Jeans at weekday mass?

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Hello all,

I’m presently Protestant, considering converting. I want to attend mass on weekdays as well as Sundays, but my work attire is sometimes pretty casual and I’d have to go either on my way, at lunch, or after work. Is it acceptable to show up for weekday mass in jeans and a t-shirt?
 
I visit a parish downtown and everyone comes as they are, I am happy to see full pews 🙂
 
You’ll often find at weekday Masses that people are on their way to work or coming during the workday, so they’re dressed however they dress for work. It’s fine.
 
It is a beautiful witness when people begin or end their workday by going to Mass – wearing their “uniform” — whether white collar, blue collar, or no collar
 
coachdennis said:
It is a beautiful witness when people begin or end their workday by going to Mass – wearing their “uniform” — whether white collar, blue collar, or no collar
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Yes.

I have seen people in scrubs, sometimes people in their paramedic uniform, cops and people wearing steel toe boots attending weekday mass. All people from all sorts of professions attending mass, which gives added meaning to the word Catholic, meaning Universal. We Catholics surely do not come out of the same cookie cutter.
 
As long as your attire is (relatively) modest, wear whatever you’d wear for the day (so, if you’re headed to the beach, might want to put on something over that swimsuit, ya know? 😉 ).
 
I remember back in the day (I know, that makes me sound like I was born in the 1800’s) I remember people dressing up (men in suits and ladies in nice dresses), but as time evolved, so did the way people dressed. While it would be nice to have that same dress on Sunday’s again, I know I see the full spectrum of dress even on Sundays… some will just show up in shorts and a t-shirt (granted, we are not talking about the winter months in Ohio) and others will be in a suit or dress. I think as long as you are clean and being respectful, that is fine. Some people I know don’t have a lot of clothes, so I think the most important thing is people are coming to mass, not what they are wearing. Some people may disagree with that, but I don’t recall anywhere Jesus saying what we should wear to mass (I know if I’m wrong someone will correct me too 🙂 ).

I know I will wear Jeans to mass at times too (nice dress jeans normally), and just about every time I do that, the church is short an Eucharistic minister and I have to serve.

Pax,

John
 
KD8TZC said:
I remember back in the day (I know, that makes me sound like I was born in the 1800’s) I remember people dressing up (men in suits and ladies in nice dresses), but as time evolved, so did the way people dressed. While it would be nice to have that same dress on Sunday’s again, I know I see the full spectrum of dress even on Sundays… some will just show up in shorts and a t-shirt (granted, we are not talking about the winter months in Ohio) and others will be in a suit or dress. I think as long as you are clean and being respectful, that is fine. Some people I know don’t have a lot of clothes, so I think the most important thing is people are coming to mass, not what they are wearing. Some people may disagree with that, but I don’t recall anywhere Jesus saying what we should wear to mass (I know if I’m wrong someone will correct me too 🙂 ).

I know I will wear Jeans to mass at times too (nice dress jeans normally), and just about every time I do that, the church is short an Eucharistic minister and I have to serve.

Pax,

John
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The OP was asking about weekday Mass, presumably going to or on the way back from work.
 
KD8TZC said:
I remember back in the day (I know, that makes me sound like I was born in the 1800’s) I remember people dressing up (men in suits and ladies in nice dresses), but as time evolved, so did the way people dressed. While it would be nice to have that same dress on Sunday’s again, I know I see the full spectrum of dress even on Sundays… some will just show up in shorts and a t-shirt (granted, we are not talking about the winter months in Ohio) and others will be in a suit or dress. I think as long as you are clean and being respectful, that is fine. Some people I know don’t have a lot of clothes, so I think the most important thing is people are coming to mass, not what they are wearing. Some people may disagree with that, but I don’t recall anywhere Jesus saying what we should wear to mass (I know if I’m wrong someone will correct me too 🙂 ).

I know I will wear Jeans to mass at times too (nice dress jeans normally), and just about every time I do that, the church is short an Eucharistic minister and I have to serve.

Pax,

John
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The OP was asking about weekday masses.

I work at the rail yard and in and around locomotives so work attire are pants, steel toe boots, and safety goggles. On Holy days of obligation I usually go straight from work to mass so I do not change. I usually wear my work attire minus the safety goggles of course.

However on Sundays I do dress up.
 
HomeInNE said:
Hello all,

… Is it acceptable to show up for weekday mass in jeans and a t-shirt?
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A Baptist friend and I were once discussing the movie Sister Act, and I lamented it was sad that the people had to be entertained to get them into church. My friend said, “Bob, they are in church!”
 
