Posted on 03/01/2007 8:30:20 AM PST by NYer
Although most area Catholic churches follow the modern practice of using altar girls, a Norwalk parish recently reverted to a traditional boys-only policy and started a program for girls teaching them to sew, cook and arrange flowers for the altar.
The Rev. Greg Markey, pastor of St. Mary Church in Norwalk for three years, said he made the change to help deal with the shortage of priests. Girls who were altar servers before the change was announced last year were permitted to continue.
More than 20 girls have signed up for the Handmaids of the Altar since the program began in October. They help with the sacristy, creating baptism robes and altar linen. For their first project, the girls raised $175 selling cookies they baked.
In a newsletter published in July, Markey wrote that most parishes that use altar girls are trying to get them involved or are demonstrating equal opportunity.
"While equal opportunity is a noble sentiment, the bond between priest and the boys has now been lessened," he wrote. "There is also a certain awkwardness in teaching girls to take pride in a job that will never come to fruition, since they will never be able to become priests."
St. Mary is one of the few parishes in lower Fairfield County that prohibits altar girls. In Stamford, St. John the Evangelist Church uses altar boys only, though its Haitian Mass includes altar girls.
Markey realized the change could be controversial.
"Certainly the spirit of the society in which we live will not accept this," he wrote in the newsletter. "Yet this has nothing to do with equal rights. Men and women are equal in the eyes of God, and each has different gifts which should be allowed to develop in their proper environment."
(Excerpt) Read more at stamfordadvocate.com ...
One step forward, 1,397 steps backwards.
I'd call it 1397 steps in the right direction ... I don't care whether you call that direction forward, backward, up, down, or sideways.
"Yet this has nothing to do with equal rights. Men and women are equal in the eyes of God, and each has different gifts which should be allowed to develop in their proper environment."
I'm glad *someone* out there said it!
This is very good news IMO!
Believe it or not I have 2 years altar boy
experience myself. :-)
On the contrary. Most girls serve up at the altar as "something to do". According to the parish girls ....
"I think it's fun," said Jennifer Murillo, 12, who has been an altar girl for two years. "It's better than going to Mass and not doing anything."
My Parish has only male "altar boys" and rings the "Sanctus" bells. In addition, only the two priests give out Holy Communion (the Blood of Christ--Consecrated Wine--is never given out; the GIRMs stipulate that this be done "on very special occasions" and any ordinary Mass is not special enough to our Pastor). If one of the priests is absent, a male EMOHC serves in his place and wears a gold robe during Communion. That is not usual; both priests are usually there.
F
Excellent.
Is this going to be another "Boys are good at sports and science and girls are good at Home Ec and English" thread?
You're always welcome back.
:'}
Well I hope not. But it is refreshing to see someone acknowledging the fact that boys and girls are not directly interchangeable.
appreciate the offer but gonna have to pass.
:-)
We've never had altar girls or women lectors at our parish. It's not a big deal, we understand that serving at the altar is an important step in discerning a priestly vocation (of which we have had sereral in the last few years.)
I am a big advocate of male lectors, because they are all married men, with families. It sends a good message to their children. Religion is too often seen as a woman thing, so to see Dad in an active role is good for kids.
A lot of the girls probably like it, and those who don't can probably find some "organizational" aspect of it they might enjoy. In any case, I hope the pastor is using this group as an occasion to get the girls to consider the religious life (send them on retreats together, give them special talks or attention from a good nun, etc.). I think it's the getting together part that they probably enjoy. Although we should remember that serving at the altar (in any way) is service, and not just another social occasion, a concept that has gotten lost in recent years.
i am glad that we still have altar boys, exclusively, at our parish, despite Bishop Loverde caving on allowing altar girls in the Arlington diocese.
I wish all parishes would do this.
(How vocations are fostered!)
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