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I'm wondering if the Catholic Church I've been going to here in Homestead is "normal" for a Catholic church in that only the Priest and 1-2 given altarboys on any given Sunday, are male? By this I mean, there is a nun reading scripture, lay women are leading the music, and the rest of the "altarboys" (cross carriers, basket passers, ushers, I don't really know if there are different roles there but they stand up front most of the time and all wear white robes) are little girls of varying ages. There's a woman who may be a "lay minister" or may just be whoever, who helps to prepare and serve communion (not the prayers or invitation, but wherever you would need an extra set of hands, she is that). There are plenty of men and boys in the congregation.
I've read on either a Vatican website or in the catechism, I can't remember which, that if there is no available man for a leadership job a lay female minister is basically "better than nothing" and providing a good service, if she steps up in time of need. I don't know if that is what happened here or not. On the one hand, this church has only one priest, and is not one of those Catholic churches that is open 24/7 so you can walk in and pray whenever you want, so those things suggest limited resources. But they do have daily mass, and fill 3 english, 1 spanish and 1 creole mass, on Sundays. And there is an attached K-8 school, though it's small.
This FEELS very familiar to me, as most of the Disciples of Christ churches I've been in since I became a Christian have had female ministers or even two female co-ministers, with only a couple of exceptions, and in general protestant churches have more female volunteers around here running everything, for whatever reason. But I'm wondering if it would be very different, or this would even be frowned upon, if I were to go to another Catholic church.
Many of the statues, as well as the altar itself, have flowers all around their bases. Potted things, vases, this and that. Is it appropriate to just quietly bring them and set them where you want them to go, as an offering? Or is that something you are supposed to talk to someone about, or something that the church staff would be handling themselves? It's obvious to me that one large statue outside is available for people to bring candles and light them there, but it's less obvious in the sanctuary (some permanent fake flowers here and there, and many of the same types of things as if someone bought most of it at once).
I've read on either a Vatican website or in the catechism, I can't remember which, that if there is no available man for a leadership job a lay female minister is basically "better than nothing" and providing a good service, if she steps up in time of need. I don't know if that is what happened here or not. On the one hand, this church has only one priest, and is not one of those Catholic churches that is open 24/7 so you can walk in and pray whenever you want, so those things suggest limited resources. But they do have daily mass, and fill 3 english, 1 spanish and 1 creole mass, on Sundays. And there is an attached K-8 school, though it's small.
This FEELS very familiar to me, as most of the Disciples of Christ churches I've been in since I became a Christian have had female ministers or even two female co-ministers, with only a couple of exceptions, and in general protestant churches have more female volunteers around here running everything, for whatever reason. But I'm wondering if it would be very different, or this would even be frowned upon, if I were to go to another Catholic church.
Many of the statues, as well as the altar itself, have flowers all around their bases. Potted things, vases, this and that. Is it appropriate to just quietly bring them and set them where you want them to go, as an offering? Or is that something you are supposed to talk to someone about, or something that the church staff would be handling themselves? It's obvious to me that one large statue outside is available for people to bring candles and light them there, but it's less obvious in the sanctuary (some permanent fake flowers here and there, and many of the same types of things as if someone bought most of it at once).
