What if your pastor announced that from now on all new altar servers will be girls?

[jmcrae]

Aagin, I am sorry but this seems like nothing more than political power issues.

How so? Women can already vote and hold political office.

Treating women as though Genesis 1:27 were true seems to follow naturally from being a good Catholic. I don’t understand why anyone wants to see women treated as sub-human in the Catholic Church, which recognizes that Mary is the greatest human being who ever lived, and that she is God’s most perfect Creature.

How can the same person believe that Mary is God’s most perfect creature, while at the same time saying that girls and women serving at the Altar is sacreligious? In both cases, we have female human beings getting close to Jesus.

 

[Beautiful]

I have decided to rest my mind and heart on this one after reading this plea/request from Pope Benedict’s brother.

Prayer Is Best Way to Aid Pope, Says His Brother

Monsignor Georg Ratzinger Recalls Family Environment

VIENNA, Austria, NOV. 22, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI’s brother says the best way to help the Pope is with prayer.

Monsignor Georg Ratzinger told ZENIT that his younger brother indeed bears a heavy burden with the mission of Pontiff, but affirmed that the Holy Father knows he is not alone and feels “supported by the entire Church, by all his brothers and by all the faithful."

Monsignor Ratzinger added, “He knows many people pray for him and he knows he has a guardian angel, as well as the protection of God, who chose him for this task.”

The monsignor recommended, in addition to prayer, supporting the younger Ratzinger, "above all in affirming and living out in one’s own environment his exhortations, and everything he teaches.”

If Pope Benedict hasn’t touched or revised anything on female altar servers then I’m sure he has a good reason. I’ll leave it alone. I just get more than a little irritated when many on these forums serve up their own personal agendas by publishing really insensitive and thoughtless sounding thread titles like “What if your pastor announce that from now on all new altar servers will be boys?” Give me and others a break.

I fully support Pope Benedict and I pray for him and I’m sorry for lowering myself to prove a point.

 

[THutch04]

Well only because the priest does not have the authority to make such a statement, I would be against it. But in general, I’m not opposed to female altar servers. I’ve known several, and none of them actually thought that because they were allowed to be altar servers that they were allowed to become priests (or that the Church would eventually allow them to become priests). None of the people I know who were altar servers ended up discerning vocations (at least not yet).

 

[Lepanto]

Give me and others a break.

Yeah, that’s what I thought when I saw this thread.

 

[Brendan]

Well only because the priest does not have the authority to make such a statement, I would be against it. .

Actually, he does.

In 2001, several bishops asked the Congregation for Divine Worship to make a determination if a bishop could command a priest to accept girls as altar servers if the priest did not want them.

The CDWDS responsed that a priest cannot be obligated to use altar girls.

July 27, 2001

Your Excellency,

Further to recent correspondence, this Congregation resolved to undertake a renewed study of the questions concerning the possible admission of girls, adult women and women religious to serve alongside boys as servers in the Liturgy.

As part of this examination, the Dicastery consulted the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts which replied with a letter of July 23, 2001. The reply of the Pontifical Council was helpful in reaffirming that the questions raised by this Congregation, including the question of whether particular legislation could oblige individual priests in their celebration of the Holy Mass to make use of women to serve at the altar, do not concern the interpretation of the law, but rather are questions of the correct application of the law. The reply of the aforementioned Pontifical Council, therefore, confirms the understanding of this Dicastery that the matter falls within the competence of this Congregation as delineated by the Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus, § 62. Bearing in mind this authoritative response, this Dicastery, having resolved outstanding questions, was able to conclude its own study. At the present time, therefore, the Congregation would wish to make the following observations:

As is clear from the Responsio ad propositum dubium concerning can. 230, § 2, and its authentic interpretation (cf. Circular Letter to the Presidents of Episcopal Conferences, Prot. n. 2482/93 March 15, 1994, see Notitiae 30 [1994] 333-335), the Diocesan Bishop, in his role as moderator of the liturgical life in the diocese entrusted to his care, has the authority to permit service at the altar by women within the boundaries of the territory entrusted to his care. Moreover his liberty in this question cannot be conditioned by claims in favor of a uniformity between his diocese and other dioceses which would logically lead to the removal of the necessary freedom of action from the individual Diocesan Bishop. Rather, after having heard the opinion of the Episcopal Conference, he is to base his prudential judgment upon what he considers to accord more closely with the local pastoral need for an ordered development of the liturgical life in the diocese entrusted to his care, bearing in mind, among other things, the sensibilities of the faithful, the reasons which would motivate such a permission, and the different liturgical settings and congregations which gather for the Holy Mass (cf. Circular Letter to the Presidents of Episcopal Conferences, March 15, 1994, no. 1).

