Should women be serving as lectors, extraordinary Eucharistic ministers and sacristans?

[maria0813]

Ministries for women-Should we be serving as lectors, extraordinary Eucharistic ministers, and sacristans?

[Fr. Vincent Serpa]

Hi,

Yes, women may legitimately serve in such ministries by permission of Rome. For example, the Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship issued the following directive:

"According to the norms established for these matters...women are allowed to:

a. proclaim the reading, except the Gospel... The conferences of bishops are to give specific directions on the place best suited for women to read the word of God in the liturgical assembly.

b. announce the intentions in the general intercessions;

c. lead the liturgical assembly in singing and play the organ or other instruments;

d. read the commentary assisting the people toward a better understanding of the rite;

e. attend to to he functions, customarily filled by women in other settings, as a service to the congregation, for example, ushering, organizing processions, taking up the collection (Notitate 7 (1971) 10-26, sectin 7, Documents on the Liturgy (Liturgical Press, 1983) 525), I'm sure this would include acting as sacristan."

This is taken from "Mass Confusion" by Jimmy Akin, pg.42.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.