it to satisfy our personal needs or desires.

Why not take all that energy and start a door-to-door evangelization program? How about volunteering to teach catechism? Why not try to bring back lapsed Catholics? That’s what the active laity are supposed to be about, not competing for “jobs” at Mass.

Per John Paul II, the “New Evangelization” rests on the shoulders of the laity, not the ordained.
 
Inquisitivus said:
This is an interesting thread. In my parish, altar girls have definitely reduced the number of boys serving. I believe I have read in the past a good analysis of the issue from a CA contributor (I cannot specifically remember who, however). The analysis indicated that in many parishes girls and women are the large majority of the volunteers as servers, readers, organizers, etc. and that almost no men participate in the parish at these levels. The nature of males and females was considered to be a large contributor to this state of affairs, as it was stated that it is generally difficult to get large numbers of men to participate and when women start taking over these positions the men find it easy to walk away and let the women take care of things. Anecdotally I have read that many parishes are completely controlled by the women of the parish. The point of the article was that it is important to have men and boys involved in these positions and that we should do as much as possible to encourage them to do so. Thus, reserving one are (altar boys) for the boys may be a good thing to do. Something to think about.
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Here ya go…

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and…

amazon.com/gp/product/0785260382/ref=s9subs_c2_at2-rfc_p-2814_p_59_21_10?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0J7HYR4T096P4Z0D6RVP&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=278240301&pf_rd_i=507846
 
You are right…it’s just a major adjustment for me to be told I can’t do something in the church…I’ve been baptist all my life lol It took me a while to get over my antagonism towards the catholic church and I’ve made a lot of progress. Enough to realize that it is the true church. Sometimes the “old me” comes out so I apologize for my Baptist rantings lol. Plus I’ve had to deal with a lot of men in my life telling me that the reason why women can’t do certain things in the church is b/c they are “lower” or “not as worthy” etc…I know that’s not the reason but I can still sense some of that sentiment in the world today and it bothers me.

About those books…so I’m getting from the books that Manly men and men in general don’t want to be a part of church b/c it isn’t Manly enough for them…Men in this society and well men in general are socialized to behave in a certain manner and women are socialized to behave in a different manner. Women find it easier to humble themselves and submit to greater authority with devotion and love…so we love to serve in church. Men have a harder time doing those things b/c those actions are seen as feminine. But you have to humble yourself in order to be a good Christian…so what’s the solution? kick women out of leadership roles? Make it an all man’s club so they will feel more masculine and join up? sigh this is ridiculous but that seems to be the trend here
 
CarolinaGirl411, your take on my post is interesting. The article was discussing the nature of men and women (males and females), and concluded that women are more inclined to joining groups and organizing, and that men are not, and generally need to be prodded into filling such positions. Thus, if there are an abundant number of women that desire to fill these positions, over time the number of men involved will trend toward zero. The author’s point was that that author did not believe this was a desirable outcome.
 
Carolinagirl411 said:
You are right…it’s just a major adjustment for me to be told I can’t do something in the church…I’ve been baptist all my life lol It took me a while to get over my antagonism towards the catholic church and I’ve made a lot of progress. Enough to realize that it is the true church. Sometimes the “old me” comes out so I apologize for my Baptist rantings lol. Plus I’ve had to deal with a lot of men in my life telling me that the reason why women can’t do certain things in the church is b/c they are “lower” or “not as worthy” etc…I know that’s not the reason but I can still sense some of that sentiment in the world today and it bothers me.

About those books…so I’m getting from the books that Manly men and men in general don’t want to be a part of church b/c it isn’t Manly enough for them…Men in this society and well men in general are socialized to behave in a certain manner and women are socialized to behave in a different manner. Women find it easier to humble themselves and submit to greater authority with devotion and love…so we love to serve in church. Men have a harder time doing those things b/c those actions are seen as feminine. But you have to humble yourself in order to be a good Christian…so what’s the solution? kick women out of leadership roles? Make it an all man’s club so they will feel more masculine and join up? sigh this is ridiculous but that seems to be the trend here
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I am a man and I am 100% against altar girls…
Is this because I am against girls or have an ego problem, that would only be, if I wasn’t Catholic. Because I am Catholic I see things differently.

The reasoning behind this is because Jesus is male and Mary is female. It would be a horrible thing for me to dress in drag and say I was imitating the Blessed Mother.

In the same way only man can be a Priest and this is not for every man even. Only certain men, as a married man who’s vocation is to be the father of two girls, I will probably never be a Priest. I love my little girls and I will never insult them by dressing them up as boys, they are beautiful being girls. They do not need to fall for the feminist lie that says girls are not as good as boys unless they do everything boys do. Society doesn’t want women to enjoy being female, you do not need to be male to be special.

Now we need to change the current Catholic culture which right now seems to hate Priests and not want more, so that they can replace them with women Priests and feel fulfilled.

We need to do everything we can to promote vocations to the Priesthood, represent the Priesthood as Male and something to imitate as boys.

In the same way, where are the nuns and sisters wearing habits like they are supposed to, inspiring the girls to fill their vocations as Mothers and Sisters. We need more Mother Theresa’s and Mother Angelica’s giving proper examples to young girls of holiness and humility, not seeking empowerment or fulfillment by being in front of everyone, but by following Christ.

The Church is Hierarchical with Christ as Head, we are all just servants and must support that in our actions and traditions. If we try to change it to fit our cultural desires we are remaking what Christ instituted in our image, which is the sin of Adam.

The Church is not about seeking leadership roles, empowerment, or selfish desires, but of obedience to Christ.

It is Christ first, we find our fulfillment in submitting to Him.
Scylla
 
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