Cultural clash over altar servers - CathNews New Zealand

Cultural clash over altar servers

Tuesday, October 22nd, 2013

Female altar servers are becoming an issue in some parishes that have high numbers of migrants attending Mass, Auckland diocese’s liturgy centre says.

Many migrant populations have not been used to women and girls serving in this way, a statement from the liturgy centre to NZ Catholic noted. “This matter has to be handled with pastoral sensitivity, and catechesis provided, so that people understand the equal role of men and women in the Sunday assembly,” the statement continued.

“While noting the historical practice of altar boys, and that it is ‘laudable’ that this is retained [Redemptionis Sacramentum 47], it should be noted that this ministry has been renewed and developed since the Second Vatican Council, and that the norms and practices of the local Church where one chooses to live must also be respected,” it added.

Source

NZ Catholic
Image: 4.bp.blogspot

Related Posts:

Additional reading

Tasmania's Archbishop says no to women in altar role

News category: New Zealand, Top Story.

Tags: Altar servers, Cultural Diversity, Liturgy, role of women in the church

Analysis and Comment
- When war becomes personal
  
  Our attitudes to war change drastically when it becomes personal. When it is distant, it involves people whose nationality and culture we do not share, and wrongs of whose cause are disputed. But it does not affect us at gut Read more
- New ‘human flourishing’ survey links frequent religious practice to life satisfaction
  
  Announcing the results of a new Global Flourishing Study, a consortium of scholars and pollsters led by Gallup said that they found links between religiosity and people’s satisfaction with their lives. Religious influences The study, a joint project of Harvard Read more
- Women have a right to inclusive liturgy
  
  There is much to ponder in the synod synthesis report, “A Synodal Church in Mission.” As I talked with my sister about the proposals, I expressed a desire to gather with women who were not in my close circle to Read more
- Transgender inclusion? World’s major religions take varying stances on policies toward trans people
  
  The Vatican has issued a new document rejecting the concept of changing one’s biological sex. This is a setback for transgender people who had hoped Pope Francis might be setting the stage for a more welcoming approach from the Catholic Read more

Search CathNews

Search for:
CathNews
is free

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:
Great Reads