Will Female Altar Servers be Supressed?

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AltarMan:
What an awesome parish! My guess is that boys WANT to be part of such a proud tradition. I’ll also wager that this parish generates more priests/deacons than the average parish.

Just look at the smallest guy in the entire bunch. Almost as if he’s looking at the photographer and thinking “yes we ARE knights of the altar, need you even ask!?!”

Those that push so hard for female altar servers should read your post and emsvetich’s a few times and meditate on that glorious photo!
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I think the little guy was looking at my camera. I had it set on a tripod and set on a timer which was factory set at 10 seconds. I did not have a cable with me and it was dusk. Father asked me not to use flash so that meant blurry pictures if I had to touch the camera. When I pushed the button he was looking ahead, but turned some 9 seconds later and the rest is history.

There are many more altar boys at this particular feast day Mass, but outside the scope of the picture.

I too believe there are a high number of vocations. There are no numbers published. I also see potential in several of the boys who are more reserved than the others and very prayerful. Fr. Perrone, the pastor, made prayer books for the altar boys. You will often see them with them in hand following Communion or prior to Mass. He trains them personally and there’s no clowning around from what I understand. It is visible because the kinds of distractions all too typical (playing with hair, slumped standing or leaning on one hip, hands down below the waist, visible inattentiveness is not seen. These young men move about in a rhythmic cadence that rivals the military. Their formations are well choreographed and precision in nature, right down to the depth of bows. When the name of Jesus Christ is heard, you can see all of their heads bow along with the celebrant and those in the congregation who are aware that, per the GIRM, all are to bow their heads at the name of Jesus Christ. I’ve also been told that if any are caught talking in the Sanctuary or goofing around, they get a month off - something they don’t want to have happen. However, something tells me that in this parish, the parents wouldn’t blame the priest, but would challenge their child as to why they got the time off.

I also believe there are several females discerning vocations. One would not surprise me in the least if she headed off to the Carmelite cloister. She is visibly contemplative.

We have a Holy Order on the Grounds and thus, at times we have more priests available, as well as full-habit nuns. The priests are from the Order of Canons Regular of the Holy Cross. We call them “the Canons” for short. The sisters are referred to as the Sisters of the Holy Cross whose formation house is in Austria. Their establishment on the grounds of Assumption Grotto is the first here in the US. There are four currently in a restored convent on the grounds. The priests live offsite in another home. they fly out to do retreats throughout the US and other countries. Their formation house is in Brazil, but the ones I’ve met are all German. The priests are trying to establish an authorized home here in the US. This means we have a heavy presence of cassock-wearing priests and full-length habit-wearing nuns. This visible presence, along with the heavy pastoral emphasis makes for a real devout lay community. No one is complaining that there are no women up in the Sanctuary - not even lectoring. In fact, they aren’t interested and don’t care to see them up there any more than I would. I would say that many women and girls have no problem following a Marian path of humble, reserved servitude.
 
Here are some pictures from a parish that I used to belong to a few years back. (It was a Tridentine parish in the Peoria Diocese with blessings and approval from the Bishop.)

St. Mary’s Pictures

A number of these boys have entered seminary / or have plans to.
 
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frogman80:
Here are some pictures from a parish that I used to belong to a few years back. (It was a Tridentine parish in the Peoria Diocese with blessings and approval from the Bishop.)

St. Mary’s Pictures

A number of these boys have entered seminary / or have plans to.
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Thanks for sharing 🙂
 
I guess as Doris Day sung, What ever will be will be." When we ask why boys aren’t falling over each other to serve on the altar, we perhaps should ask how involved are their fathers in the Church. It seems that women predominate in all aspects of our Church except in the role of ordained ministry. Religion teachers, liturgists, choirs, Bible studies, you name it. The K of C’s are strong in a lot of projects, but their wives are right there helping with pancake breakfasts and such. Even in the Boy Scout program, which is not a Church function women hold many responsible positions. When it comes to volunteers, where are the men? I am in a bible study at the moment, maybe three or four men and about sixty women. I guess being a dedicated Catholic is not a guy thing. At least that is what one might be led to think.
 
