Ideas how girls can serve the church?

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Let me explain- I’m looking for ideas for clubs for girls to help participate more in the mass. I don’t really want this thread to turn into a discussion on girls as alter servers. Our parish doesn’t allow that and I’m fine with it. I have 3 boys who are active alter servers and love doing it. Our parish has an alterboy club that besides serving, organizes fun outings for the boys and their dad’s. They have gone canoeing, played paintball, had laser gun wars, video game competitions, etc. I’ve seen how the boys enjoy spending time with the priests and friars who help with the club. I’ve seen how the boys take pride in serving at the mass.

I’d like my daughter to develop the same love for the mass and pride in her church. I had thought about starting a club for girls to arrange flowers and plants around the church and alter. They could learn about what each flower/plant symbolizes, create wreaths and garlands of pine in the winter, create flower arrangements during the year.

Someone also recommended teaching the girls the art of ecclesiastical needlepoint. If he alter cloths and garments need to be repaired, the girls could do that. But I don’t know the first thing about sewing so that would be harder to organize.

Does anyone have any ideas of jobs for girls in the church?
 
What about maybe a bakery club, where they can bake treats and offer to those who stay after mass? Or, they could make prayer books, religious bracelets/jewelry, and sell them at the gift shop or pass out for free.
 
Are the girls permitted to do Mass readings (if old enough), serve as ushers, or sing in a choir? I regularly see teen girls doing all these things even at churches that don’t have female altar servers.

Also, since you mention pride in their Church, there are things they can do that build pride in their Church and help them serve others without necessarily being part of a Mass.

Is there any sort of Catholic youth group at the Parish that admits girls, which they could join? Youth conferences, youth retreats? How about a prayer group or participating in Eucharistic Adoration?

Are there community service options they could join, like visiting the elderly in nursing homes, reading Catholic books to younger kids, participating in Habitat for Humanity, volunteering at a homeless shelter or food bank, or helping with a food drive?
 
One other thing, you mentioned starting a group for girls. It sounds like the altar boy club has lots of fun outings. It would be nice if the club you start also took the girls on some outings to places they would like.
 
I would suggest starting one of the following for four girls:

***1) Archconfraternity of Blessed Imelda Lambertini *** (or a local society based on this) - A Society of prayer and Eucharistic Adoration for young girls and women who have received the sacrament of First Holy Communion. Blessed Imelda is the patron of First Communicants.

They get together for Adoration to pray for the parish and people’s intentions. At special Masses (Easter, Christmas, First Communion, Marian feasts, etc) they dress up in white with a blue sash etc.

Here are some pics

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
catholicstarherald.org/candelmas-at-mater-ecclesiae-in-berlin/

Here’s a small book about Bl Imelda - tanbooks.com/index.php/saints/patron-saint-of-first-communicants-the-story-of-blessed-imelda-lambertini.html

2) Fiat - epriest.com/best_practices/view/48

Girls in grades 5 to 12 receive guidance in four areas of formation:

charity
spirituality
culture
vocation
The primary role of Fiat is to have girls spend time with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament during Eucharistic Holy Hours at the parish. Girls take on the responsibility of scheduled times to adore Our Lord and receive from Fiat formation on how to pray (they learn meditation, contemplation, Lectio Divina, vocal prayer with special emphasis on the Rosary). During their peaceful time of adoration, they pray and intercede for those most in need, especially the elderly, the sick and the young people in their parish.

Besides the scheduled prayer times the girls meet twice a month as a group.

One meeting is a Bible study; the girls study the Gospel for the upcoming week or a particular theme in the Bible so that they may grow in their love for the Word of God and in their friendship with Jesus.

The other meeting is dedicated to a charitable work they perform, a talk by someone on how they can come to understand and live their faith more deeply (e.g., a formation talk on modesty guidelines given by a professional fashion consultant), or a fun and exciting cultural activity (e.g., field trips to art museums, theaters and musical productions, with discussion afterwards).

3) Little Flowers Girl Club - beholdpublications.com/home/about-our-clubs/little-flowers-girls-club/

4) Little Women Hospitality Club - beholdpublications.com/home/about-our-clubs/hospitality-club/
 
phil19034, thanks for posting that! I wish I had known about the Little Flower Girls club when my daughter was a child! And I also don’t know why these groups are not more well known. I am sure I am not the only one that has never heard of them.
 
I think I’ve seen the Imelda Lambertini group marching and placing flowers in front of the statue of Mary during the large TLM ceremonies in my area. A very nice idea if there is a chapter in the OP’s area or she can organize one.
 
It would help if you maybe ask a few girls in your parish for suggestions.

