Use Deacons as Priests

ConservativePosts.us ^ | June 28, 2007 | J. Grant Swank, Jr.

[tlRCta]

“Our Catholic parish solves the problem by running the altar server program along military lines. Drill, ranks, promotions, points alloted for service, etc. That eliminates 99 and 94/100ths of the giggling silly girls, leaving a very few girls who are dedicated to serious service (and in numerous cases considering a vocation as a religious). Our altar server program is probably 75% male, and in the Elites (the kids who promise to serve through graduation from high school and lead the teams) my daughter was the only female in her graduating year.

“Another option that another FReeper has in his parish is vesting the altar girls differently - in little nun’s habits. It’s adorable as can be, and their heads are covered, and it makes a clear distinction between Boys and Girls.”

Ha! I love it.

I particularly like the fact that your pastor keeps students on through high school. At the parish I grew up in, more or less, you are cut off at Confirmation, which is a shame. After that, you can be an Extraordinary Minister of Communion or a Lector.

In all honesty, it really is a shame that it has become the case that serving the altar is something only younger kids do. At the National Basilica and National Ukrainian Shrine the servers are older, college age or young adults. I’m 20 and I still altar serve (granted this is at a Catholic university, not a run of the mill parish). I have a number of friends (males, not females) that frequently serve too; one has already entered the seminary; one will in September, and another will enter the Jesuit novitiate in September as well. Each takes his duties quite seriously.

It may seem strange to say, but having the older servers (who are more mature and can comport themselves well) reminds us that the Holy Mass is truly a serious affiar. Mass sure isn’t child’s play.

[AnAmericanMother]

The older servers better appreciate what they are doing and the importance of serving well.

My daughter took her position very seriously -- since she came in sideways, as it were, with some credit for time in grade served in our former Episcopal parish, she felt like she had to work very hard to catch up to the kids who had been serving since 1st grade.

The tricky thing is that the "high church" Episcopal service, while VERY similar to the Catholic Mass, varies in little details. Altar server responses and so forth, where you stand, etc. She agonized over every miscue. But she is very serious just by her nature.