Altar girls, jeans, and Crocs

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Alma said:
But since there was only one reader and no one volunteered to read the Psalm I went up and did it.
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This might be a side issue, but especially at a weekday Mass when there’s already someone proclaiming the readings, there’s no need for another person to read the Psalm.
 
[edited]
Cat said:
But it’s not my feet, and it’s none of my business.
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You are very right about that.

Crocs belong in the garden. Not at Mass. I don’t see how it would be so difficult to throw a pair of acceptable shoes in the car and switch back after Mass. Women do this all the time in colder and messy weather climates. It’s not a big deal. And acceptable shoes are exactly that - shoes. Heel height has nothing to do with. Loafers would be fine. But Crocs are just ugly and look like they should be mucking around in the dirt and hosed off later.

My opinion - the OP did the right thing, and in this particular situation of course it was right for her to do the reading. But in the grander scheme of things, I would suggest throwing a pair of proper shoes in the car for daily Mass since you already know you are going there, it should not be much of a planning or coordination issue.

~Liza
 
BlueSeven said:
no but theres something called i dont sit on my butt and watch tv i go outside on my bike, go to a friends house, play tennis because i have a social life unlike some people.

just saying.
no need to be snobby like that because i will fight back.
w/e the consequences.
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Hi Blue Seven,

Please don’t take offence at this discussion. The point that is being made is that jeans are not appropriate for an altar girl to wear while serving at Mass. Don’t take it personally because it’s not about you and has nothing to do with being snobby. 🙂
 
lizaanne said:
[edited] You are very right about that.

Crocs belong in the garden. Not at Mass. I don’t see how it would be so difficult to throw a pair of acceptable shoes in the car and switch back after Mass. Women do this all the time in colder and messy weather climates. It’s not a big deal. And acceptable shoes are exactly that - shoes. Heel height has nothing to do with. Loafers would be fine. But Crocs are just ugly and look like they should be mucking around in the dirt and hosed off later.

My opinion - the OP did the right thing, and in this particular situation of course it was right for her to do the reading. But in the grander scheme of things, I would suggest throwing a pair of proper shoes in the car for daily Mass since you already know you are going there, it should not be much of a planning or coordination issue.

~Liza
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What is ugly or attractive in shoes is YOUR OPINION. I happen to disagree. I think there are some very cute crocs available.

I gotta say…I live in a colder and messier climate, and I have NEVER thrown another pair of “dressy” shoes in my car. I wear what I wear.
 
Catholic90 said:
What is ugly or attractive in shoes is YOUR OPINION. I happen to disagree. I think there are some very cute crocs available.

I gotta say…I live in a colder and messier climate, and I have NEVER thrown another pair of “dressy” shoes in my car. I wear what I wear.
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I absolutely agree with this.

Everyone’s tastes are different. I personally think that those pointed-toed shoes that some women wear are hideous. But apparently a lot of women think they’re just as cute as can be, because a lot of women, including my daughters, wear them. Yechh.

And I think loafers are ugly, too.

I think crocs are cute. I also liked Birkenstocks. And I like saddle shoes and wish they would come back in style. (They’re due.)

Beauty and ugliness is totally in the eye of the beholder.
 
I would like to reply:
To Little Dove: God bless you to!

to Quiet 52:
“No, you’re not a Eucharistic Minister…
Only the priest can be a Eucharistic Minister. When a lay person helps distribute Holy Communion, he/she is called an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion (again, not an administrator of the sacrament, but someone who helps distribute Holy Communion)”

You are right, of course. I am not used to saying it in English and I forgot to add ‘Extraordinary’. I meant: Ministro Extraordinario de la Sagrada Comunión. I also didn’t know whether to translate ‘Sagrada’ as Sacred or Holy. Sorry.:o

To Jsmith17:
“That being said, you might plan for this in the future by keeping a pair of nicer shoes in your car in order to be able to make a quick change”

My parish is several blocks away and I walk to Mass, so this is not a possibility.

To Japhy:
“This might be a side issue, but especially at a weekday Mass when there’s already someone proclaiming the readings, there’s no need for another person to read the Psalm.”

I do not agree. The Psalm is called ‘Responsorial’ because it is responses to the First Reading. In order to emphasize this it should be read by a different reader. Proper Mass Liturgy should be observed on Sundays or weekdays alike.

:blessyou:

Alma
 
I probably shouldn’t keep help keep this thread going but here are my :twocents::

I wear crocs to work quite frequently and I am a professional. They are comfortable when on my feet all day. They have become standard footwear around here and I was surprised when I read the OP that anyone would think crocs inappropriate for Mass or serving.