In accord with the above cited instructions of the Holy See such an authorization may not, in any way, exclude men or, in particular, boys from service at the altar, nor require that priests of the diocese would make use of female altar servers, since “it will always be very appropriate to follow the noble tradition of having boys serve at the altar” (Circular Letter to the Presidents of Episcopal Conference, March 15, 1994, no. 2). Indeed, the obligation to support groups of altar boys will always remain, not least of all due to the well known assistance that such programs have provided since time immemorial in encouraging future priestly vocations (cf. ibid.)

With respect to whether the practice of women serving at the altar would truly be of pastoral advantage in the local pastoral situation, it is perhaps helpful to recall that the non-ordained faithful do not have a right to service at the altar, rather they are capable of being admitted to such service by the Sacred Pastors (cf. Circular Letter to the Presidents of Episcopal Conferences, March 15, 1994, no. 4, cf. also can 228, §1, Interdicasterial Instruction Esslesiae de mysterio, August 15, 1997, no. 4, see Notitiae 34 [1998] 9-42). Therefore, in the event that Your Excellency found it opportune to authorize service of women at the altar, it would remain important to explain clearly to the faithful the nature of this innovation, lest confusion might be introduced, thereby hampering the development of priestly vocations.

With every good wish and kind regard, I am, Sincerely yours in Christ,

Jorge A. Card. Medina Estévez
Prefect

-Notitiae - 421-422 Vol 37 (2001) Num/ 8-9 - pp 397-399

The Bishop may choose to allow female altar servers in his diocese, but he cannot require that they be used, or force a priest to use them.

 

[kentuckyliz]

I don’t like kids serving at the altar, because they obviously think it’s so lame and their parents pushed them to do it out of parent ego and wanting to look good to their church friends.

I’m really lucky because at my parish it’s mostly adults who are servers and they do an excellent job.

 

[Brendan]

I don’t like kids serving at the altar, because they obviously think it’s so lame and their parents pushed them to do it out of parent ego and wanting to look good to their church friends.

I’m really lucky because at my parish it’s mostly adults who are servers and they do an excellent job.

You should see the boys at my parish.

In our parish, just about every boy from 5 to 19 is an altar server. The younger ones carry swing torches in procession in, the slightly older ones (9-11) recieve the gifts and handle the cruets. The ones older than that (11-14) hold the patens at Communion and ring the bells at the Epiclesis and Elevation.

And every boy who is present at Mass serves (there are no ‘teams’ or schedules, if you are at a Mass, you serve it)

By the time they get into the teens, the boys are amazing efficent it’s incredible.

The priest has two next to him during the Concecration and they turn the pages of the Sacramentary for the priest and right on time.

If there is no Deacon present, they also place and remove the pall over the Chalice at the correct times.

Two of the other Senior altar boys present will proclaim the Readings.

About one third of the senior altarboys go into the Seminary. We have 6 men from our parish studying for the priesthood right now (out of about 900 families)

 

[Lovemyfaith]

I don’t like kids serving at the altar, because they obviously think it’s so lame and their parents pushed them to do it out of parent ego and wanting to look good to their church friends.

I’m really lucky because at my parish it’s mostly adults who are servers and they do an excellent job.

My kids both asked to be servers. The server group is a very small percentage of children in 6th-12th grade. The numbers drop the older the kids get. The majority of 6th-12th graders in this parish do not serve. I hardly think I am impressing the parents of children who do not serve, unless they are very unimpressed with their own families. I really don’t think the majority of people in the parish care or notice who is serving or not.
The adults who serve do so only when the children can not, due to school conflicts or weather. The adults who serve prefer the children do it.
Some kids are excellent, some are like watching a train wreck, most are somewhere in between. Everyone of them is a blessing.
Our parish is huge, our pastor has his hands full. The gentleman who runs the server program is a full time teacher. He does a magnificent job with what he has been given.
If our pastor or either of his assistants, or any other person in this parish (or even not in this parish) thought they could make a difference by having an all male crew and that in some way would lead to an increase in vocations from this parish, I would be first in line to thank them. I don’t see that happening so I would have to say that in this parish we are going to have to be glad for what we have.

 

[Brendan]

The gentleman who runs the server program is a full time teacher. He does a magnificent job with what he has been given. .

Our program has no adults running the altar servers. The pastor will invite a boy and impress upon his parents the great work that altar service is.

It usually doesn’t take much to convince a 5 year old, considering that all the other boys are up at the altar, and he would be one of the few still back in the pews.

