What is the dress code for altar boy at your parish?

[Phemie]

Edited to add that I think of the shoes shown as a bridal flip flop as a thong sandal, and the plastic type ones wore to the beach or shower (or shopping! lol) as flip flops.

Yes, I’m with you. To me flip-flops are the $1.99 rubber thingies I wear in strange showers so that I won’t get athlete’s foot or plantar warts or that I slip on first thing in the morning to wear around the house. The white ones are sandals in my book and I see nothing wrong with sandals at Mass.

 

[Catholic90]

Yes, I’m with you. To me flip-flops are the $1.99 rubber thingies I wear in strange showers so that I won’t get athlete’s foot or plantar warts or that I slip on first thing in the morning to wear around the house. The white ones are sandals in my book and I see nothing wrong with sandals at Mass.

To me they are both flip flops. “Thong” has a whole nuther meaning to me (and it’s not footwear ). To me anything that has the post between the toes and no back strap is a flip flop. Usually I wear solid color ones, but I also have the flowery ones, ones dressed up with sequins, some with flowers in the middle, etc. To me they are ALL flip flops.

 

[Karl_M]

There is no dress code at my parish, but the altar servers wear white robes, so at least there’s that. And they must be at least old enough to physically do the job-and that’s *a lot *more than what can be said for other parishes I’ve visited.

 

[RLT]

In the Marines we call them ‘shower shoes’ cause that’s what they are used for. Way too informal to use even as casual wear by USMC standards. In 3rd world countries they are often the only shoes they got. I went to an orphanage in Haiti and the sister (Mother Teresa’s order) that attended us wore some worn out flip flops, in fact I think it might be standard foot gear for them.

 

[muffinmojo]

I see you are in Texas, it is the middle of summer in Texas, I can see where the flip-flops have come from.

I have also been in the Honolulu Diocese for masses and flip-flops are a common thing for alter servers to wear under their robes. I see this as just adjusting to the current weather climate. As winter comes there will be fewer flip flops.

Haha, it was 90 degrees in Seattle today, and we servers all wore black pants with dress shoes under our cassock and surplice. We had beads of sweat dripping off our noses all over, and they probably had to burn the cassocks.

It can be done. Offer it up

 

[muffinmojo]

I have read numerous threads were people are so aghast at parishioners wearing flip flops or sandals to mass, and I don’t understand why. Jesus himself wore sandals, as did his disciple and numerous saints. Why can mass-goers?

Because in His day, sandals were the normal footwear. Now, shoes are, and sandles are an informal, vacation piece of clothing. In our culture, black leather shoes are considered ‘dressy’.

In Northeastern Africa, it would be considered innapropriate if you ever saw the bottom of the server’s shoes- showing someone the bottom of your shoes there is equivalent to the finger in America. So, you would expect them to observe that.

Also, sandles are okay to wear any time except Mass(and of course funerals, dances, presidential visists, etc etc).

 

[Catholic90]

Because in His day, sandals were the normal footwear. Now, shoes are, and sandles are an informal, vacation piece of clothing. In our culture, black leather shoes are considered ‘dressy’.

In Northeastern Africa, it would be considered innapropriate if you ever saw the bottom of the server’s shoes- showing someone the bottom of your shoes there is equivalent to the finger in America. So, you would expect them to observe that.

Also, sandles are okay to wear any time except Mass(and of course funerals, dances, presidential visists, etc etc).

Well never been to Africa, and have no plans to go, so no worries there.

I gotta say I do not own one pair of black shoes, except black flip flops .
“Normal” – My definition of normal for ME is flip flops in summer and tennis shoes in winter. Not much in between for me.

I have worn flip flops to weddings, funerals, mass, dances, but not a presidential visit (although I probably would dig out my fancy sequined version for that!)

I still don’t see what the big deal is with footwear. My feeling is that if people are that strung up about footwear, they are not focused on the mass. It’s only shoes, people! Not a really big deal at all!

 

[acadian]

Our altar servers where white albs. There are no other dress code stipulations.

My own 2 children usually wear their school shoes (sneakers) when they serve. I draw the line at wearing lime green crocs. Although the [retired] priest at Mass the other day did have on a pair of khaki crocs.

I try not to focus too much on the footwear of altar servers, though one day a pair of bright yellow crocs really made that difficult!

 

[SMHW]

Also, sandles are okay to wear any time except Mass(and of course funerals, dances, presidential visists, etc etc).

Everyone knows that sandals are now approved for presidential visits.

 

[THurifer2]

I glad we don’t have this problems. The altar boys corps is only open to males and they must wear either brown or black shoes. If they show up with any other type of footwear they are not allowed to serve. IF they cannot affort to buy such shoes the deacons fund has a charge account at the shoe store one block away from the church.

