Non-Catholic Altar Servers

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BayernAnhaenger said:
That’s quite a stupid idea he has.

“Hey, Mexicans, want to be in the US Military? Maybe work as employees of the US Government?”
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Actually, there is a large number of latinos including Mexicans and those of other foreign countries serving in the United States Armed Services. It is not a requirement that one must be a US citizen to serve in the military. A green card or other permanent resident credential is necessary, of course. However, US citizenship is a prerequisite for being a commissioned officer.

…but I get what you’re trying to say. are these “non-Catholic” altar servers at least in RCIA or are they just doing it for fun??
 
Aramis said:
an unbaptised chatechumen could also serve, if knowledgable enough…

But note the mention of united to the church in baptism OR the chatecumenate…

In either case, they would not receive unless they are orthodox, PNCC, Old Catholic, or one of the other “allowed” groups, and under instruction.

It should be bloody rare.
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On a practical note why in the world would a Priest use a non Catholic in this instance? Even as rabidly ecumenical and progressive as some Priests are, I don’t see it happening.

Somehow, I think this post is facetious as others lately appear to have been.
 
palmas85 said:
On a practical note why in the world would a Priest use a non Catholic in this instance? Even as rabidly ecumenical and progressive as some Priests are, I don’t see it happening.

Somehow, I think this post is facetious as others lately appear to have been.
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The one case I can see it happening is in a mission parish.

The catechumens who are ready for entry to the church, but are waiting on either Easter or the Bishop to arrive could, as a legitimate but extremis case, be allowed to do so.

Take for example, the case of the Mission to Magadan. Several of the individuals at the mission had been baptised as Russian Orthodox (and thus also confirmed and communed), and would be eligible to be communicants, but not yet formally recieved into the church, as they were going to be so received at Easter as roman practice indicates is normative. But, as the rest of the mission’s parishioners were chatecumens, given the choice, I can see Fr. Mike allowing them to serve as readers and as altar servers. ISTR hearing that Fr. Mike did so, even. But then again, Magadan is essentially unchurched, so the few Orthodox in that mission are rarities.
 
Paten said:
What a crude thing to say. The fact is non- US citizens CAN and DO join the US Military including Mexicans.
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You beat me to it.

That said, I can only think of one instance where non-Catholic altar servers **MIGHT **be used. If there is a blended family with his/hers/theirs kids, maybe the priest thinks he’s “being charitable” by letting the non-Catholic siblings participate through serving.

I don’t like the idea, but there ya go.
 
I am an altar server, and I cannot believe that! There was a non-Catholic server at our church a while back, and when our leader found out, the guy was quietly told by our leader that he had to be Catholic to serve. He had no idea and resigned immediately. He was extremely apologetic. Maybe that server doesn’t know…

To altar serve, you must have recieved the holy sacrament of First Communion.
 
Hi Im from the Uk and in our church the children must be catholic must have made their first holy communion before father will consider them serving, also father would prefer them when they receive communion to receive full communion unless there is a medical condition why they cannot receive the blood of christ.
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Tracy07 said:
Hi Im from the Uk and in our church the children must be catholic must have made their first holy communion before father will consider them serving, also father would prefer them when they receive communion to receive full communion unless there is a medical condition why they cannot receive the blood of christ.
x
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Full Communion? Full and complete Communion is received under either species. We have adult EMHCs who don’t received from the chalice. There is no obligation that I know of to receive under both species unless you are the celebrant/concelebrant. I remember our last pastor looking into the matter when he realized that these EMHCs weren’t receiving from the Cup.
 
Phemie said:
Full Communion? Full and complete Communion is received under either species. We have adult EMHCs who don’t received from the chalice. There is no obligation that I know of to receive under both species unless you are the celebrant/concelebrant. I remember our last pastor looking into the matter when he realized that these EMHCs weren’t receiving from the Cup.
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I know there is no obligation as such but father just prefers it that you do espescially as the children are serving and they are the first to receive the body and blood after father.
Dont get me wrong he wouldnt force the children to do that not at all its just he would prefer it if the children did it that way and the children do.
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When I was being recieved into the Church I served (and still do) at the weekday Mass at my University. Purely on the basis that I knew what I was doing and no-one else came forward to do it. I hope this wasn’t wrong :confused:

If it makes a difference I never touched the sacred vessal after the concecration, the extrodinary minister and the Priest purified them after Communion and I just provided the water.
 
Aah…

I have wondered about this recently. I plan on receiving Confirmation at Easter, but I’ve been going to daily Mass in the mornings.

A few weeks back, the priest sort’ve gestured for me and this other younger guy to come up and be altar servers. I was kinda freaked out because I’d never done anything of the sort. I didn’t take Communion, of course, just handed the priest the unconsecrated wine or water and aided him in washing his hands before consecration. And as I continued to attend daily Mass, he kept calling me and the same guy up to be altar servers, and I’ve gotten much more used to it. I think the main reason he called us up is because we’re the two youngest people that come to that daily Mass. Everyone else is middle-aged or older.

The priest knows I haven’t ever received Communion nor been confirmed. Did he sorta brush over Canon law and should I stop coming up? :confused:
 
Chris258 said:
The priest knows I haven’t ever received Communion nor been confirmed. Did he sorta brush over Canon law and should I stop coming up? :confused:
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You should not be serving at the Altar if you are not Catholic, yet, and also if you have not yet received First Holy Communion.

Maybe just mention to him, “Father, I have not yet received my First Holy Communion - I will be joining the Catholic Church at Easter time, but right now I feel strongly that my role is to pray and grow in my faith, so that I can come into the Church with a clear conscience, without feeling like I’m jumping ahead of the gun. I know you’re just trying to make me feel included, but I’d rather take the steps of my journey of faith in their proper order.”

That is, if that’s how you feel, of course. 😉
 
Chris, just tell your priest that you haven’t yet had your First Communion and are therefore uneligible to be an altar server. Once you tell him this, you should be just fine.

Good luck!

😃
 
shaka_maka said:
Our priest is now using non- catholic altar servers. Can this be done? If not, I need documentation. Thanks.
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No, it is completely forbidden (cf Collectanea S. Congregationis de Propaganda Fidei seu Decreta Instructiones Rescripta pro Apostolicis Missionibus [Ex Typographia Polyglotta, Roma, 1907], Col., vol. I, p. 692, n. 1257 [1864]).
 
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