After that, the boys are taught by the older boys. My nine year old recently instructed a seven year old on how to handle offetory ( go up at the correct time with the priest, receive the cruets, go back with the priest, present the cruets wine then water, cap the wine and offer the lavabol water and towel. Bring them all back to the credence table.)

My son was assigned to help this 7 year old by one of the older boys 14-ish.

And that just keeps going up the line. My son was instructed by another boy on when to ring the bells and to handel the patens at Communion time.

So other than the pastor issueing the invitation, there are no adults.

The boys also self police each other during Mass, showing the younger ones how to behave, to be quite, to keep your hand togher in a (finger tip to finger tip prayerful mode). It works out really well, because young boys in a group of older boys tend to emulate the older boys.

And if the older boys are all sitting still with their hands folded in prayer, the 5-6 year olds follow along. And when they get to be 10,12 that’s has become their default behavior at Mass.

 

[Melissa]

In our parish, just about every boy from 5 to 19 is an altar server. The younger ones carry swing torches in procession in, the slightly older ones (9-11) recieve the gifts and handle the cruets. The ones older than that (11-14) hold the patens at Communion and ring the bells at the Epiclesis and Elevation.

When are they receiving First Holy Communion? In my parish, the youngest boys are typically 8, as the rule here is that a boy must have received First Holy Communion before he can become an altarboy. (This doesn’t stop ‘pre-recruiting’, however, as my youngest is often asked if he’s looking forward to becoming an altarboy like his brothers.)

In any case, my understanding is that the priest may not restrict altar servers to girls only, but MAY restrict to altarboys only. And if in my parish they were to change and say ‘girls may serve, too’ I would forbid my daughter and encourage my sons to continue. (Not that I think it’s likely–even the parents in girls-only families aren’t pushing for such a change, only a couple oddball agitators who have neither sons nor daughters who are children.)

 

[Brendan]

When are they receiving First Holy Communion? In my parish, the youngest boys are typically 8, as the rule here is that a boy must have received First Holy Communion before he can become an altarboy.

Kids recieve their FHC at age 8\2nd Grade, so yes, the younger boys do not recieve Communion. One of the requirement for advancing to ‘paten duty’ is having made one’s Firtst Holy Communion.

In any case, my understanding is that the priest may not restrict altar servers to girls only, but MAY restrict to altarboys only.

That is correct (see my post above with the respose from Rome)

It specifies that a boy may not be excluded because he is male, but a girl MAY be excluded strictly on the grounds of her sex.

And if in my parish they were to change and say ‘girls may serve, too’ I would forbid my daughter and encourage my sons to continue. (Not that I think it’s likely–even the parents in girls-only families aren’t pushing for such a change, only a couple oddball agitators who have neither sons nor daughters who are children.)

 

[Beautiful]

–even the parents in girls-only families aren’t pushing for such a change, only a couple oddball agitators

Oddball agitators?
What neck of woodlands or hill country do you come from? I’ve seen female altar servers for a couple decades now.
Some of the people posting on this thread seem so far removed from my real life experiences. It is like we are speaking different languages and from different parts of the world.

 

[Melissa]

Oddball agitators?
What neck of woodlands or hill country do you come from? I’ve seen female altar servers for a couple decades now.
Some of the people posting on this thread seem so far removed from my real life experiences. It is like we are speaking different languages and from different parts of the world.

Upstate NY.

I call them “oddball agitators” because they are extremely few in number and are very much against the grain in my parish (which has always only had altarboys). And since the individuals in question have no children who might serve (boys or girls), it seems … peculiar that they are agitating for a change that is otherwise unwanted, even by the families who have daughters who are of the same age as/younger than our current altarboys (who range in age from 8 to college age).

 

[Lovemyfaith]

Upstate NY.

I call them “oddball agitators” because they are extremely few in number and are very much against the grain in my parish (which has always only had altarboys). And since the individuals in question have no children who might serve (boys or girls), it seems … peculiar that they are agitating for a change that is otherwise unwanted, even by the families who have daughters who are of the same age as/younger than our current altarboys (who range in age from 8 to college age).

This is the reason this is always a long debate on these type of threads. Some parishes are very orthodox and have members who don’t necessarily live in the parish boundaries but are willing to travel to belong to such a parish. Some parishes are very liberal, and experience the same type of membership. The practice of allowing female servers, at all, means it is up to individual pastors to decide what will go on in their parish. Most practicing Catholics in America, I believe, fall somewhere between very orthodox and very liberal. These same Catholics are not going to worry about female servers, in fact most don’t worry if their own children serve or not. That would make most pastors in America not very interested in this topic. I don’t think people encounter the same difficulties switching parishes without moving as they once did.
I would imagine belonging to a parish with young men in the seminary and reverent practices common place would make its members inclined to offer the suggestion to every parish to try it to see if it works, after all we all agree we need vocations. Being a member of one of those parishes between orthodox and liberal, I really don’t see it happening here.

