Parish Going Back To Boys Only Altar Servers

[Didymus]

I agree. I'm not really an advocate for girl altar servers, but I too think that most parishes would have to approach this with sensitivity.

[Moneybags]

About time that a parish goes back to boys only! After all, altar serving should be a way to help boys discern the priesthood.

[CatholicCid]

[quote name='DemonSlayer' post='1206787' date='Mar 2 2007, 05:30 AM']I wouldn't even think that being an altar server influenced kids to enter the seminary later on these days anymore.[/quote]

Under the right context, it can. Not so much as the "enter seminary" right away, but to include it as a possibility in the not to distant future.

Edited March 3, 2007 by CatholicCid

[Socrates]

[quote name='Groo the Wanderer' post='1206845' date='Mar 2 2007, 02:34 PM']My daughter would HATE this, since she is an alter server at my parish. In fact, about 80% of the alter servers are girls.

Boys simply aren't coming forward to do this. Probably because nobody seems to know that the position was originally intended to be a step in priestly formation.

Methinks that this should ONLY be done the way it is presented by this particular priest - you MUST give the girls an alternative if you are going to take this away from them. My daughter and many of my students serve with passion out of love for God and Church. Not one has any idea of it leading to a future priesthood or of any connection to the masculinity/femininity roles of the priest/Church.

Perhaps the role has simply changed? Notice they are called alter servers and not acolytes. It would not be the only role to change - don't forget how deacons virtually disappeared for many many centuries.[/quote]
I am happy that my parish retains the tradition of all-male altar servers. Our diocese was one of the few that didn't allow altar girls. With the current bishop, it was delegated to the individual pastors whether or not to allow altar girls.

What you mentioned seems to be common - where there are altar girls, altar boys go away. I think with the practice of altar girls, serving at the altar (and perhaps religion in general) appears "girly" or "sissy" to many boys.
I don't think this change is a good thing. The Vatican only allowed it after this practice had been carried out illicitely in America for many years. And the Vatican document (perhaps someone can provide a link) stated only that it could be allowed, not that it was to be standard practice. It said specifically that the practice of male altar servers was to be preferred and maintained. However, this is not the case in most places where altar girls are allowed - female servers become the norm and the majority.

While I could be wrong, it is my belief that allowing this at all sent the wrong message - that if you do something in disobedience long enough, the Church will eventually change the rules to acommodate you. This makes explaining the permanence of the all-male priesthood that much harder.

[Knight of the Holy Rosary]

This is wonderful! I find it sad that some feel this is 'sexist'. To say that we need boys on the altar is not saying that one gender is superior, just that gender [i]matters.[/i]

We don't have girls serving at my parish.

[HeavenlyCalling]

I agree, I think the priest handled this very well. I too believe that parishes should go back to all-boy alter servers, but I think that this program for girls is very cool. If my church had something like this, I would quit alter serving and join.

[Socrates]

[quote name='HeavenlyCalling' post='1207071' date='Mar 2 2007, 10:28 PM']I agree, I think the priest handled this very well. I too believe that parishes should go back to all-boy alter servers, but I think that this program for girls is very cool. If my church had something like this, I would quit alter serving and join.[/quote]
At the college I attended (which also had all-male servers/acolytes), there was an all-female organization known as the Holy Rood Guild, which was in charge of cleaning and maintaining altar cloths, vestments, and the like. I think that has traditionally been a female role in the Church.

[avemaria40]

That's in my diocese! Wow!

[toledo_jesus]

[quote name='Groo the Wanderer' post='1206845' date='Mar 2 2007, 04:34 PM']My daughter would HATE this, since she is an alter server at my parish. In fact, about 80% of the alter servers are girls.

Boys simply aren't coming forward to do this. Probably because nobody seems to know that the position was originally intended to be a step in priestly formation.

Methinks that this should ONLY be done the way it is presented by this particular priest - you MUST give the girls an alternative if you are going to take this away from them. My daughter and many of my students serve with passion out of love for God and Church. Not one has any idea of it leading to a future priesthood or of any connection to the masculinity/femininity roles of the priest/Church.

Perhaps the role has simply changed? Notice they are called alter servers and not acolytes. It would not be the only role to change - don't forget how deacons virtually disappeared for many many centuries.[/quote]

To be quite honest, women run everything else and I begrudge them any hurt feelings over this.

[Groo the Wanderer]

[quote name='toledo_jesus' post='1207546' date='Mar 3 2007, 10:10 PM']To be quite honest, women run everything else and I begrudge them any hurt feelings over this.[/quote]


women? She's only 11 for pete's sake.....but she does kinda have me wrapped around her pinky

[journeyman]

[quote name='Socrates' post='1207065' date='Mar 2 2007, 10:12 PM']I am happy that my parish retains the tradition of all-male altar servers. Our diocese was one of the few that didn't allow altar girls. With the current bishop, it was delegated to the individual pastors whether or not to allow altar girls.

<snip>

While I could be wrong, it is my belief that allowing this at all sent the wrong message - that if you do something in disobedience long enough, the Church will eventually change the rules to acommodate you. This makes explaining the permanence of the all-male priesthood that much harder.[/quote]


Didn't your bishop sort of horse trade the altar server gender rule for more Latin Masses?

[Socrates]

[quote name='journeyman' post='1208163' date='Mar 4 2007, 10:09 PM']Didn't your bishop sort of horse trade the altar server gender rule for more Latin Masses?[/quote]
People can debate whether it was a "horse trade," but basically, yes. Indult Tridentine Masses are allowed in particular parishes (including mine), but pastors are allowed to choose whether or not to allow altar girls in their parish. Our parish does not allow altar girls.

[DiscerningSoul]

I was once in favor of female alter servers, in fact spoke with a former priest several times asking for permission to be one.

Females "cross bearers" came to our parish and I was over joyed! Me along with my sister and one other girl were the 1st "cross bearers".

However as I grew in my faith and started to discern my vocation back then, I felt more and more pulled to the "traditional" way of the faith.

Just three weeks ago I was asked to be a Eucharistic minister, I declined. I belive 1) lay people should not be handling the eucharistic and 2) I would have to be up on the alter for Mass.

But this is just my two cents but its good to see some of the CT parishes are going more traditional.


Jessica

[clg01]

In my personal opinion, this was an order that came from a great pope who was guided by the Holy Spirit. Who are we to try and counter that inspiration? Girls at the altar service are a good way to motivate young women to enter into the religious life or to simply be a motivation in any position they take in life at a devout catholic (single life, marriage, or consecrated). If the male has that motivation by seeing priests and other guys at the altar, I see no reason why the same cannot/ should not be said for girls.

[DiscerningSoul]

being able to "see" sisters or nuns in habit is a good way to inspire young women.