That happened here some years ago. The choir went on strike so there was no one to play. I didn’t learn the back story until later, so I didn’t know why we were singing a cappella. I thought it was lovely. But the pastor capitulated & the choir was back the next week singing what they wanted to - electric guitar & all.
You complained about the alter server’s shoes?
Ditto
What did the shoes look like? I can imagine if they were sports trainers or something obviously out of place how this could be a distraction. Male altar servers are meant to wear shoes that are preferably black though some would get away with brown. I think that to have said something about this would have taken great trust.
Are meant by whom?What did the shoes look like? I can imagine if they were sports trainers or something obviously out of place how this could be a distraction. Male altar servers are meant to wear shoes that are preferably black though some would get away with brown. I think that to have said something about this would have taken great trust.
In some parishes in my area, several of them wear sneakers that look like they are about to fall off, and several of the boys look like they didn’t even bother to brush their hair.What did the shoes look like? I can imagine if they were sports trainers or something obviously out of place how this could be a distraction. Male altar servers are meant to wear shoes that are preferably black though some would get away with brown. I think that to have said something about this would have taken great trust.
The onus is on the parents to make their children look tidy if the children don’t bother. I would have said parenting has to come into this somewhere. If the altar server is an adult then maybe something could be said.In some parishes in my area, several of them wear sneakers that look like they are about to fall off, and several of the boys look like they didn’t even bother to brush their hair.
A lot of the girls are wearing sandals, etc.
In both cases (boy or girl) it often looks like they didn’t bother to take a shower before coming to Mass, and that they just rolled out of the bed
Granted: I’m NOT talking about all of them, nor am I necessarily talking about a majority; but rather a very memorable minority.
Personally, I would rather have fewer altar servers, using the kids who want to do it often, vs using kids who are doing it only because mom & dad are making them.
If you remember your altar server, then they are either extraordinarily good or extraordinarily bad.
very true.
If you altar serve and are not wearing respectful attire in appropriate response to the surroundings that one is in, then it is likely, in the parish or wherever the Service is held, that if altar serving is becoming a regular occurrence, that one will eventually be asked to wear shoes that are black. Or at least dark shoes. Somewhere near that mark.
It’s difficult for me to decipher what you’re trying to say here. it may be an answer to some question, but it’s not an answer to the questions I asked. Is that an actual rule, or just your preference?
Yes, that is the point: rules. Not lack of them. Or disrespect shown. Exactly what this whole thread is about.
Surely you must be kidding.What did the shoes look like? I can imagine if they were sports trainers or something obviously out of place how this could be a distraction. Male altar servers are meant to wear shoes that are preferably black though some would get away with brown. I think that to have said something about this would have taken great trust.
How many children have jobs? I think they wear what their parents provide, and I think the priests are grateful that they WANT to serve.
You seem to be purposely avoiding the question. I’ll take that as confirmation that my theory is correct, and you just want everyone to do what you want them to.
That’s true for many of our altar servers. They wear what they’ve got - in the winter, boots, in the summer, tennis shoes. Most don’t have dress shoes - they would only be worn on the Sundays they serve. One time a server wore bright red puffy-looking shoes; I was amused. But apparently others weren’t - he never wore them again. I don’t see anything wrong with sandals - I wear sandals to church! And, as we so often pointed out when we were teens back in the dark ages ('60s), Jesus wore sandals.
As much as it pains me to use anything from the USCCB, they are at least laying down some pretty sensible ground rules, in this area:
Considering how many of the adults are wearing shorts, beer-advertising t-shirts, and flip-flops (& that’s both men & women), then yeah - that’s asking a bit much of the kids.