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rwoehmke:
I guess as Doris Day sung, What ever will be will be." When we ask why boys aren’t falling over each other to serve on the altar, we perhaps should ask how involved are their fathers in the Church. It seems that women predominate in all aspects of our Church except in the role of ordained ministry. Religion teachers, liturgists, choirs, Bible studies, you name it. The K of C’s are strong in a lot of projects, but their wives are right there helping with pancake breakfasts and such. Even in the Boy Scout program, which is not a Church function women hold many responsible positions. When it comes to volunteers, where are the men? I am in a bible study at the moment, maybe three or four men and about sixty women. I guess being a dedicated Catholic is not a guy thing. At least that is what one might be led to think.
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You are onto something here - men are made in a way that if you give us a way to get from point a to point b no matter how difficult we will do it. (point B being truth of course) If point B is watered down of effeminized, men will not invest.

Orthodoxy is the key point here.
 
When I was in Jr. High many, many, many years ago, the Lutheran church decided to allow girls to be acolytes and help during services. I was thrilled because I thought it was a wonderful experience. At the same time the priest in our town had to meet with the Bishop, who in turn had to go and special permission from the Diocese to allow girls to be altar servers at the Church in several of the small towns around. WHY, you may ask? Because of the reason that I never saw addressed here. In today’s world (and yes even then) where people are limiting the number of children they have, THERE WERE NO BOYS OF THE RIGHT AGE! My graduating class had 38 kids…there was only ONE Catholic boy in the class. In some of the other parishes there were no boys. The year after me there was only ONE again, the class ahead of me there were NONE. SO, to put a ban on girls being altar servers once again puts a strain on the small town congregations…like they don’t have enough problems with priests running between 3-4 parishes already!

As for girls behaving badly in church when they’ve been servers…hmmm…I don’t think you should just look at the girls. I’d look around for the parents! If the kids aren’t disciplined, it’s not their fault. As a teacher, I know very well that if you have a student with no respect or manners, you can usually find the source of the problem at home! And if it stems there, you can very possibly keep going on down the line…generation after generation.

Rwoehmke: Good question on “where are the men?” It’s the same in all churches, I think! I’ve taught Sunday School, Bible School, weekday religion classes, and choir in church. There are ALWAYS more women than men teaching. The men scoot out the door, drink coffee in the hall, or just go home…and come back later to pick up the family. Catholics, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Baptists…all seem to share this problem. HEY…something we can relate on FULLY!! 😛
 
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aria13:
When I was in Jr. High many, many, many years ago, the Lutheran church decided to allow girls to be acolytes and help during services. I was thrilled because I thought it was a wonderful experience. At the same time the priest in our town had to meet with the Bishop, who in turn had to go and special permission from the Diocese to allow girls to be altar servers at the Church in several of the small towns around. WHY, you may ask? Because of the reason that I never saw addressed here. In today’s world (and yes even then) where people are limiting the number of children they have, THERE WERE NO BOYS OF THE RIGHT AGE! My graduating class had 38 kids…there was only ONE Catholic boy in the class. In some of the other parishes there were no boys. The year after me there was only ONE again, the class ahead of me there were NONE. SO, to put a ban on girls being altar servers once again puts a strain on the small town congregations…like they don’t have enough problems with priests running between 3-4 parishes already!

As for girls behaving badly in church when they’ve been servers…hmmm…I don’t think you should just look at the girls. I’d look around for the parents! If the kids aren’t disciplined, it’s not their fault. As a teacher, I know very well that if you have a student with no respect or manners, you can usually find the source of the problem at home! And if it stems there, you can very possibly keep going on down the line…generation after generation.

Rwoehmke: Good question on “where are the men?” It’s the same in all churches, I think! I’ve taught Sunday School, Bible School, weekday religion classes, and choir in church. There are ALWAYS more women than men teaching. The men scoot out the door, drink coffee in the hall, or just go home…and come back later to pick up the family. Catholics, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Baptists…all seem to share this problem. HEY…something we can relate on FULLY!! 😛
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It took 46 posts for this canard to surface. If there weren’t enough boys to serve, then adult males should have stepped forward.

This has happened at my parish not because of a general lack of boys/young men, but because they are non-existant at certain Masses.
 
