Female Altar Servers

[snhs]

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

Its hardly about humbling or submitting themselves, women often like to be involved with things to get control and social status. The fact is men will be involved if they see a clear need for it they’re not going to do it if dozens of women are filling every post from altar servers coordinator to chair of the Pastoral council and everything in between before the vacancy even hits the Parish bulletin.

If anything I’d say it was the reverse men are for the most part quite happy not to seek some way of direct involvement and are quite happy leaving it to those who have a particular inclination. They humble themselves by praying to Our Lord through the Sacrifice of the Mass rather than caterwauling up front as I’ve seen or, rather more regrettably, heard many of our youth singers do on a weekly basis. Men are part of the Church, they don’t need to be parading around the Church with a job title to be a part of it and can be just as involved as the readers, EMs or Altar Servers by doing what their forefathers have done for centuries. In addition almost all of the great theologians both in the Catholic Church and in virtually every other system have been male so you can hardly claim it is a female activity.

 

[Carolinagirl411]

I feel women have contributed a great deal to the Christian faith b/c they are women and they can do things men cannot

so fine, I give up, let the men take over all the roles that are traditionally meant to be theirs. The Vatican should set it all straight right now so there won’t be any more bickering. Women will go back to their traditional roles. No more participating in the mass. Then the men will be happy and we’ll have more priests and the church will prosper. I’m tired of this male/female debate. I guess it’s only fair since women can bear children and men can never do that.

I consider myself a feminist only in that I feel women should be allowed to hold a job, be paid the same rate for the same talent/education, and should not be viewed as sex objects whose only purpose is to be “barefoot, pregnant, and in the kitchen”. But I’m not some crazed person who believes that women should conquer the world of men by trying to copycat them. Men and women should work together b/c they complement each other…yin and yang so to speak. I’m not for scrambling to beat men for positions in the church for power and control and social status. I’m positive the majority of women in the church don’t even think about that, they are just happy to serve.

What would happen if all the women left their positions? Would there be men enough to fill them? Better do some recruiting…

 

[Lovemyfaith]

If anything I’d say it was the reverse men are for the most part quite happy not to seek some way of direct involvement and are quite happy leaving it to those who have a particular inclination.

Well… not always. I see PLENTY of dads coaching little league sports teams, from football to baseball and soccer. In fact where I live the dads talk about how they have to work their way up starting with T-ball coaching and staying with the program if they want a chance to coach the bigger guys. I think their ultimate goal is to ensure their sons a good spot on the team. I can’t say I blame them because those sports teams open a lot of doors to good colleges, and maybe even a professional team.
I think it is sad that dads will fight for a spot to coach baseball but not to lead a server crew or lector.

 

[snhs]

I feel women have contributed a great deal to the Christian faith b/c they are women and they can do things men cannot

I consider myself a feminist only in that I feel women should be allowed to hold a job, be paid the same rate for the same talent/education, and should not be viewed as sex objects whose only purpose is to be “barefoot, pregnant, and in the kitchen”. But I’m not some crazed person who believes that women should conquer the world of men by trying to copycat them. Men and women should work together b/c they complement each other…yin and yang so to speak. I’m not for scrambling to beat men for positions in the church for power and control and social status. I’m positive the majority of women in the church don’t even think about that, they are just happy to serve.

What would happen if all the women left their positions? Would there be men enough to fill them? Better do some recruiting…

You appear to miss the point that everyone male or female participates in the Mass just by being in the Church and following words and gestures of the Priest, listening to the Word of God and directing their prayers to Our Lord throughout especially during the Consecration.

I don’t think anyone has suggested that women should be confined to their role c. several thousand years B.C., confusing the issue in this kind of way isn’t going to help anyone.

I remain fairly certain that if the positions need filled and men are needed to fill them they will do so.

Well… not always. I see PLENTY of dads coaching little league sports teams, from football to baseball and soccer. In fact where I live the dads talk about how they have to work their way up starting with T-ball coaching and staying with the program if they want a chance to coach the bigger guys. I think their ultimate goal is to ensure their sons a good spot on the team. I can’t say I blame them because those sports teams open a lot of doors to good colleges, and maybe even a professional team.
I think it is sad that dads will fight for a spot to coach baseball but not to lead a server crew or lector.