The bright colors are colors that girls wear! If girls are to be allowed to serve, they will wear girl colored shoes. I wouldn’t object to a dress code that called for dark shoes, but I don’t see anything wrong with the bright colors. Again, I am apparently in the minority here.

I also don’t object to nice looking jeans on children at mass, even servers.

My point is that “inappropriate” is in the eye of the beholder. I would guess that in my parish that the majority of the parishoners would have found nothing wrong with those girls’ attire (nor would they have noticed particularly).

Perhaps I need to develop an increased sense of reverence for the Eucharist. Something for me to pray about. (I mean this truly, not sarcastically!)
 
:eek:

As the head altar server at my church, I am SHOCKED! This is a huge deal! Even my servers never wear Crocs… I thought they were bad!

Please speak to the servant leader immediately! He or she should have strict dress guidelines enforced, if not set in place.

Good luck!
 
Matariel said:
Okay. I won’t do anything. I was just trying to make the Mass more reverent for everyone, but okay. I won’t do a thing.

I already explained why I didn’t want to sign it, and it had nothing to do with guts. You’re coming across in a bad way.

Okay. I’ll just sit back and be completely uninvolved in this parish, and not contribute anything.
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Goodness, man, you are awfully prickly! As a new Catholic, you are in the perfect position to talk to your priest about this. Simply ask if there is a rule about what the altar servers wear. Tell him that you are distracted by their bright footwear.

You do need to work at not being distracted or made angry (during Mass) at what you see. But you can ask and suggest that they wear simple dark shoes that don’t stand out as they serve the altar.
 
redrosetea said:
I think it is Fr’s place to put something in the bulletin about proper church attire for servers…
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The bulletin is not the place for those sorts of rules. There needs to be a meeting of altar servers and some guidelines set down as to appropriate clothing, shoes, behavior when serving. Our altar boys all wear dress pants and dark shoes and the priest in charge has regular training sessions for them (regular being several times a year–not every month–so it is not a huge time commitment).
 
Sr_Sally said:
The bulletin is not the place for those sorts of rules. There needs to be a meeting of altar servers and some guidelines set down as to appropriate clothing, shoes, behavior when serving. Our altar boys all wear dress pants and dark shoes and the priest in charge has regular training sessions for them (regular being several times a year–not every month–so it is not a huge time commitment).
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ABSOLUTELY. My dad makes the dress code VERY clear at our trainings, which are about once every four months, or whenever we have issues or new kids needing training.

Altar servers, as I see it, are models of propriety and reverence in church. They need to set a good example, and wearing dress clothes and shoes does this.
 
I know I always get flamed for this stance…but they shouldn’t be up on the altar in the first place…that is point 1. Point 2, inappropriate dress is not just by the young ladies…the boys now a days do it as well…It makes me sick…on both accounts. It is incumbent upon the priest to set a dress code and stick to it. Point 3, you never see this type of problem in a Traditional Latin Mass…this is just one of the many reasons I prefer to go to the TLM…has nothing to do with issues of validity…because I believe them both to be equally valid…just a matter of preference.
Matariel said:
Today was Good Friday. As everyone went up to venerate the cross (a plain, empty cross) two altar girls were to the sides. As I went up to kiss the cross, I noticed once again distracting fact that the girls, underneath their albs (which were too short, only about knee-length) they were wearing jeans and pink and lime green Croc shoes. Throughout the service, I found I couldn’t concentrate due to that.

What’s worse, is, last Sunday (Passion Sunday) they did the same thing. They never wear anything formal, you can always see their jeans and shoes and sometimes athletic pants. :mad:

Sigh. It’s super-distracting, and, even worse, tomorrow is Easter Vigil, when we join the Church. If they wear that get-up again… well, I just can’t stand it.

Does anyone know of any way I can kindly inform someone about how distracting this is to the Mass, and actually effect change?

Sorry if this seems like such a minor issue, but I find it unbelievingly distracting.

Any thoughts?
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I know we’ll never have a dress code banning Crocs since Fr. wears his to celebrate Mass. Granted they’re not hot pink.
 
Phemie said:
I know we’ll never have a dress code banning Crocs since Fr. wears his to celebrate Mass. Granted they’re not hot pink.
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Actually, the USCCB documents on their website mandate appropriate dress for all priests and altarboys and altargirls.
 
Matariel said:
Actually, the USCCB documents on their website mandate appropriate dress for all priests and altarboys and altargirls.
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Doesn’t apply to us, we’re in Canada and AFAIK, the CCCB has never commented on that issue.
 
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