As I said in any earlier post, I serve regularly at my parish. In situations where young men are in short supply or not inclined to become altar boys, the suggestion has been made here that “experienced” altar boys should volunteer. I cannot tell you how many times that older Catholics have come up to me after mass and commented that they enjoy hearing the bells rung three times with vigor as the celebrant raises the body and blood of Christ at the consecration. I also dress appropriately–good slacks, shirt and shined shoes. Prior to my returning to the altar boy ranks, I admit that I had become sloppy as far as my attire worn to mass. How many people in YOUR parish long for the old days?

If situations exist where someone else is in charge of training and you observe that the training is not up to traditional standards, take your concerns to the priest and volunteer! It is just like anything else, it is easy to complain but few also come with a solution. Also, there is strength in numbers. Two or three coming to the priest will get his attention more quickly than one. It is easier to dismiss one person’s concern than it is two or more.We get what we accept. It is possible that the person(s) doing the training never did it themselves and they are just training to the level of expertise that they grew accustomed to when they were growing up.

I used to be active in The Knights of Columbus and have not joined again after moving frequently fron state to state for a number of years due to work. I am planning on becoming active again. However, I know that there are Knights of Columbus councils everywhere. If they have a Squires program, those young men should be encouraged to serve. Even if there is not such a youth program, the Knights could easily be approached to assit if there is a need in your parish- either by addressing the training issues with the priest or by taking a more active role in becoming male role models at mass.
 
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emsvetich:
As I said in any earlier post, I serve regularly at my parish. In situations where young men are in short supply or not inclined to become altar boys, the suggestion has been made here that “experienced” altar boys should volunteer. I cannot tell you how many times that older Catholics have come up to me after mass and commented that they enjoy hearing the bells rung three times with vigor as the celebrant raises the body and blood of Christ at the consecration. I also dress appropriately–good slacks, shirt and shined shoes. Prior to my returning to the altar boy ranks, I admit that I had become sloppy as far as my attire worn to mass. How many people in YOUR parish long for the old days?

If situations exist where someone else is in charge of training and you observe that the training is not up to traditional standards, take your concerns to the priest and volunteer! It is just like anything else, it is easy to complain but few also come with a solution. Also, there is strength in numbers. Two or three coming to the priest will get his attention more quickly than one. It is easier to dismiss one person’s concern than it is two or more.We get what we accept. It is possible that the person(s) doing the training never did it themselves and they are just training to the level of expertise that they grew accustomed to when they were growing up.

I used to be active in The Knights of Columbus and have not joined again after moving frequently fron state to state for a number of years due to work. I am planning on becoming active again. However, I know that there are Knights of Columbus councils everywhere. If they have a Squires program, those young men should be encouraged to serve. Even if there is not such a youth program, the Knights could easily be approached to assit if there is a need in your parish- either by addressing the training issues with the priest or by taking a more active role in becoming male role models at mass.
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Your points are well taken. However the woman in charge of altar servers (and a few other miscellaneous items) at my parish is actually a paid staff member. While she does a truly lamentable job, our last two pastors (we are currrently without a pastor) resolutely defend/defer to paid staff. And it’s not just her, but also others who simply aren’t getting the job done. Add to this the absolute ferocity in which paid staffers guard their turf (amongst themselves and outsiders) and we’re left with a very difficult situation.

My guess is that a tiny percentage of the reason our last pastor was asked for his resignation is because of poor performing staff which he did nothing about. (It’s sickening right now to see them manuever for position while we await our new pastor.) I hope and pray this will change under our new pastor due here in a few months, but I’m not holding my breath.
 
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bear06:
I can hope! I have 4 girls and 2 boys and it took awhile before people stopped asking us when the girls, who are the oldest, were going to start serving. We always had to explain that we don’t think it a good idea for our girls or boys. We don’t have servers at our parish at all since we have some of the only children in the entire parish. It is unique. We used to have a boy who served but he went to college.

I’m betting a million dollars that if you asked some girls to clean a church, in most cases, they would not volunteer. This is sad because volunteer church cleaners are always in need. Ask them to be visibly on the altar and they’ll jump for the job. I don’t think that most understand true service. I think we should all try a little experiment. We should ask our daughters if they’d like to clean the church. If they say “no” then I think that there’s work to be done and that maybe they’re not getting the true meaning of serving our Lord.
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We have only 3 boys at our parish who serve, all under the age of 10. The rest are girls. One girl told me she likes to serve because she likes to be the centre of attention. Several of the other girls are always yawning and stretching while they are serving. And yes, playing with their hair. Very few of them have any real reverence while serving. It’s a total disgrace to watch them. I have not noticed this with the boys, though. Interesting…

I totally agree that female altar servers should be supressed for the good of the church.
 