Yes, but how many other people are offering to take up those places. Perhaps in your area there is a lot of competition for such things but if the football coaching in my area is anything to go by either one of the Dad’s steps in or there’s no team. If there’s a gap and no one is interested in filling it men do step in.

I think a lot of men would elect to avoid fighting in Church . I don’t think Pope Benedict’s father was involved with the Altar boy training or reading at the Mass but he did set an example of how to lead a life of prayer and obedience to Our Lord. One of the most important services most men can provide for the Church is by teaching their sons and daughters not just the power of prayer but how to lead a prayerful life, and there is no necessity for any father to be involved in reading, singing etc to do that.

 

[una_ecclesia]

Pax vobiscum!
I realize that I know little of how altar serving was before VII, so I don’t know how it functioned. i can only speak from experience in this aspect, so if your experiences are any different from mine (and based on the posts I’ve read they seem to be), then I understand.

I myself have been a female altar server for five years and all I can say about it is that it has brought nothing but blessings for me. Though right now i have not been called to a religious life I believe that serving has helped me stay faithful to Christ and his Church. Some time ago I was in a real crisis of the faith and had my doubts in whether Catholicism was the true faith or not (and sometimes these doubts still continue), and outside of Mass I wondered whether what I was doing would all be for nothing. During Mass however, and especially in the Liturgy of the Eucharist, these doubts are either toned down or completely vanish. This happens the most when I serve. Sometimes, the only thing that keeps me going is serving in the Mass. I do not do it for recognition or status, but as an act of service for Christ. (Think about it, most of the compliments after the mass go either to the priest for his homily or to the chorus for their singing anyways!)

Before any of you jump on me and start up any conflict let me just say that I am in no way in favor of female priests or anything like that. I realize that both men and women each have their complimentary roles in the Church, and it should stay that way.
Still, while altar serving may serve as a way in which God calls men to the priesthood, and while the role of altar serving was originally for that purpose, it can be used by God in other ways for both boys and girls to recieve graces from him. If in the end The Vatican chooses to go back to its policies of boys- only altar serving (which I highly doubt), then I will gladly listen to the authorities and look for some other ways to serve God.

(This was just a little personal testimony of mine… I probably drifted a little from the main topic… oh well )

May God bless all of you on our paths to holiness

 

[spellinggirl]

Pax vobiscum!
I realize that I know little of how altar serving was before VII, so I don’t know how it functioned. i can only speak from experience in this aspect, so if your experiences are any different from mine (and based on the posts I’ve read they seem to be), then I understand.

I myself have been a female altar server for five years and all I can say about it is that it has brought nothing but blessings for me. Though right now i have not been called to a religious life I believe that serving has helped me stay faithful to Christ and his Church. Some time ago I was in a real crisis of the faith and had my doubts in whether Catholicism was the true faith or not (and sometimes these doubts still continue), and outside of Mass I wondered whether what I was doing would all be for nothing. During Mass however, and especially in the Liturgy of the Eucharist, these doubts are either toned down or completely vanish. This happens the most when I serve. Sometimes, the only thing that keeps me going is serving in the Mass. I do not do it for recognition or status, but as an act of service for Christ. (Think about it, most of the compliments after the mass go either to the priest for his homily or to the chorus for their singing anyways!)

Before any of you jump on me and start up any conflict let me just say that I am in no way in favor of female priests or anything like that. I realize that both men and women each have their complimentary roles in the Church, and it should stay that way.
Still, while altar serving may serve as a way in which God calls men to the priesthood, and while the role of altar serving was originally for that purpose, it can be used by God in other ways for both boys and girls to recieve graces from him. If in the end The Vatican chooses to go back to its policies of boys- only altar serving (which I highly doubt), then I will gladly listen to the authorities and look for some other ways to serve God.

(This was just a little personal testimony of mine… I probably drifted a little from the main topic… oh well )

May God bless all of you on our paths to holiness

Wow… that was pretty much exactly how I feel about serving! I honestly think it’s one of the best things I’ve ever done! And I’m not in favor of female priests or anything. I don’t know where I’d be today if I wasn’t an altar server!

