01. Cardinal Hickey has approved as Archdiocesan policy the inclusion of girls as servers alongside the boys during Masses and other liturgical services of his jurisdiction.
02. Servers are to undergo careful planning and training to ensure necessary decorum and the right of the faithful to a prayerful, well-executed liturgy. It should include instruction on the Mass and its parts, the meaning of the parts of the Mass, the names and usage of the various objects used in the liturgy and how to perform the various functions of the server during the Mass and other liturgical celebrations.
03. Things which distract from the liturgy should be minimized or eliminated. This may include such articles as jewelry and non-dress shoes. Care should be given that cosmetics and perfumes are reduced to those needed for good hygiene.
04. The parish community should also receive necessary catechesis about the allowance for female servers. All should be made aware of the Holy Father's permission and the Archdiocese guidelines (incorporated here). The Pope's "solemn definition" of the impossibility of women priests is also to be explained.
05. The specific functions of servers include:
06. Because girls were formerly used for what some considered to be non-serving roles, the tradition of our parish has been to attire them in alb-like dress. This will continue. They boys will remain in cassock and surplice. As an incentive to keep the older servers, high school girls may wear a simple cross and boys a black instead of a red cassock.
07. It is permissible, especially at school Masses, for servers to wear their school uniforms. All servers should be well groomed and always dress in a manner that is modest, clean, and neat. Shorts, jeans, or skirts and dresses above the knee are inappropriate, especially for Sunday liturgy.
08. Servers must be mature enough to understand their responsibilities and to carry them out well and with appropriate reverence. Since they will be accepted from the fourth grade on, they must already have received first penance and communion. The server shares with the priest the obligation of edifying God's people. He or she must be circumspect to avoid saying or doing anything that would bring shame upon himself/herself, the church, and his/her ministry. When not scheduled to serve, it is expected that he/she will still attend and participate at the Sunday Mass in accordance with the precepts of the Church.
09. It is recommended that servers come at least fifteen minutes prior to liturgies, insuring that they receive any particular instructions, assist in the preparation, and spend a few moments in prayer. Similarly, they should remain after Mass to clean up and to reflect for a few minutes upon the great mystery in which they have participated.
10. Hopefully, every young person who is called to serve the priest may sense more or less intensely the desire for a religious vocation: for the girls this means the possibility of a life as a sister or nun; for the boys it means considering being a brother or a priest. Everything must be done to encourage a vocation and any misdirection in this regard is to be vigorously corrected.
The situation for servers is of such importance that in addition to policies for altar servers, we offer them a manual (from the Autom company) and other references as tools in the formation of this ministry. It includes introductory words about the importance of the server's role, an explanation on the importance of the Mass, a description of the Liturgical Seasons, the order of Mass, the prayers and responses which should be memorized, the actions to be learned, i.e. folded hands, the sign of the cross, genuflections, bows, carrying the cross and candles, and the importance of silence. There is even a glossary of important words, regarding liturgical items, with which the server needs to be familiar.
We are so involved with activity that we often leave little time for prayerful reflection. Priests and others who work with servers should seriously monitor the spiritual lives of those in their charge. If young people are having doubts about their faith, are anxious about growing up, and are feeling the clash between their Christian values and those of the world around them-- then the adults and clergy involved with their service should be approachable and helpful. The priest who can forgive sins needs to make it clear that he is always available to them for the sacrament of reconciliation. We would not want a young man or woman to serve the Mass while troubled in conscience about some recent sin. We are all sinners and the young people who serve need to know that their priests will not think less of them for not being perfect; indeed, we should make it clear that repentance fills the priestly heart with deep joy and makes us think all the better about them. The priest and deacon should have no reservation about praying with the servers before Mass. Repeated gatherings for practice and recreation (although well chaperoned and supervised) are to be encouraged and should always include the component of prayer. Servers are even given a prayer that is all their own, on the back cover of the server's manual: "Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for calling me to serve you at your Holy Altar during the celebration of the Eucharist. I know that the priest takes your place when, together with your people, and in the name of the Church, he makes present again your Passion, Death, and Resurrection. Help me to carry out my role in this memorial of the Last Supper with dignity and precision and with full interior participation. Let me so remain united with you on earth that I may one day share your glory in heaven."
In my reflection on the qualities which should be proper to the girls who serve at Mass, my thoughts turn to Mary. Although it is only pious "private" revelation, several passages from Mary of Agreda's City of God come to mind: "The priest also gave Her a rule for her occupations and said: 'My Daughter thou wilt assist at the exercises of divine praise and song in honor of the Lord with all reverence and devotion, and always pray to the Most High for the necessities of his holy temple and of his people, and for the coming of the Messias.' ...The most holy Child remained on her knees, while She listened to the words of the priest and then asked his blessing;... In the performance of works not commanded Her our Queen and Lady distinguished Herself from other maidens by asking her teacher to be allowed to serve them all.... By means of her infused science She understood all the mysteries and ceremonies of the temple; but She was anxious to learn them also by study and practice, as if She were ignorant of them, nor did She ever fail in any ceremony or duty, no matter how small. She was most eager for humiliation and most submissive in her self-contempt; ..." (pp. 130-132). If our girls can in some small way imitate this kind of model, then the novelty of their service should prove no problem. Notice the word "maidens" in the text? Although not translated, the Roman Canon mentions God's servants and handmaids. Considering the political climate, such an appreciation would be a wonderful counter-cultural sign of humility, not to men, but to almighty God.
Last Updated on December 6, 1997