Extra-ordinary Eucharistic Minister dress code?

[KCT]

You’ll probably find it depend on the parish.

At my home parish, there is no dress code. Some folks dress well, others not.

Where I work, the pastor initiated a dress code. Skirt and hose or nice slacks and a blazer or sweater for women. Suit and tie or dress shirt and tie for men.

People balked at first, but they played by the rules or quit.

 

[LisaA]

Definitely one of my pet peeves…shorts, flip flops, sloppy tee shirts, grubby looking sneakers. Who wants to look at some guy’s hairy toes while contemplating the Body and Blood of Christ? Thankfully most wear something at least neat and clean but the beachwear needs to stay at the beach. I just wish they would understand how this really looks disrespectful and not reverent.

Our Parish doesn’t have a policy but we have a new Priest who seems to be rather strict about other matters so this might change soon. In the past when such issues were mentioned, those approached seemed totally annoyed and we should all be grateful they come to Mass at all, much less serve…yikes…love that attitude!

Lisa

 

[Kielbasi]

Hi everyone,

I was wondering if there are Church guidelines or teachings regarding a dress code for the extra-ordinary Eucharistic ministers. At the Mass I attended today, One of the extra-ordinary Eucharistic ministers wore Bermuda shorts. Is that a little too casual, especially since she was giving out Holy Communion?

Thanks for your answer.

Its really up to the local authorities, although I would think it would be best if men wore jackets and ties to church, even if they weren’t at mass in an official capacity. Looking at pictures of baseball games and fights from the 1930’s, men wore ties and jackets even to those events. I guess it is an ultracasual age we’re in now.

 

[VanSensei]

I would hope that someone in that role dresses judiciously, which IMO includes laypeople at Mass.

 

[maryjk]

Is it possible that she wasn’t scheduled to serve, and was called up because someone else didn’t show up?
I was once called up because a scheduled reader wasn’t there; I wasn’t wearing bermuda shorts, thank goodness, but I was wearing (nice) jeans, sweater, and athletic shoes. When I went back to my pew, one of the parishioners very pointedly glared at my shoes.
And that was the last time I ever wore those to Mass!

This is important to think about.

I just had a conversation with our pastor. He told us (the group that was having the conversation) that someone came to him once to complain about what an EMHC was wearing. Sad thing was? That person wasn’t scheduled. But the person that was, never showed up and didn’t call anyone to sub for them.

So, the person wearing the jeans went up to help. He was just trying to be helpful and instead had someone complain about what he was wearing. The fact that the guy had just come from work didn’t matter, I guess.

 

[LisaA]

This is important to think about.

I just had a conversation with our pastor. He told us (the group that was having the conversation) that someone came to him once to complain about what an EMHC was wearing. Sad thing was? That person wasn’t scheduled. But the person that was, never showed up and didn’t call anyone to sub for them.

So, the person wearing the jeans went up to help. He was just trying to be helpful and instead had someone complain about what he was wearing. The fact that the guy had just come from work didn’t matter, I guess.

Well of course there are always situations where someone offers to help and may not be fully prepared. I bet that the person who complained would reconsider the comment if he/she knew the circumstances. If someone wants to rescue me from a burning building I don’t care if they have on their cool fireman’s hat

I think the OPs point and that of other posters is that when EMHCs always seem to be wearing shorts and flip flops or ratty tee shirts or jeans (as unfortunately a few of ours do) that it gives the impression the EMHCs don’t take this honor seriously or reverently. I think it’s just a manifestation of our increasingly casual culture.

Lisa

 

[ajecphotos]

The most important thing to worry about is how you wear the title, not the clothes!

Doing the ministry properly and with sincerity is more important than dress code.

 

[maryjk]

Well of course there are always situations where someone offers to help and may not be fully prepared. I bet that the person who complained would reconsider the comment if he/she knew the circumstances. If someone wants to rescue me from a burning building I don’t care if they have on their cool fireman’s hat

I think the OPs point and that of other posters is that when EMHCs always seem to be wearing shorts and flip flops or ratty tee shirts or jeans (as unfortunately a few of ours do) that it gives the impression the EMHCs don’t take this honor seriously or reverently. I think it’s just a manifestation of our increasingly casual culture.

Lisa

Sorry, to me it sounded like the OP was concerned/complaining about a particular person at a particular Mass, rather than a general “people don’t wear what they should.”

Maybe not.

 

[LisaA]

Sorry, to me it sounded like the OP was concerned/complaining about a particular person at a particular Mass, rather than a general “people don’t wear what they should.”

Maybe not.

I agree, that was the point. I noted that the OP was new, trial membership and I thought asking for generalities regarding appropriate dress for EMHCs rather than pointing to the one person. Who knows