 

[peary]

I myself have been a female altar server for five years and all I can say about it is that it has brought nothing but blessings for me.

That’s what it’s all about!

Though right now i have not been called to a religious life I believe that serving has helped me stay faithful to Christ and his Church.



Some time ago I was in a real crisis of the faith and had my doubts in whether Catholicism was the true faith or not (and sometimes these doubts still continue), and outside of Mass I wondered whether what I was doing would all be for nothing. During Mass however, and especially in the Liturgy of the Eucharist, these doubts are either toned down or completely vanish. This happens the most when I serve. Sometimes, the only thing that keeps me going is serving in the Mass. I do not do it for recognition or status, but as an act of service for Christ. (Think about it, most of the compliments after the mass go either to the priest for his homily or to the chorus for their singing anyways!)



while altar serving may serve as a way in which God calls men to the priesthood, and while the role of altar serving was originally for that purpose, it can be used by God in other ways for both boys and girls to recieve graces from him.



(This was just a little personal testimony of mine… I probably drifted a little from the main topic… oh well )

May God bless all of you on our paths to holiness

 

[THurifer2]

My church has phased Female Altar bo…I mean servers out. THe numbers of boys is exanding greatly.

Having male only servers further fosters vocations to the priesthood…and nobody is going to convince me otherwise seen it in more than one parish with my own eyes.

Female altar server is a dead end job.

 

[peary]

My church has phased Female Altar bo…I mean servers out. THe numbers of boys is exanding greatly.

Having male only servers further fosters vocations to the priesthood…and nobody is going to convince me otherwise seen it in more than one parish with my own eyes.

Female altar server is a dead end job.

**I would have to disagree with you on this point. What has apparently happened is that girl altar servers have resulted in vocations to traditional religious orders, believe it or not. Your eyes may be on your parish, but not on the Church as a whole. Give the Holy Spirit come credit!

 

[spellinggirl]

**I would have to disagree with you on this point. What has apparently happened is that girl altar servers have resulted in vocations to *traditional ***religious orders, believe it or not. Your eyes may be on your parish, but not on the Church as a whole. Give the Holy Spirit come credit!

I agree. I don’t see why having female altar servers might discourage vocations to the priesthood as long as there are male servers, too.

In fact, I know some guys who started serving because their sisters served and they really got into it! In these instances, the girls helped!

And one of those guys happened to be my brother! I’m proud of him… he’s a great server!

 

[FraterAndre]

I was the head of the Ministry of altar Servers in our Diocese and in my term, we studied the posibility of having female altar servers.

I believe there is nothing wrong with female altar servers. I serve with female altar servers and i believe hat they are more easier to be with and to train.

this is according to my own observation.

 

[THurifer2]

**I would have to disagree with you on this point. What has apparently happened is that girl altar servers have resulted in vocations to *traditional ***religious orders, believe it or not. Your eyes may be on your parish, but not on the Church as a whole. Give the Holy Spirit come credit!

Interestingly at my orthodox (think Lincoln NE) the girls have started a Blessed Imelda Society (see pic)

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

Notice the altar boys in Cassocks!!! (which is male specific clothing BTW)Yahoo!! Notice the young lady!!! Yahoo. This transition has had a huge impact on girls interested in traditional religious orders (think Mother Angelica)
Alice VonHildebrand a great true feminist theolgian of our day scorns female servers as well.

 

[peary]

Interestingly at my orthodox (think Lincoln NE) the girls have started a Blessed Imelda Society (see pic)

http://www.materecclesiae.org/gallery/9902_P1010035.JPG

Notice the altar boys in Cassocks!!! (which is male specific clothing BTW)Yahoo!! Notice the young lady!!! Yahoo. This transition has had a huge impact on girls interested in traditional religious orders (think Mother Angelica)
Alice VonHildebrand a great true feminist theolgian of our day scorns female servers as well.