Young girls are growing up in an environment where they could be anyone they want to be, so something that is rather stereotypically feminine like arranging flowers might not be as interesting because they are exposed to more stimulating stuff (not saying that you should rule that out, but have more activities). Personally paintball and laser guns sound a lot more fun to me, and I’m not necessarily the most boyish person out there

So try getting opinions from your parish! It’ll go a long way. the young me would have liked a mixture of stuff like sports, charity drives, talks. It seems like the boys group have fun activities while your ideas/and others’ revolve around service only. Girls like to have fun too! Try to include that as much as possible. They are kids after all
 
I think girls would make awesome greeters, but I like the idea of community service for all kids. Not just boys or just girls.
Service to the homeless, the hungry, on the grounds, writing nice notes or drawing beautiful pictures for the home-bound and elderly.
In fact, a young person could Spiritually Adopt an elder in the parish, and pray a prayer for them daily, sending cards, and visiting twice a year or more with a parent at their side.
So many kids live far from their grandparents, or they have already passed…it’s beautiful thing to see elders conversing with children. And beneficial for both.
 
What an amazing list up above!

Ushering is a lovely idea, but also things like outreach to the sick and infirm at the local Catholic hospital or nursing home. I know that getting a group of girls together to make rosaries, pray the Angelus, make palm crosses for Palm Sunday, flowers for Mothering Sunday, etc… are all quite effective.
 
They can help the Legion of Mary make Rosaries for distribution after/before Mass & for the elderly & homebound. They can also help with making up the “Welcome to our Parish” gift bags for the new Parishioners. Also, helping the Altar Society ladies with changing the Altar cloths.
 
Lea101 said:
It would help if you maybe ask a few girls in your parish for suggestions.

Young girls are growing up in an environment where they could be anyone they want to be, so something that is rather stereotypically feminine like arranging flowers might not be as interesting because they are exposed to more stimulating stuff (not saying that you should rule that out, but have more activities). Personally paintball and laser guns sound a lot more fun to me, and I’m not necessarily the most boyish person out there

So try getting opinions from your parish! It’ll go a long way. the young me would have liked a mixture of stuff like sports, charity drives, talks. It seems like the boys group have fun activities while your ideas/and others’ revolve around service only. Girls like to have fun too! Try to include that as much as possible. They are kids after all
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I totally agree. My daughter was lucky to attend a parish where girls were alter servers and it was just a part of growing up. In her group of 4 besties from age 12, 2 are attorneys, 1 a physician and 1 has a MA in family counseling. I can just imagine how telling girls they should arrange flowers and clean the alter cloths would go over. Remember please, that there are more women enrolled in law and med school than men.
 
phil19034 said:
I would suggest starting one of the following for four girls:

***1) Archconfraternity of Blessed Imelda Lambertini *** (or a local society based on this) - A Society of prayer and Eucharistic Adoration for young girls and women who have received the sacrament of First Holy Communion. Blessed Imelda is the patron of First Communicants.

They get together for Adoration to pray for the parish and people’s intentions. At special Masses (Easter, Christmas, First Communion, Marian feasts, etc) they dress up in white with a blue sash etc.

Here are some pics

http://materecclesiae.org/gallery/5290_DSC05327B.JPG
catholicstarherald.org/candelmas-at-mater-ecclesiae-in-berlin/

Here’s a small book about Bl Imelda - tanbooks.com/index.php/saints/patron-saint-of-first-communicants-the-story-of-blessed-imelda-lambertini.html

2) Fiat - epriest.com/best_practices/view/48

Girls in grades 5 to 12 receive guidance in four areas of formation:

charity
spirituality
culture
vocation
The primary role of Fiat is to have girls spend time with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament during Eucharistic Holy Hours at the parish. Girls take on the responsibility of scheduled times to adore Our Lord and receive from Fiat formation on how to pray (they learn meditation, contemplation, Lectio Divina, vocal prayer with special emphasis on the Rosary). During their peaceful time of adoration, they pray and intercede for those most in need, especially the elderly, the sick and the young people in their parish.

Besides the scheduled prayer times the girls meet twice a month as a group.

One meeting is a Bible study; the girls study the Gospel for the upcoming week or a particular theme in the Bible so that they may grow in their love for the Word of God and in their friendship with Jesus.

The other meeting is dedicated to a charitable work they perform, a talk by someone on how they can come to understand and live their faith more deeply (e.g., a formation talk on modesty guidelines given by a professional fashion consultant), or a fun and exciting cultural activity (e.g., field trips to art museums, theaters and musical productions, with discussion afterwards).

3) Little Flowers Girl Club - beholdpublications.com/home/about-our-clubs/little-flowers-girls-club/

4) Little Women Hospitality Club - beholdpublications.com/home/about-our-clubs/hospitality-club/
Click to expand...
Very nice ideas.🙂

We have a rosary club for the girls here…and when they reach 17 they can join Columbietttes.
 