For many years, I attended weekday Mass in my work clothes- paint covered jeans and a t-shirt!! I made many friends and wasn’t judged at all on my appearance. Now, I do wear a skirt because we are always short of cup ministers. But definitely don’t hesitate to attend daily Mass in your work clothes. You could not be dressed worse than I was for so many years. :eek:
 
Yeah, I think it’s fine. Fabric is not an impediment to the Grace of God.
 
fencersmother said:
As long as your attire is (relatively) modest, wear whatever you’d wear for the day (so, if you’re headed to the beach, might want to put on something over that swimsuit, ya know? 😉 ).
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LOL, duly noted!

Thanks, all, for your (name removed by moderator)ut. Growing up Protestant, we didn’t have opportunities for weekday worship such as mass, so the only day we went was Sunday - and that meant putting on our Sunday best. It’s been really tough for me to get used to the idea of wearing anything BUT my nicest clothes to church, even though I agree that people should come as they are - I’m not aware that Jesus gave us a dress code, either. I suppose it depends a lot on your area. When I attend Sunday mass with my boyfriend in his home parish, which is in ranch country, probably half of the congregation is in jeans - not work jeans, but still jeans. I feel out of place in slacks or a dress there. But when we attend mass in Lincoln, he’s the one that feels out of place in jeans.

Weekdays, I assumed it would be more relaxed, but I still just feel weird walking into a church in jeans and wanted to know what current Catholics thought about it. It’s been great to read your thoughts. Thank you!
 
First of all, welcome. May God continue to bless you and guide you as you search for Him.

As long as it’s clean and modest, I see nothing wrong with wearing jeans to a weekday Mass. At the early morning Mass in my parish, you see the whole range of attire - scrubs for those heading to work at clinics and hospitals, jeans and work boots for the blue collar folks, office casual and one schmuck in a coat and tie (that’s me). All of us are in our work attire. I hope that God is pleased with our presence.

If you go to the noon Mass at St. Mary’s downtown, you will see a lot of people who are dressed up - but know that those are the folks who are working in offices and they, too, are simply wearing their work clothes.
 
Glennon_P said:
First of all, welcome. May God continue to bless you and guide you as you search for Him.

As long as it’s clean and modest, I see nothing wrong with wearing jeans to a weekday Mass. At the early morning Mass in my parish, you see the whole range of attire - scrubs for those heading to work at clinics and hospitals, jeans and work boots for the blue collar folks, office casual and one schmuck in a coat and tie (that’s me). All of us are in our work attire. I hope that God is pleased with our presence.

If you go to the noon Mass at St. Mary’s downtown, you will see a lot of people who are dressed up - but know that those are the folks who are working in offices and they, too, are simply wearing their work clothes.
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Thanks, Glennon, so nice to see a fellow Lincolnite! Yes, St. Mary’s is the mass I’m interested in attending. Are there usually enough people there that I won’t stand out fumbling my way through trying to follow along with the missalette? 🙂
 
You won’t stand out at all! There is usually a very good crowd there, yet the church is big enough that you’ll have space around you. (If you really want to make sure that nobody’s around you, just sit in the front pew…) 🙂

It’s a unique mix - being across the street from the State Capitol, you will see politicians there (Lt. Governor Foley is a regular)…and being a downtown parish, you will see folks of extremely modest means. Jesus calls us all!

As far as a Missalette - if you really want to follow along, I’d advise getting there early and bookmarking the parts of the Mass. The way they are set up, they include all the Sunday and Holy Day readings, plus all of the different Eucharistic prayers. The responses for the weekdays are typically listed in the back. It can be confusing even for those of us who have been doing it for years.
 
HomeInNE said:
Hello all,

I’m presently Protestant, considering converting. I want to attend mass on weekdays as well as Sundays, but my work attire is sometimes pretty casual and I’d have to go either on my way, at lunch, or after work. Is it acceptable to show up for weekday mass in jeans and a t-shirt?
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Of course it is. The fact that you are going to Mass on your way to or from work, or during your lunchtime is an excellent witness to your faith.
 
I wear nice jeans (without holes or frays) to even Sunday mass every week. I’m far more modestly clad than the ladies in their summer skirts and dresses. 😉 I think modesty is the key, not the type of cloth that covers you. 👍
 
Weekday Masses I’ve noticed locally, people tend to be more casually dressed. As long as the outfit is modest, decent and clean, jeans are okay. I showed up to a daily Mass wearing black trousers and a hoodie but all was plain & no one cared as I had car work done earlier, and was not sure if I was going to make it to the Mass on time.

Sunday Masses, dressing up with modest yet appropriate clothing should be the norm in some way in my opinion.
 
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