With five Masses to serve and hundreds of parishioners at each one (the sanctuary officially holds about 800 people, it is nearly full at 11:30, completely full and out the door at 10, about 3/4 full at 5:30 and maybe half at 8 and the Saturday Vigil), it is not practicable to bar girls completely.
And I haven't seen anybody "flitting" . . . Deacon Tom would have their heads on toast if they did (even the grownups treat Deacon Tom with kid gloves . . . he's very strict.) ALL our altar servers are dignified, reverent, and serious in the performance of their duties. Because of the definitely male-oriented structure of the altar server guild, the boys tend to predominate among the high school agers, and the girls that remain are willing and able to function as altar servers, not as "girls". And that is as it should be, because the boys have the first place as potential priests.
I think your concerns about post-pubertal flirtiness are unwarranted, at least in our parish. My daughter has a special devotion to St. Maria Goretti, and she doesn't "date" yet at 16 - just runs with a group of close friends both male and female. These are serious kids, concerned about their duty to God, their families, and their schools. I haven't seen the problems that you fear.
I am sure you are answering me in good conscience and sincerity.
And note that as a father of 10 children, five of whom are living, I cannot and will not make the accommodations to so-called "orthodox" and "conservative" bishops, priests and lay people cannot and will not understand the literal words of documents issued by the Holy See.
There was NEVER a need for altar girls for 1995 years of the Church. This "need" still does not exist. And in good concsience, the Novus Ordo will not hasten back Christendom. The Classical Roman rite, which Pope Benedict XVI will certainly free, will aid in this restoral of Christendom.
"I think your concerns about post-pubertal flirtiness are unwarranted, at least in our parish."
I certainly hope this is true. As a former 16-year-old male with a 20-year-old male son and a blossoming 15-year-old daughter, I believe I understand the inner workings of the male psyche and can evaluate what is happening better than a mother who thinks it is still OK to serve at the altar. Just my opinion of course...
>> With five Masses to serve and hundreds of parishioners at each one (the sanctuary officially holds about 800 people, it is nearly full at 11:30, completely full and out the door at 10, about 3/4 full at 5:30 and maybe half at 8 and the Saturday Vigil), it is not practicable to bar girls completely.<<
Really? We have 750 families and a 7, 9:30, 11, 1:30, 6pm and 8pm Holy Masses on Sunday. 6am, 9am, noon, 4:30 and 7 on Saturdays. Only Boys serve.
How many Altar servers do you have at a mass? We have at least 10 during weekend Holy Masses, at least four at the weekday including the 6 am.
It is very easy to exclude the girls, if you make it clear that boys will not have to serve with them when they still think girls are "icky".
>>And I haven't seen anybody "flitting" . . .
I think your concerns about post-pubertal flirtiness are unwarranted, at least in our parish. ... I haven't seen the problems that you fear.<<
I'm so glad you don't have the problems, but I have seen it in both the parish I left and different churches in Cleveland. Nothing better than the shy giggles of a girl as her Altar mate smiles at her. Warms the cockles of my heart. NOT!
Not a single Altar girl will become a priest.
Let the boys be special, they can't give birth to the next generation of Catholics like the girls can!!