On March 15, 1994, a circular letter from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments was sent to the presidents of episcopal conferences. The letter provided instructions for implementing an authentic interpretation of Canon 230 §2 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law, affirming that the liturgical functions open to laity under this canon (such as lector, commentator, cantor and others) could include altar servers and that these functions could be carried out by both men and women. Pope St John Paul II had confirmed this decision at an audience two years earlier, and ordered its promulgation.
8:06 PM
Altar boys are back
As the Church reflects on the decision to allow girls to serve at the altar in the 1990s, some parishes are seeing a renewed emphasis on boys as servers
Fr Dwight Longenecker
6 min read
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