Restriction of Acolyte role

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Liberatas

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My diocese currently has restricted the role of Acolyte under the grounds that it pertains only to men being allowed to fulfil the role. I am a devout Catholic male, I have been an altar server when I was young and have been lector briefly. Currently I am discerning whether I am called to the priesthood and have requested formation and training through my diocese however they have informed me that they can only provide such formation and training for:
  • Extraordinary Ministry of Holy Communion
  • Altar Serving
  • Communion of the Sick and Homebound
I have been informed that the Bishop will only institute acolytes as part of the preparation for ordination to priesthood.

My question, can the Bishop and the diocesan council restrict the role to those who will be ordained? I’ve been looking for information everywhere, diocesan and Vatican information and have only the duties of the Acolyte as per the General Instruction of the Roman Missal. Is there more information to be found concerning what a Bishop can or cannot in regards to this role? I have heard only rumours as to why they have restricted the role, I’m praying they aren’t true.

Any enlightenment would be greatly appreciated.
God bless,
Josh
 
Are you in the United States? And are you distinguishing the role of acolyte (which prior to Vatican II was a minor order) from altar servers in general? If not, it seems bizarre that a bishop would restrict serving at the altar to young men preparing for the priesthood — there wouldn’t be that many young men to go around. Put another way, does your diocese have both acolytes and “regular” altar servers?
 
I am not. I am an Australian.
Acolyte as per GIRM and post-Vatican 2, ministry which had taken a lot of the responsibilities previously held by ‘subdeacon’ prior to 1972 with Pope Paul VI’s Ministeria Quaedam. From what I understand that candidates for the diaconate and priesthood must be instituted for some time as an Acolyte and reader before receiving holy orders. However, Pope Paul VI made it clear that is was not just for candidates for holy orders.

Hence my query concerning can the Bishop restrict the training/formation of new Acolytes.

To answer your question, my parish has regular altar servers. I am uncertain as to other parishes but generally speaking volunteers are hard to come by. It is also difficult to tell, obviously the youth altar servers are clear but some appear to be young men or fathers that also wear an alb and cincture.
 
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Are bishops required to institute as acolytes men who are not in formation for ordination?

Arguments that they are:

A. St Paul VI’s 1972 Motu Proprio Ministeria quaedam includes:

“III. Ministries may be assigned to lay Christians; hence they are no longer to be considered as reserved to candidates for the sacrament of orders.”

B. Ceremonial of Bishops has in no. 28:

“When necessary, acolytes should instruct those who serve as ministers in liturgical rites by carrying the book, the cross, candles, or the censer or by performing other similar duties. But in celebrations presided over by the bishop it is fitting that all such ministerial functions be carried out by formally instituted acolytes, and if a number are present, they should divide the ministries accordingly.”

In response to this the bishop could argue that he has enough instituted acolytes from his seminary and permanent deacon formation programs for all the ceremonies he presides over. That they have time to go to all the bishops’ ceremonies like confirmations, blessings and Masses. The counter argument is that this is a waste of their time, leading to poorer formation for their ordained ministries and that it would be better if the task were done by other instituted acolytes.

[Excerpt from the English translation of Ceremonial of Bishops © 1989, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.]
 
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Yes, each bishop can chose whether they wish to institute men as lector or Acolytes. As canon 230 states, laymen can be admitted, but there is no requirement that they must be admitted to these ministries.

In my diocese, the bishop just started institution of acolytes for men not destined for Holy Orders maybe 8 years ago. He will only institute lectors if they are bound for Holy Orders. Many other diocese (if not the majority) will not institute men into these ministries outside of formation to Holy Orders.

Personally I do wish that institution as foreseen in QM was more universally practiced, but because the instituted ministries are reserved to only men I don’t see many bishops that would willingly embrace their usage for fears of the wraith of people who cry sexism if they were to be “pushed out” of reading, serving the altar or acting as an EMHC.
 
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JohnLilburne said:
A. St Paul VI’s 1972 Motu Proprio Ministeria quaedam includes:
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Thank you John for this, I had read up some what on the Ministeria but it is always good to have the reference more clearly.
Thank you again for the Ceremonial Bishops reference as well!
Usige said:
I don’t see many bishops that would willingly embrace their usag
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Sadly, Usige, I believe that is the case with my diocese. I am in the process of organising coffee with my Bishop in the hopes I can speak with him and express my genuine desire to serve the Church in this small way.

Thanks for the replies thus far, I will keep you updated as to how coffee with the Bishop goes and conversations with my Parish Priest.
 
JulianN said:
The short answer is yes.
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Hi JulianN, thanks for the response.
Do you have reference to where a diocesan Bishop has the purview to carry this out? I’m not meaning to belittle your response, just want to be as well informed as possible with reference to Roman Catholic doctrine, etc.

Thanks heaps.
 
The aforementioned Canon 230 Covers this particular one. “May,” not “must.” Bishops have a great deal of authority within their own dioceses—for instance, some do not allow permanent deacons. Some restrict serving at the altar to boys. They are within their rights to make these decisions for their own dioceses.
 
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