 

[Brendan]

. The practice of allowing female servers, at all, means it is up to individual pastors to decide what will go on in their parish.

Technically, it’s up to the celebrant, which may, or may not, be the pastor.

. Being a member of one of those parishes between orthodox and liberal, I really don’t see it happening here.

It’s something worth discussing, because even in an ‘in between’ parish, you might get an associate pastor, or a visiting priest, who chooses not to use altar girls.

It helps to have the parish understand that such is the celebrant’s right, and that no lay person has any type of right to serve in any capacity other than in the pews.

How would your parish react of a new associate was assigned there who did not consent to altar girls?

 

[Lovemyfaith]

Technically, it’s up to the celebrant, which may, or may not, be the pastor.

How would your parish react of a new associate was assigned there who did not consent to altar girls?

Here is the problem- if the pastor allows female servers, they would be on the schedule. In that respect, it would be up to the pastor who was scheduled to serve. The person who prepared the schedule had no idea what priest was Celebrating Mass. With server crews of about 45 and 11 schduled Masses a week, it is impossible to not have a server schedule.
We have visiting priests a lot here (our priests enjoy their time off). In fact this morning there was a visiting priest. One server was male, one was female. Again, the person who prepared the schedule had no idea who Celebrated Mass today, the schedule is prepared weeks in advance. I have never heard of a case where a visiting priest had a problem with female servers. This is a huge archdiocese. If it was a problem, I suppose our Sacristan would serve, or try to find a male server in the congregation or even an adult male. In my 15 years in this parish, I have never heard of that happening. We have had situations where the scheduled servers did not come at all, and the priest did not use servers.
If we had a new associate who did not want to use female servers, I honestly think he would have the job as the scheduler, and simply try to not schedule girls for his Masses. Knowing my pastor, that is how I think he would handle it. I don’t think anyone would really care. If our pastor decided no more girls whatsoever, again, I doubt anyone would care, other than the boys who serve and would be scheduled more often. The girls who serve might be a little hurt, but really, these are good girls who, so long as it was explained to them the thought behind the change, would not complain. We’ve only had female servers for about 10 years. The last priest ordained from this parish (at least as far as I can recall) graduated high school with my husband in 1975.
Our pastor has been here 4 years. He loves to Celebrate the School Masses during the week. He tells the boys all the time he wants at least one priest and one sister from every class. He tells the boys the beauty of the priesthood, he reminds parents they should encourage the priesthood.

 

[dandn5000]

I can’t imagine it would go over well at all if suddenly we had all female servers, considering we only have male servers as it is…

The problem in my parish is the old women whose children are all grown who are adamantly against female altar servers, and the rest don’t care. Some, like me, wish that there were female altar servers, for the pure reasoning of there aren’t enough male servers as it is. It, thankfully, has gotten better, but I still am not likely to forget those eight or nine weeks in a row a few years back where I was the only server for Saturday night Mass.

Father doesn’t care, most of the parishioners don’t care, and the ones that do get what they want. Ah well, such is life.

 

[Phemie]

What if your pastor announced that from now on all new altar servers will be girls?

I would be opposed, not because I have anything against female altar servers, far from it, but because he doesn’t have the right to deny this ministry to males.

 

[Phemie]

Because they are Seminarians. Even though Seminarians are lay people, they are preparing to become priests, and obviously women cannot prepare to become priests.

While most of us probably only see Instituted Acolytes & Lectors who are seminarians on their way to ordination, the fact remains that those two instituted ministries are open to males whether or not they are headed for ordination as permanent deacon or transitional deacon.

The reason most of our dioceses don’t see these instituted ministries is because they aren’t open to females and bishops have no wish to go there.

Bishops are not always obedient to Rome. In one diocese I’m aware that a former bishop had stated that he would never promote the permanent diaconate until the laïcized married priests in his diocese could exercise their priestly functions.

 

[osmondfan]

I was an altar server, and I am a girl. I would not want the priest to say ‘only’ girls could be servers, because I think the ministry should be open to both. Serving at Mass involves a child in the Mass in a way that nothing else can. You understand it more and appreciate it more. The Mass starts to feel like something you are a part of and therefore must pay good attention to and follow faithfully. I never thought I would get to be a priest just because I was an altar server.

I was surprised to read someone’s comment that when Pope JPII made it possible for girls to be altar servers, he didn’t give a reason. I wasn’t aware that the Pope had to justify his decisions to anyone or give reasons.

Emily