PAGE 14 THURSDAY, JULY 21,1994 FROM PAGE 1 CATHOLIC COURIER DIOCESE OF ROCHESTER, N.Y. URE not use this permission, because the Holy See says it's up to each bishop," Bishop Hickey pointed out. "Some bish­ ops are a bit taken aback by what seems to be a sudden shift." Overall, Bishop Hickey thinks that the time will soon come where female altar servers will be a non-issue. "Some few priests may have a prob­ lem with girl servers, but the majority will be quite willing as long as the Holy See permits it," Bishop Hickey ac­ knowledged. For people like 13-year-old Megan Westbrook, it's difficult to comprehend what all the fuss is about. An altar serv­ er at St Cecilia's Church in Irondequoit, Megan is attracted to altar duty in much the same way as her male counterparts. "I wanted to serve because I like being involved in the service. It gives you a feeling that you're a part of the church; you're an important part of the Mass," she observed. Megan and her half-sister, 12-year-old Danielle Mauro, are among a large re­ serve of altar girls at St. Cecilia's, where more than 75 percent of the altar servers are female. Both Megan and Danielle have been altar girls since they were in fourth grade. This trend has grown since Megan and Danielle's parents, David and Mar­ ti Mauro, took over the task of schedul­ ing St. Cecilia's altar servers two years ago- At that time, Davi4 Mauro said, there were only about 12 regular altar servers in the entire parish. Since then, that number has tripled. S. John Wllkln/Staff photographer "How can turn girls away when they Altar servers Megan Westbrook (left) and Jamie Schemps help Father Walter F. Cushing, pastor of St Cecillia's Church, want to be interested in the church?" he receive the gifts during Mass. wondered. "If girls can do the job just as well as cratical changes that the social science bishop, he had ample authority to re­ boys, why shouldn't they do it?" his wife Altar girls liberals desire the church to undertake, move him." added. for example abortion and homosexual­ Colomaio noted that approximately Danielle reports being a central fig­ Continued from page 1 ity," Argentieri stated. lf> girls from St. Ann's are now per­ ure in an interesting twist of irony earlier This issue has touched off controver­ Argentieri, a member of the nation­ forming regular duty as altar servers. this year at Irondequoit's St. Margaret sy as well as confusion, with one recent al conservative group Catholic League "Some people haven't dropped (the is­ Mary's parish, where she attends school. example occurring this past winter at for Religious and Civil Rights, charged sue), but the majority don't have a prob­ Her teacher announced that an altar St. Ann's Church in Hornell. Father that female altar serving is "a prop upon lem now," said Colomaio. server was needed for a service at St. Elmer J. Schmidt, pastor, informed the the larger stage wherein there is an or­ Up to this point, however, several U.S. Margaret Mary Church that day, and parish — prior to the Vatican's an­ ganized and concerted effort to secure bishops and parishes have refrained asked if anyone in the class had serving nouncement — that St. Ann's was about women for the priesthood." from using altar girls until receiving the experience. to open up altar serving to females for Argentieri also expressed concern Vatican's green light. With that having Danielle was the only person to raise the first time. about Bishop Clark's longstanding pol­ now occurred, the National Conference a hand, so the teacher sent her along. The pastor's decision prompted out­ icy on altar girls, saying that "bishops of Catholic Bishops announced June 23 Yet neither Danielle nor her teacher was rage among a faction of parishioners. like Matthew Clark figure they can do that they "overwhelmingly" support the aware that the parish didn't employ fe­ Twenty-two signed a letter of protest and whatever the heck they want." Vatican's ruling from this past March. male altar servers. Still, Danielle served circulated it among the parish commu­ Michael Colomaio, who serves as pres­ "It is the opinion of the NCGB that at the Mass without incident. nity. In addition, five members of the ident of the St. Ann's parish council, the option of having women and girls David Mauro, who himself was an al­ St. Ann's parish council submitted their said that since interpretations vary on serve at the altar is a welcome one, sub­ tar boy while growing up as a parish­ resignations. the subject, he simply chose to trust his ject always to the guidance of the dioce­ ioner at St. Cecilia's, remarked that all According to Paul Argentieri, a Hor­ pastor's decision. san bishop," stated the motion approved youths, be they male or female, can de­ nell attorney who was one of the letter's "In my mind, there was no doubt that by the bishops. rive satisfaction from altar serving. signers, altar girls constituted just one of Father Schmidt did what he thought was Bishop Hickey emphasized that this "You stay more focused on the Mass, several areas of concern. best," Colomaio said. "(The dissenters') development does not guarantee instant and I enjoyed the responsibility," he said. "Is it really about girls being altar concerns are genuine, but you've got to and universal application of altar girls, "These kids enjoy it — some of them, servers? I don't think so at all," Argen­ have a little faith." due to the fact that the Vatican and you can just see the excitement in their tieri stated. "The limited and minor is­ He also rebutted Argentieri's com­ NCCB have only approved the practice faces. And you look at Mom and Dad in sue of female altar servers is a smoke­ ment about Bishop Clark by saying that rather than mandated it. the pews, and you can see they're excit­ screen for the real issues of major theo- "if the pope had a problem with any "It is possible that some bishops may ed about seeing their kids up there."

not yet altar girls at Mother of Sorrows) Writer honored their commitment so firmly — • t T GET LEFT BEHIND whether it be midnight Mass at Christ­ Year after year, awards judges and readers alike know the Continued from page 1 mas or 6:30 a.m. Mass in the summer. Catholic Courier provides some of the best education coverage of My breakfasts with the late Father Altar-serving is a noble duty for a George S. Wood at the parish rectory ... young boy or girl. It's a chance for a any weekly newspaper in New York state. a not-so-stern Father Eisemann leading youth to become responsible for duties That's why your ad in our August 11, us on our annual altar boy bike hikes to other than getting good grades and Education Section will be especially well-read. Braddocks Bay State Park, where he cleaning one's room. For me, altar serv­ Whether you offer continuing education for the served as softball pitcher and distributor ing was probably the first duty I ever mature student or school togs for tots, don't miss of his self-proclaimed "bug juice" (actu­ performed where I felt I was treated as an adult. I learned a lot about adult life the opportunity to instruct more than 70,000 ally, it was Kool-Aid) ... and the strong friendship I struck up with Father John during those years as well: the joy ex­ readers about your services through an ad in this T. Reif, which has only continued to perienced by couples getting married; award-winning issue! grow over a 20-year period. the grief during funeral services. Education Issue Of course, not only did my associa­ For youths who don't find attending tions with the clergy increase, but the Mass very stimulating, or for those Thursday, August 11,1994 entire experience also brought me clos­ who'd like to be more a "part of the ac­ Deadline: Friday, July 29 er to my Roman Catholic faith. I can't tion," altar serving could be the answer. Advertising Rate: $18.90/col. inch (5 column format) say it's a coincidence that, two decades And even when you grow older and To place your advertisement or for more information after I was an altar server, I happen to be move on to other tilings, you may be sur­ writing for the Catholic Courier. prised to look back several years later Call: (716) 328-4340 What also impressed me is that so and see what the experience has done many of my fellow altar hoys (there were for you and your faith.