 

[Donna_Mc]

At my parish they wear white robes and their school shoes
for the most part but sometimes they wear sneakers. My kids
always wore nice shoes when they were servers. I think flip
flops are too casual. Unless there is a medical problem I think
they should wear dress shoes or some kind.

 

[Thunderbird]

When I know for a fact that I’m needed to Altar Serve, I always go with khakis and a polo shirt (usually white or burgundy). As far as footwear goes, I’ve got flat feet so it’s almost always black tennis shoes…but they’re not the flashy kind you see most people wearing, just plain ol’ all black shoes.

I’ve been trying to get my church to let us use albs or robes or something for uniformity’s sake (since much of the time, one of us end up getting pressed into service last minute when we’re not necessarily prepared - it happens to me more because I live a few blocks away from the church and it’s easy to get ahold of me last minute) but they don’t really want to for some reason.

 

[muffinmojo]

I still don’t see what the big deal is with footwear. My feeling is that if people are that strung up about footwear, they are not focused on the mass. It’s only shoes, people! Not a really big deal at all!

The fact that you don’t view it as a big deal is exactly the point…

How we present ourselves to Mass is a big deal. Mass is the
biggest deal.

 

[muffinmojo]

I glad we don’t have this problems. The altar boys corps is only open to males and they must wear either brown or black shoes. If they show up with any other type of footwear they are not allowed to serve. IF they cannot affort to buy such shoes the deacons fund has a charge account at the shoe store one block away from the church.

Hehe…sounds like our priest. There’s a pair of dress shoes we keep in the sacristry for those who don’t wear the right shoes. You have to fit in them, no matter how big or small your feet are. No one ever forgets their dress shoes(or at least suitably nice normal shoes).

As to the above poster- your servers don’t even wear albs?! That is not permissable…servers are to be dressed appropriatly, either in an alb or in a cassock and surplice. The only exception is in Poland, where they have an indult that allows them to wear a surplice over nice street clothes…but I doubt you’re in poland(lol). Perhaps you should bring this up with your priest

 

[Thunderbird]

As to the above poster- your servers don’t even wear albs?! That is not permissable…servers are to be dressed appropriatly, either in an alb or in a cassock and surplice. The only exception is in Poland, where they have an indult that allows them to wear a surplice over nice street clothes…but I doubt you’re in poland(lol). Perhaps you should bring this up with your priest

Nope, no albs or even surplices. I thought about “donating” a couple of albs to the church as a big hint but I’m not sure if that would go over very well…

 

[Phemie]

As to the above poster- your servers don’t even wear albs?! That is not permissable…servers are to be dressed appropriatly, either in an alb or in a cassock and surplice. The only exception is in Poland, where they have an indult that allows them to wear a surplice over nice street clothes…but I doubt you’re in poland(lol). Perhaps you should bring this up with your priest

According to the GIRM albs or cassock & surplice are not required:

1. 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.

 

[Catholic90]

The fact that you don’t view it as a big deal is exactly the point…

How we present ourselves to Mass is a big deal. Mass is the
biggest deal.

Yes, Mass IS the biggest deal…not what we are or are not wearing on our feet!

Our feet should not be the focus…what’s going on at Mass should be the focus.

 

[Larowyn]

Yes, Mass IS the biggest deal…not what we are or are not wearing on our feet!

Our feet should not be the focus…what’s going on at Mass should be the focus.

All the same, you’ll only be embarrassing yourself if you wear sneakers or flip flops if you have a role at Mass. Altar servers are part of the Mass and people will notice if the servers dress like bums. Besides, if you can’t take Mass seriously enough to dress up a little to serve, why bother going? It screams the attitude “oh, Mass is taking time out of my exciting schedule.”

 

[muffinmojo]

According to the GIRM albs or cassock & surplice are not required:

I am 99% sure that ‘other dignified clothing’ is elsewhere defined, I believe by the individul councils of bishops. The USCCB has pushed for albs over cassocks, but I’m pretty sure they do insist that servers wear something over their street clothes.

As to the idea of buying some albs and donating them…it sounds like a great plan. It may ruffle some feathers, but it sounds like they definatly need to be ruffled. It’s not traditional/modern, it’s respect/disrespect. You can have difference preferences…but some things are just not okay.

 

[NewUlm1976_2000]

All the same, you’ll only be embarrassing yourself if you wear sneakers or flip flops if you have a role at Mass. Altar servers are part of the Mass and people will notice if the servers dress like bums. Besides, if you can’t take Mass seriously enough to dress up a little to serve, why bother going? It screams the attitude “oh, Mass is taking time out of my exciting schedule.”

Actually at most parishes you would not be embarrassing yourself. Most people at mass do not focus on the footware. Most people in the pews are happy to see the boys and girls up there doing the ministry.