**I cannot see why female altar servers cannot dress similar to the one in the picture - without the blue sash, or course. **

 

[THurifer2]

**I cannot see why female altar servers cannot dress similar to the one in the picture - without the blue sash, or course. **

The Girl in the picture is NOT an altar boy. She is a member of the Blessed Imelda Society. Blessed Imelda Societies are for Girls Only A Society of prayer and Eucharistic Adoration for young girls and women who have received the sacrament of First Holy Communion None of them are or ever will be Altar Boys. As far as I know non of them want to be Altar Servers. If they wanted to be Altar boys they would have to join a more progressive parish.

 

[Eagle75]

I was an altar server for about 9 years until I had to drop out of the weekly rotation because I was heading a few hours away for school, and before then I had been the senior altar server for my parish and trained every server there except for one before I left. Note: I am male. However, at my parish I was one of only 2-3 male altar servers and there were about 5 female altar servers. So for our parish unless we wanted the same few people up there every week we needed the female altar servers. I know that almost sounds like I was reluctent to have them there, but to me they had just as much right to be there as I did.

Right before I left, actually I think it was the last mass I served at, during the washing of the Priest’s hands he leaned down and said something to us two altar servers (both male for that mass) that I felt was rather inappropriate. “Father is glad to see two men up here, the way it should be.” I actually stood there in shock for a few seconds just registering what he said. Probally best that was the last mass I’ve served with him, because since then he’s managed to run off all the alter servers that were there when I left and is now trying to get anybody he can to serve for him.

 

[Brendan]

**I cannot see why female altar servers cannot dress similar to the one in the picture - without the blue sash, or course. **

Because a cassock is male clothing.

Dressing a girl in a cassock is really no different from dressing a boy in a nun’s habit and veil.

Is dressing boys in nun’s clothing something you would advocate for?

 

[Jakub]

No more female altar servers in the Madison Diocese…

madison.com/tct/news/293316

 

[jediliz]

those comments are vicious! (the ones from the Madison Wisconsin newspaper). One was obviously a non catholic who is the type to attack the church and not be trustful of priests because of the sex scandal.

I am SOOO glad my diocese doesn’t have altar servers. We have one of the largest classes of seminarians at our seminary. Can any other diocese say the same?

I’ve mentioned before that at my sister’s parish in Omaha Archdiocese, the altar servers don’t participate at Communion time at all. And they usually have one boy and one girl serving. I think it’d be better if they had three altar servers and had two boys and one girl if they MUST have females.

I’m a female and I would not have been interested in being an altar server.

 

[dranzal]

We have encouraged our dd to be in the children’s choir. She understands why we won’t encourage her to be an altar server. Our son, however, is an altar server.

 

[Wise_Queen]

I am disgusted…I see nothing wrong with girls wanting to serve Christ…Naturally they can’t be priests but that shouldn’t stop them from participating especially if it brings them closer to Christ. Now some others have posted that women shouldn’t have any role in the mass, doing the readings, Eucharistic minister, etc.

So what are we supposed to do, sit there in the pew with our heads down in complete silence only speaking when spoken to and following blindly our husbands commands?

Mary had a role as did Mary Magdalene in spreading the word of Christ. We can’t be priests but I am proud to serve different roles in Mass. I wish I were younger and I could be an altar server as well.

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.”

“Dear Sweetheart, I am sorry that you are not a woman and can’t have a baby; but God ordained it that way!”

As you can see from that one comment there ARE cases where certain roles are reserved for men or women. The Sacrifice of the Mass and Sanctuary have always been filled with men. Women perform the submissive, humble role; praying in the pew and covering their head out of respect to Our Lord.

To serve Christ is to know our place and humbly keep it.
Women serve Our Lord just as earnestly in the pew praying for the souls of poor sinners as much as the boys do so in the sanctuary acting as altar servers.

This arguement is silly. Girls can serve God in all sorts of various ways…it doesn’t have to be in the leadership role
that the men take. Your daughter can go help the poor, reach out to the neglected child on the block, pray for sinners, bring her friends to church… etc… all to serve Christ earnestly.

Mass is not about “her”. It’s about serving CHRIST. The sooner she understands that the better she will learn to serve as Christ would like her to like Mary did: in humility.