Women sacristans?

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When I was growing up in pre-vatican II Catholic School, the nuns of our parish were the sacristans.

After they left, women took over the job because men were unavailable, or clueless about it.

Jim
 
lepanto said:
As is the case for altar boys, the position of sacristan is traditionally seen as a breeding ground for priestly vocations. Sacristan → Acolyte → Deacon → Priest.
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This is an interesting comment I never thought of it. In my experience since I was a kid in Italy I always remember the sacristan being an older man or someone unable to perform a regular job because of some handicap. Maybe I am wrong and that is just my perception.:o
 
lepanto said:
According to whom?

And that makes it right?

The holiness of some women is not in question here. Moreover, being “more holy” than another person does not make one more qualified.
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All the local bishops in the region allow it. I was actually trained in by a very holy woman sacristan (good person all around). There are no gender issues with it whatsoever. This ministry goes beyond a pure patrichical application.
 
still waiting for OP or others to post official Vatican document limiting the role of sacristan to men. until this is forthcoming, I suggest we close this discussion, which is of no value whatever.
 
St. Therese of Lisieux (The Little Flower) served as Sacristan for a time… in her Carmelite Monestary community. This fact is mentioned in her life story… “The Story of a Soul”.😉
 
Vittorio23 said:
I’m interested in opinions on this matter… I was discussing the use of women sacristans with some friends who where firmly against it-- feeling that, like altar serving, it should be restricted to males only.

Thoughts?
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puzzleannie said:
still waiting for OP or others to post official Vatican document limiting the role of sacristan to men. until this is forthcoming, I suggest we close this discussion, which is of no value whatever.
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Puzzelannie…

Why stop the thread when he the OP is interested in our opinions on the subject?
He is not obligated to provide a Vatican document to prove anything, nor is any poster. Since he is only looking for our OPINIONS.
 
I am an EMHC, an Altar Server AND the Sacristan at my parish; oh and I am also a woman.

Most of the ministries are balanced between men and women, but the job of Sacristan at all three of our weekend Masses are women. Why?, because no men have come forward expressing an interest. Most just state that it requires too much “behind the scenes” work which would take away from the prayer of the Mass for them.
 
lepanto said:
Please provide the appropriate citation.

As is the case for altar boys, the position of sacristan is traditionally seen as a breeding ground for priestly vocations. Sacristan → Acolyte → Deacon → Priest.

Also, a woman will not be able to purify the sacred vessels – a fundamental duty of any sacristan. (Particularly problematic at Masses that use a dozen chalices.)
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I don’t see how the “breeding ground” comment can be correct. Back in the day - and even today I think - altar boys were typically recruited at the 4th & 5th grade levels. Hard to picture
2nd and 3rd-grade sacristans, no? I think the postings about “Ladies’ Altar Societies” are much closer to the typical, traditional experiences of we seniors. And as noted by others, there is a BIG difference between the care & maintenance of the vessels and their purification in the liturgy.
 
wifeandmomoftwo said:
I think that men should only be sacristans.
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What difference could it possibly make? It’s not like anyone ever sees the Sacristan. She or he works completely behind the scenes, when there is no one else in the Church, other than perhaps a few praying the Rosary or something.

As someone pointed out earlier, Little Thérèse (who has been declared both a Saint and a Doctor of the Church) was a Sacristan for most of her short life, and long before Vatican II, or the advent of feminism. Did she sin? 🤷

(Her Confessor testified that she never committed anything but the smallest, most venial of sins. So, if it is sinful to be a Sacristan, it is not a serious sin.)
 
THurifer2 said:
This is NOT true…you live near Nebraska and one of the BEST bishops on the planet earth is in charge in Lincoln he does NOT allow women Sacristans.
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Lincoln is an awful long way from Minnesota and the Diocese of Winona. I don’t believe any Bishop in New Ulm’s Province require Sacristans to be men. I also don’t believe that any Bishop in the Province of Iowa requires Sacristans to be men. I know for a fact that the Bishops of the Province of Wisconsin have no requirement either. I’d say that New Ulm’s statement is pretty much correct.

Just because the Bishop of Lincoln does something, it does not mean that is required of the rest of us. He is neither the Pope nor the Magesterium.
 
jmcrae said:
What difference could it possibly make? It’s not like anyone ever sees the Sacristan. She or he works completely behind the scenes, when there is no one else in the Church, other than perhaps a few praying the Rosary or something.

