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

[Catholic90]

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.

Exactly. At mass this morning, our 2 regularly scheduled servers did not show up. After asking for help, one boy volunteered. I guarantee NO ONE was looking at his feet!

Of our approximatley 10 emhcs this morning, about half had flip flops or “thongs” (footwear ). Of our general parishioner populace, I would guesstimate that nearly 1/2 were wearing sandals, thongs, or flip flops of some sort (including males).

 

[THurifer2]

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.

Not around here…around here there is so much respect for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass (thank God) that if a boy worse sneakers MOST of the people in the pews would NOT like it.

Which is proof that one diocese can be right on par with what Rome Does and Another diocese does that relativistic American thing.

 

[muffinmojo]

Not around here…around here there is so much respect for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass (thank God) that if a boy worse sneakers MOST of the people in the pews would NOT like it.

Which is proof that one diocese can be right on par with what Rome Does and Another diocese does that relativistic American thing.

Or a single parish, such as mine, in a sea of madness lol.

 

[trc121805]

I recall my home parish having all the altar servers in Phentex slippers at one point.

I think I’ve been to that parish! Is it near Iroquois, ON? I was at a parish out that way about 6 years ago and that’s the one thing that stuck in my mind - the altar servers with their phentex slippers.

 

[JPUSC]

I’ve seen a priest wear white nike shoes for Mass before.

 

[THurifer2]

I’ve seen a priest wear white nike shoes for Mass before.

We used to have a “substitute” priest to cover vacations. He was a professor at an extrememly LIberal Catholic University. His homiles were always a tirade against the church and its stance on homosexuality. He wore black canvas converse High TOp basketball shoes at Mass.

At my very orothodox parish…things got really really edgy whenever he showed up.

 

[Phemie]

I think I’ve been to that parish! Is it near Iroquois, ON? I was at a parish out that way about 6 years ago and that’s the one thing that stuck in my mind - the altar servers with their phentex slippers.

No, it was a parish in northern New Brunswick. I guess the popularity of Phentex slippers knows no bounds

 

[CFI]

Altar boys have to serve Mass in bare feet. No footwear is allowed. That happens in Ranchi (India).

 

[forever_always]

I went to another parish to attend the feast day, and saw that the altar-“girl” was wearing flip-flop. This will never happen at my parish. I did send an email to the pastor about this though.

I thought it wasn’t appropriate and sent an email to the pastor about this matter. Am I too picky about this?

I dont think you are too picky.
The girls at my old parish would wear TONS of makeup. Their eyes would be completely black and their hair outrageous. They would also wear their 10 inch heels and tower over the priest (okay okay… exaggerating a little!)
Lately, the churches we have been attending only have boy alterservers. =] My brothers, who alterserve always wear dress shoes and have their hair combed. =]

 

[Lujack]

Just to be fair, if it was a one-time thing, she could have just forgotten she was even wearing sandals. I can imagine someone’s mind blanking like that, especially if they wear sandals a lot. This is coming from somebody who has forgotten his helmet to football practice, so I can sympathize with brain farts.

 

[CFI]

[edited]
at Little Flower Church in Evergreen, Louisiana, 60 years ago.
I don’t know how you consider the bare feet of altar boys. This seems to me the best way to serve Mass: “Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground” (Ex 3:5).

 

[JPUSC]

[edited]
at Little Flower Church in Evergreen, Louisiana, 60 years ago.
I don’t know how you consider the bare feet of altar boys. This seems to me the best way to serve Mass: “Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground” (Ex 3:5).

Altar boys being barefoot were common everywhere pre-Vatican II??

 

[CFI]

Altar boys being barefoot were common everywhere pre-Vatican II??

I don’t know what was the situation in America.
In India it is still the norm. It is not a matter of poverty. Altar boys have to take off their footwear and serve in bare feet. Entering in the church everybody have to take off footwear.

 

[CFI]

[edited] in Ranchi (Jharkhand State, India). The altar boys are dressing up for Mass in the sacristy. They have already taken off their footwear.

 

[mystified]

Our altar girls wear a monastic-like alb over jeans and tennies.

As for sandals, I find it hard to object to a pair of simple leather sandals. A native Californian, I have always admired the Franciscans, and have Benedictine friends, all wear sandals.
A priest I knew, now a bishop, always wore huaraches, the ubiquitous, and very comfortable, sandals of México, until he became a monsignor and an office in the chancery.

Save the flipflops for the beach.

 

[CFI]

http://xoomer.virgilio.it/missionariclarettiani/washington.jpg

I don’t understand what is the problem.

 

[Lainey63]

I went to another parish to attend the feast day, and saw that the altar-“girl” was wearing flip-flop. This will never happen at my parish. I did send an email to the pastor about this though.

I thought it wasn’t appropriate and sent an email to the pastor about this matter. Am I too picky about this?

I never notice what people are wearing on their feet unless they have on cowboy boots or spiked heels. I don’t pay attention to peoples’ fingernails either. That’s not a comment against the op-just something I realized about myself.

 

[CFI]

[edited]

Someone can me clearly explain what is the problem if an altar girl (or an altar boy) wears flip-flops where the footwear is allowed.
Our altar boys cannot wear any footwear.

 

[JPUSC]

Flip-flops have a different cultural connotation in the United States as they are casual wear not meant for formal occasions, such as the Holy Mass. It’s the equivalent of a man wearing a sports jersey or muscle shirt or a woman wearing a tank top or mini-skirt to Mass - people do it, but it’s not the most decent thing to do.

It seems that in India, the altar boys remove their footwear to respect the sanctity of the sanctuary. Wearing flip-flops has the opposite effect here.

 

[CFI]

Flip-flops have a different cultural connotation in the United States as they are casual wear not meant for formal occasions, such as the Holy Mass. It’s the equivalent of a man wearing a sports jersey or muscle shirt or a woman wearing a tank top or mini-skirt to Mass - people do it, but it’s not the most decent thing to do.

It seems that in India, the altar boys remove their footwear to respect the sanctity of the sanctuary. Wearing flip-flops has the opposite effect here.

I understand although it seems to me so strange.
Only a question. Do you see some difference between flip-flops and other sandals worn without socks?