The girls who serve the altar in my church are reverent, well-mannered and don’t seek for attention. However, I’m still in favour of restricting the sanctuary to male servers. Just as abusus non tollit usum (the abuse of a thing doesn’t invalidate its correct use), I suppose one could say (but not in Latin!) that, just because something is done well does not mean that it should actually take place.

Sue
 
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paramedicgirl:
We have only 3 boys at our parish who serve, all under the age of 10. The rest are girls. One girl told me she likes to serve because she likes to be the centre of attention. Several of the other girls are always yawning and stretching while they are serving. And yes, playing with their hair. Very few of them have any real reverence while serving. It’s a total disgrace to watch them. I have not noticed this with the boys, though. Interesting…

I totally agree that female altar servers should be supressed for the good of the church.
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I believe this would be grounds to immediately find another ministry this young lady would be better suited to perform…
 
In thinking about this a bit more, one thing has changed at my parish regarding altar servers, much to my amazement now that I reflect on it.

For a while we were seeing a surge of adult female altar servers. Each and every one of them were extreme feminists/sexists who routinely made comments that contravened Church teachings. “Cafeteria Catholics” to say the least.

They were migrating from the EMHC ranks into the rather artificially depleted altar server ranks. They were horrible servers too. They routinely moved their chairs into the “deacon’s position” next to the celebrant. They refused to kneel during the Eucharistic prayer. They routinely wore “scarfs” that looked a great deal like a priests’ stole, and they stood far too close to the altar – like concelebrating priests.

Thankfully this has changed over the past few years (thanks I believe to the Holy Spirit.) So while it may feel like doomsday many times, I think there is often progress to be recognized if we take the time to reflect and ponder.
 
Andreas Hofer:
I wonder exactly how serving at the altar is supposed to help females discern a reglious vocation. I’m not saying that it can’t, I just fail to see the parallel. In the case of boys and young men, serving at the altar can help one test one’s suitability and attraction to … serving at the altar, albeit later on as an ordained minister.

In the case of girls, no religious vocation, be it active or contemplative (except in the rare case where a cloistered community has recourse only to its females to serve at the altar), would include serving at the altar. There may be teaching, ministering to the poor and sick, or simply constant prayer and assisting at Mass, but I don’t see how serving at the altar can help one discern one’s suitability to these things. Altar servers do not participate any more fully in the Mass than any other person in the pews, so I don’t know how this form of participation is linked to any female religious vocation.

That seems to me like becoming a volunteer firefighter in order to see whether I should pursue a career in law enforcement. Both are public service, but the only enlightenment I can expect from my fire service is the knowledge that I should or should not become a full-time firefighter; nothing as to my “call” to law enforcement. Girls (should) know they can’t be priests or deacons. So that bit of knowledge can be attained without the experience of serving in a role used to foster such vocations.
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Being allowed to serve the priest during the Holy Eucharist can, and is, a wonderful way to learn how to serve the Lord. Through service, one can oft times hear the Holy Spirit guiding one to a religious vocation.
 
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AltarMan:
I believe this would be grounds to immediately find another ministry this young lady would be better suited to perform…
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Like adoration. If she wants attention, she can have all the attention she wants… from Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. 😃
 
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Pentecost2005:
Like adoration. If she wants attention, she can have all the attention she wants… from Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. 😃
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I wish I had thought of that! It’s too late now. She moved away, but was only 9 when she told me she liked being the centre of attention at Mass.
 
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SnorterLuster:
Well I have a son and a daughter and I wish they would drop the females from serving. Although girls do not serve in my parish, in talking to my relatives in other areas, girl servers have replaced boy servers in their parishes. For many younger boys, they don’t want to partake in activities with girls. The youngsters in my family now look at serving on the altar as a “girl thing” and are no longer interested in serving. So yes, serving should be reserved for boys and hopefully awaken their interest in the priesthood.
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:yup:
 
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Pentecost2005:
Like adoration. If she wants attention, she can have all the attention she wants… from Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. 😃
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That’s a great idea! I was going to suggest she could be the person that straightens out all the hymnals well after Mass, but you have an even better idea…
 
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