Altar Server Attire

[JP2phile]

Quick question:
Are there any church regulations / requirements regarding the attire of altar servers at mass? My parish is the only one I have been to that does not have the servers wear albs. Happily they are required to wear dark pants (or skirts) with a white shirt & tie (or white blouse for the young ladies). This works well most of the time, but often the servers can appear unkempt with this approach and the young women (sadly) often wear skirts of short length or with “blouses” that that are, shall we say, immodest. Our parish priest likes the “no alb” approach, but before appraoching him with a request to consider albs I was wondering what the church’s position is on this issue.
Thanks!

 

[stbruno]

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=55103&highlight=altar+server+attire

I don’t know if there is any rubrics on the form of clothing for altar servers. However, years ago, there was a poll taken on this website. Here is the link.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Quick question:
Are there any church regulations / requirements regarding the attire of altar servers at mass? My parish is the only one I have been to that does not have the servers wear albs. Happily they are required to wear dark pants (or skirts) with a white shirt & tie (or white blouse for the young ladies). This works well most of the time, but often the servers can appear unkempt with this approach and the young women (sadly) often wear skirts of short length or with “blouses” that that are, shall we say, immodest. Our parish priest likes the “no alb” approach, but before appraoching him with a request to consider albs I was wondering what the church’s position is on this issue.
Thanks!

I’m almost certain that the GIRM says something generic about the dress of Servers. It may very well be up to you Bishop to be specific.

 

[Fergal]

The dress proper to the Altar server is the Alb.

 

[cathsem]

The GIRM says on this topic:

“339. In the dioceses of the United States of America, acolytes, altar servers, lectors, and other lay ministers may wear the alb or other suitable vesture or other appropriate and dignified clothing.”

Therefore, the alb is certainly appropriate, as is the cassock/surplice (for male servers). However, the slacks/dress shirt/tie combination, in my opinion, meets the definition of “appropriate and dignified clothing.”

 

[Titus]

In my parish we have red or black cassocks with white cottas. Very classy. Much prefer them to the alb and cincture combo that is so common nowadays. I have never even seen servers in normal clothes. I am sure there’s nothing GIRM-related against it, but it does seem odd.