Historically, the Catholic Church has been run primarily by men. While women have long been active in areas such as education,healthcare, and charitable works, formal positions of authority and sacramental roles have typically been reserved for men.
However, in March of 1994 the Catholic Church changed the rules so altar servers were no longer required to be priests in training, opening it up to women as well.
That was 30 years ago, and since then, women have been participating in the Church in a more visible and impactful way. Thus, the importance of recognizing women in the Church and the struggle it took them to get there is a topic of interest to many.
Some of the ways women can participate in Mass, at many churches, is through altar serving, reading, bringing the gifts to the altar, and acting as Eucharistic Ministers.
According to the National Catholic Reporter, in January 2021, Pope Francis further extended the possibilities for women to serve in the Church by changing church law to allow women to serve as lectors and altar servers.
The Catholic News Agency reported Pope Francis said, “Offering lay people of both sexes the possibility of accessing the ministry of acolyte and lector, by virtue of their participation in the baptismal priesthood, will increase the recognition, also through a liturgical act [institution], of the precious contribution that many lay people make, including women, to the life and mission of the Church.”
Current and past female altar servers conveyed a main reason to get involved with serving, saying that they felt they were contributing to a Mass rather than sitting in the pews.
Frida Cruz, a senior at Convent of the Sacred Heart High School and a current altar server since the 5th grade, said, “I gotinterested in altar serving to be honestasareasontomissalittle bit of class in elementary school, but I really enjoyed being part of the Mass in a bigger way than just sitting in the pews, which is why I continued to do so as I got older.”
Participating in a ritual that people feel strongly about is something many want to experience. The feeling of walking up the aisle, participating in a celebration of God, is a feeling like no other, current and former altar servers said.
Churches around the city have been opening their doors to give women a chance to participate in God’s home.
Danielle Jow, Religious Studies Department Chair and former altar server, said, “The traditional teaching of the Church was forboys to be altar servers because it is a way of preparing for the priesthood,beingabletoserveand assist the priests on the altar…However, I am very grateful for the opportunity to be an altar server growing up because it allowed me to be excited about going to Mass, serve God, participate in the Mass, and learn about the Liturgy.”
Charlottie Yip ’26, an altar server at St. Anne’s from 4th to 8th grade, said, “I believe in today’s society, most churches have been gender inclusive in terms of altar serving, in my opinion.”
Some contend that expanding opportunities for women to serve in the Church could bring fresh perspectives and contribute to a more inclusive and diverse faith community.
English teacher and Eucharistic Minister Kim Loder stated, “I encourage all young women to be generous in sharing their time and talents by participating in church services and activities.”
Opening more options for women in the Church can not only gives more women the chance to be involved in their religion, but it also gives more perspectives within the Church, helping it grow and change with the times.
