Posted on 05/12/2014 8:08:21 PM PDT by NYer
From a reader…
QUAERITUR:
I went to Mass today in the diocese of [removed] as a visitor. The priest had 4 teen age alter girls and I actually received communion from one of them. This brought tears of sorrow to my eyes. I have never even seen an alter boy serve communion, let alone a girl. I am so shocked, I am thinking of writing a letter to their new bishop to let him in on this. What to you advise?
I presume the author is asking about “altar girls” rather than alter girls, or worse, altered girls.
While this is possibly permissible, it is unusual.
Leaving aside the issue of females serving at all, if the girls are confirmed, then they fit the minimum requirement for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. Hmmm… feminine of minister is ministrix, so, plural ministrices.
Those on the Left usually harp on and on about not “mixing ministries”, namely, lectors should not distribute Holy Communion, ushers should not serve Mass, puppeteers should not ply their tambourine skills, etc.
The new bishop of [that diocese] has many, many challenges on his plate. Pray for him.
I suspect that this situation, while odd, would not amount to something he could begin to attend to.
How about writing to the new bishop of [that diocese], saying that you recently attended Holy Mass in his diocese and became aware of how much work he has before him. Instead of mentioning specific problems, could you promise him a daily decade of the Rosary for the next year?
Judging by the comments posted to the original thread, this practice is happening elsewhere as well. Anyone else encounter a similar situation?
Contemporary (mainstream) Catholics are nuts.
when i was an altarboy i never served anyone communion.
These girls need to read “Get Us Out of Here!” by Maria Simma.
They will never ever be a EMHC again, nor will they receive Communion in their hand.
Only on the tongue according to Maria from her informants.
EMHC?
In my parish, there are adult women who are extraordinary ministers. I myself serve as an usher, and also as a lector. There have been times when the ushers were short handed and I have done both. It’s a small town and not a big parish, but our faith is as strong as any cathedral.
The proper terminology is: Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion.
The priest is the Ordinary minister and the only Eucharistic minister at a Catholic Mass.
Thus the term “Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion” is used. They are not Eucharistic ministers — they have not been ordained to consecrate the Eucharist.
I should add that our priest is very old school. While he uses all the latest gizmos (Facebook, IPhones, etc.) to reach out to the teens, and does a pretty good magic show for the real young kids, he stays true to the teachings of the Church. He also is an excellent hunter who gets several deer every season, donating most to Hunters for the Hungry. Our RCIA class gift for him was a new Leopold scope for his rifle. He takes his responsibility for his flock very seriously.
What do you expect, many of them are Obamanoids and would vote for him a third time if given the chance.
Sincere thanks to the both of you for the information/clarification.
The clergy who are responsible for the status quo are the ones who most need to read it.
No need to go to a black mass if you want outrage and sacrilege — it’s all right in your own diocese.
You are correct there. Have you read it? Quite interesting since the Souls in Purgatory commune with her. Not approved by the church, BTW.
So your parish doesn't allow Communion in the hand, etc.?
Not in the middle of the Consecration, I hope.
I guess what I meant was he is a stickler for the Ten Commandments and doesn’t give much wiggle room. He has the biggest heart of any one I have ever met. When my wife was in the late stages of cancer, he helped her find her way back to the faith of her childhood. After what I witnessed between them, and the strength and peace she got from God to face her trial, I eventually became a Catholic myself. Believe me, if there is a place in the Church for a long time sinner and all round heathen like me, God truly has a forgiving heart.
Just more protestantism that has crept into the Church. It all needs to weeded out before these same altar girls start demanding to be ordained as Catholic priests. “Well mommie, I see women pastors in the Episcopal Church down the street, why can’t I be a priest, it’s not right mommie”. “And mommie I want to be able to marry two girls when I become a priest, just like they do in the that church down the street”. “Oh, and mommie I forget to tell you my friend that is a pastor in that church down the street, well she’s a lesbian and she’s marrying her girlfriend”.
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