As someone pointed out earlier, Little Thérèse (who has been declared both a Saint and a Doctor of the Church) was a Sacristan for most of her short life, and long before Vatican II, or the advent of feminism. Did she sin? 🤷

(Her Confessor testified that she never committed anything but the smallest, most venial of sins. So, if it is sinful to be a Sacristan, it is not a serious sin.)
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WOW!
The OP asked for “opinions” I gave mine. Why is it so hard to understand that not everyone is RAH-RAH about woman sacristans? This is my opinion by the way…you dont have to agree just as I do not have to agree with your point of view:thumbsup:
 
wifeandmomoftwo said:
WOW!
The OP asked for “opinions” I gave mine. Why is it so hard to understand that not everyone is RAH-RAH about woman sacristans? This is my opinion by the way…you dont have to agree just as I do not have to agree with your point of view:thumbsup:
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What has “rah-rah” got to do with it? It shouldn’t even matter - nobody ever sees the Sacristan, anyway.

Next we will be hearing that only men should be allowed to knit the altar cloths or sew the vestments, or make the coffee and put the cookies out after Mass, because of those ultra-sensitive young boys who will lose their Vocations if they come into any contact whatsoever with women, or even things that women might have touched, in Church. :rolleyes:
 
MusicMan said:
Lincoln is an awful long way from Minnesota and the Diocese of Winona. I don’t believe any Bishop in New Ulm’s Province require Sacristans to be men. I also don’t believe that any Bishop in the Province of Iowa requires Sacristans to be men. I know for a fact that the Bishops of the Province of Wisconsin have no requirement either. I’d say that New Ulm’s statement is pretty much correct.

Just because the Bishop of Lincoln does something, it does not mean that is required of the rest of us. He is neither the Pope nor the Magesterium.
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The person I quoted said region…The two closest churchs among those two dioceses is around 165 miles
Are you sure that is an AWFUL long ways?

The distance from Lincoln diocese to Winona diocese is shorter than a drive across my diocese…in fact I believe it is shorter than driving across each of the two dioceses themselves. SO in reality Two to the churches in Lincoln could be farther apart than a church in WInona and Lincoln.
 
It’s 337 miles from New Ulm to Lincoln, NE. I know that Winona is a big diocese, and it’s very wide geographically. I don’t know anything about the geography of the Diocese of Lincoln.

What I do know is this: Unless they are right on the border with the Dakotas, when a Minnesotan says “regional,” most people in the region think Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin.

With the Cathedra being so far apart, I think it stands to reason that when New Ulm says that all the Bishops in the region allow women sacristans, the statement is correct.

Furthermore, and this is to get my post back on topic … I’m really confused. What is the OP’s issue with women sacristans? That task is such a behind the scenes job that I’m completely baffled that so many people here even know they exist!
 
Back in 1780, my church had a woman sacristan. Were it not for this brave lady, a lot of the church plate, including the chalice and ciborium would not have survived the Gordon Riots (heard of those, folks?). When the mob was rampaging through London, seeking to burn down any Catholic place they came across, she stayed behind when all clergy had fled, gathered up the precious vessels in her apron and carried them to safety. The chapel was burned down by the mob. The vessels survive to this day, because of the courage of a female sacristan.
 
I am a Sacristan and an EMHC. I work very hard to make sure the Sanctuary, linens, decorations, etc., are ready for each Mass. I serve at daily Masses and on weekends setting up for Mass and cleaning up afterwards. I have 8 other ladies that work with me in the Sacristy and I have the highest regard for each of them and their dedication to their work. Most of the time we are not seen but the altar does not get set up by itself on weekdays when we have no servers and on weekends we still have to prepare everything for the servers to take to the Altar. I also serve as EMHC and take Communion to the sick and dying, comforting the family and attending funerals. I help the sick in whatever way I can. This is all volunteer work and I love what I do although at times it is very exhausting. It disturbs me that you think a woman should not do this job.
 
sacristan1 said:
I am a Sacristan and an EMHC. I work very hard to make sure the Sanctuary, linens, decorations, etc., are ready for each Mass. I serve at daily Masses and on weekends setting up for Mass and cleaning up afterwards. I have 8 other ladies that work with me in the Sacristy and I have the highest regard for each of them and their dedication to their work. Most of the time we are not seen but the altar does not get set up by itself on weekdays when we have no servers and on weekends we still have to prepare everything for the servers to take to the Altar. I also serve as EMHC and take Communion to the sick and dying, comforting the family and attending funerals. I help the sick in whatever way I can. This is all volunteer work and I love what I do although at times it is very exhausting. It disturbs me that you think a woman should not do this job.
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Thank you for your selfless and necessary (and entirely appropriate!) service.

I find the notion that women are unfit to do anything but sit quietly in church (preferably in their long jumpers and mantillas) profoundly ridiculous and disturbing.
 
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