Parishes in Arlington Diocese adapt to ruling on altar girls

Published: 2006-03-31

ARLINGTON, Va. (CNS) -- On a recent Saturday night, fourth-grader Arianna Lozano donned a white alb, put a long cross around her neck and stood in the sanctuary at Our Lady, Queen of Peace Church in Arlington as the first female altar server in the Diocese of Arlington in more than a decade. "We've been waiting for this," said Spiritan Father Leonard Tuozzolo. "I think it's a very positive thing, a very symbolic thing." His comments were followed by a round of applause from parishioners. The change was a result of Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde's March 21 decision to expand the diocese's options for altar servers by allowing females to participate in parish and high school settings. However, other pastors in the diocese have chosen not to use altar girls. "People have longed so much for tradition and we have tried to retain some," said Father Franklyn McAfee, pastor of St. John's Parish in McLean. Father McAfee said the lectors and extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist are serving the community, but the altar server is serving the priest. "The altar boy is to the priest as the page was to the knight -- sort of like an apprentice," he told the Arlington Catholic Herald, diocesan newspaper.

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