I second the Little Flowers. There was one at a nearby parish and I always thought that if I had a girl, I’d encourage her to join. Plus it sounds fairly flexible so that you could include more fun physical activities like the altar boys.
 
kozlosap said:
I totally agree. My daughter was lucky to attend a parish where girls were alter servers and it was just a part of growing up. In her group of 4 besties from age 12, 2 are attorneys, 1 a physician and 1 has a MA in family counseling. I can just imagine how telling girls they should arrange flowers and clean the alter cloths would go over. Remember please, that there are more women enrolled in law and med school than men.
Click to expand...
I don’t see the connection. . .you surely aren’t saying that arranging flowers and cleaning altar cloths isn’t ‘important’ while serving around the altar is, are you?? or that a girl who does the former isn’t going to be ‘successful’ while the latter will be? Or that a preteen or early teen girl will only serve if it’s something she feels is important, and will refuse something ‘beneath her’ with regard to doing things in her church?
 
Tantum_ergo said:
I don’t see the connection. . .you surely aren’t saying that arranging flowers and cleaning altar cloths isn’t ‘important’ while serving around the altar is, are you?? or that a girl who does the former isn’t going to be ‘successful’ while the latter will be? Or that a preteen or early teen girl will only serve if it’s something she feels is important, and will refuse something ‘beneath her’ with regard to doing things in her church?
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No, I don’t read his post like that. That would be too simplistic and rude.
I think what he’s trying to say is that girls/women are more than just people who make things pretty. I get what he’s saying.
 
pianistclare said:
No, I don’t read his post like that. That would be too simplistic and rude.
I think what he’s trying to say is that girls/women are more than just people who make things pretty. I get what he’s saying.
Click to expand...
I ‘get’ that, but I think it’s a false dichotomy of sorts to imply that girls would accept serving ‘around the altar’ but sneer at ‘arranging flowers’. Why aren’t both things seen as equally important?

Why would a girl who ‘made things pretty’ be seen as needing to be ‘more’ than that, as if the first thing wasn’t 'good enough"?
 
kozlosap said:
I totally agree. My daughter was lucky to attend a parish where girls were alter servers and it was just a part of growing up. In her group of 4 besties from age 12, 2 are attorneys, 1 a physician and 1 has a MA in family counseling. I can just imagine how telling girls they should arrange flowers and clean the alter cloths would go over. Remember please, that there are more women enrolled in law and med school than men.
Click to expand...
what does this have to do with anything? I hardly believe that being an altar girl is the reason for the success these 4 girls had.

If they would have been in an adoration group, Little Flower Girls’ Club (which isn’t about flowers but rather the teaching of St. Thérèse of Lisieux), Little Women Hospitality Club, etc.; I’m sure they would have been just as successful.

Furthermore, as the father of a very intelligent daughter who loves school, “girly things,” etc; I find it offensive that because my daughter likes to arrange flowers and do crafts, that means she will not be successful.

We have had similar discussions before. Your daughter is successful because she obviously worked hard, is intelligent and disciplined. Being an altar girl or going to Jesuit (or Jesuit like) college is not the reason for her success. Her success is due to the fact that she is driven and has a successful mindset.

And regarding your comment about more women in law & med school, you should be viewing this as a major problem, not as a success for women. The last generation or 2 of men have been extremely damaged, as men - esp young men - have lost their identity. Way too many men today no longer know what God intended men to be or the role they should have. Too many men don’t know what it means to be a father and to be responsible for their families.

The fact that more women are in law & med school than men is scary because it means that boys are getting the message that they are not as good as girls. The split should be much closer to 50-50. But the fact that more women are graduating from college than men is scary because it means that too many boys are being lost. Furthermore - whether we like it not (and I agree that it’s immature), but young boys and even young men don’t like to do things (work or recreational) that females do.

Boys and young men like to be seen as macho, and doing girl things is the opposite of macho. The answer isn’t to kill their macho tendency, but rather to change it to chivalry, which is not what’s happening today for a number of reasons - esp divorce.

In closing - the good Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers once said “if I want my daughter to meet the man of her dreams, I better show her what he looks like.” We need more fathers like the good Deacon to show BOTH boys and girls what true masculinity looks like and we need more Theology of the Body programs for our kids at Church.

God Bless.
 
Tantum_ergo said:
I ‘get’ that, but I think it’s a false dichotomy of sorts to imply that girls would accept serving ‘around the altar’ but sneer at ‘arranging flowers’. Why aren’t both things seen as equally important?

Why would a girl who ‘made things pretty’ be seen as needing to be ‘more’ than that, as if the first thing wasn’t 'good enough"?
Click to expand...
Ok, I’m out. You fail to see the point. Once again.
 
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