What Should Altar Servers Wear?

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I’m curious about what you feel altar servers should wear under their albs or cassocks/surplices that is visible?

I would settle for dark slacks, dark dress shoes and dark socks. For females I am sure a dark skirt would be appropriate too. Ideally it would be BLACK slacks/skirts, BLACK dress shoes and BLACK socks, but I would settle for “dark.”

It really does bother me to see flashy sneakers, shower sandals, ripped jeans and yes, even swimming trunks (you can see them through the alb) worn by servers. I wouldn’t want to go overboard, but there does seem to be a need for some sort of dress code.
 
Spiller said:
I’m curious about what you feel altar servers should wear under their albs or cassocks/surplices that is visible?

I would settle for dark slacks, dark dress shoes and dark socks. For females I am sure a dark skirt would be appropriate too. Ideally it would be BLACK slacks/skirts, BLACK dress shoes and BLACK socks, but I would settle for “dark.”

It really does bother me to see flashy sneakers, shower sandals, ripped jeans and yes, even swimming trunks (you can see them through the alb) worn by servers. I wouldn’t want to go overboard, but there does seem to be a need for some sort of dress code.
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When my pastor stops wearing his sweats and moccasins under his alb, I’ll worry about what the altar servers wear under their robes.
 
Phemie said:
When my pastor stops wearing his sweats and moccasins under his alb, I’ll worry about what the altar servers wear under their robes.
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You are inferring that because your pastor dresses inappropriately for Mass that one should not care about how servers dress? Nice try with a rhetorical device and all but it’s still rubbish.

A dress code for servers might actually help some priests to realize that it does matter how we dress for Mass – particularly if we are the priestly celebrant.
 
We always have to wear dress clothes. So nice pants, shoes, and dark socks. If you aren’t dressed appropriately, then you can’t serve.
matt
 
At my school, run by Benedictine Monks, the Abbot has expressly asked all serving to wear long pants and dress shoes under their cassocks. Sometimes, I wear another permitted combination–knee socks and shorts with dress shoes, although some people might not prefer this. I also like to wear a dress shirt underneath my cassock, something about not having sleeves and cuffs underneath feels weird i think.

Personal preferences aside, I think there is a great onus on those who coordinate parish altar serving programs to ensure that a proper respect for serving at the sacred liturgy is held by those serving. I’ve witnessed everything from tennis shoes and flip flops to even gum chewing from servers in my parish, where catechesis is bad and server formation even worse.

-ACEGC
 
marty1818 said:
We always have to wear dress clothes. So nice pants, shoes, and dark socks. If you aren’t dressed appropriately, then you can’t serve.
matt
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How is it “enforced”? At one of my parishes it is just an unwritten rule. All servers wear dark shoes and dark dress pants. Peer pressure/ espirit de corps is enough.

At my other parish, the person who coordinates the servers freaked-out when someone mentioned a dress code – as if some kids could not afford dress shoes/slacks.
 
I considered making a donation to my parish: three pairs of black dress shoes in a variety of sizes for the altar servers. I’m irritated at how many servers wear tattered jeans and sneakers.
 
Spiller said:
You are inferring that because your pastor dresses inappropriately for Mass that one should not care about how servers dress? Nice try with a rhetorical device and all but it’s still rubbish.

A dress code for servers might actually help some priests to realize that it does matter how we dress for Mass – particularly if we are the priestly celebrant.
Click to expand...
I’ve given up caring what the altar servers wear simply because in my parish nobody cares about anything – oh, sorry, make that about 10 people care about things and that doesn’t include the pastor.
  • When the altar servers and EMHCs don’t get to ‘help themselves’ at Communion because the priest hands around the ciborium like a candy dish;
  • when the priests genuflect at the Consecration;
  • when no priest sits out the distribution of Communion and watches an EMHC do it;
  • when the priest stops making the EMHCs purify the vessels and return the ciborium to the Tabernacle;
then I’ll start caring and worrying about the things that are less important.

What I can tell you is that if I even brought up the sneakers/jeans things the parish have a fit and tell me that I have no right to impose my standards on kids who just want to serve and that “really, I’m sure God doesn’t care”. That’s the standard answer whenever it’s pointed out that things aren’t being done as they should be. After 5 years I’ve simply given up.
 
It doesn’t matter all that much to me.

Our altar servers wear brown albs and are supposed to wear sandals (as the Franciscans do) unless the weather is too cold.
 
Hi there here in the uk (in my parish anyway) servers can wear what they want under their albs, father does prefer it that boys and girls wear some sort of trousers rather then shorts or skirts but they are not made to so this.
x
 
I used to try to enforce dress pants and dress shoes when my own sons were serving. Then they started growing. Currently, my oldest has one pair of dress pants that fit, but no dress shoes. His school sneakers are black and in decent shape, so he serves in that for now. What I buy now won’t fit in a couple of months, and is not urgent that he have a pair of dress shoes.

As far as I know there is not a dress code for servers at our parish, and I am glad that both of my boys willingly serve.
 
Phemie said:
I’ve given up caring what the altar servers wear simply because in my parish nobody cares about anything – oh, sorry, make that about 10 people care about things and that doesn’t include the pastor.
  • When the altar servers and EMHCs don’t get to ‘help themselves’ at Communion because the priest hands around the ciborium like a candy dish;
  • when the priests genuflect at the Consecration;
  • when no priest sits out the distribution of Communion and watches an EMHC do it;
  • when the priest stops making the EMHCs purify the vessels and return the ciborium to the Tabernacle;
then** I’ll start caring and worrying about the things that are less important.
**
What I can tell you is that if I even brought up the sneakers/jeans things the parish have a fit and tell me that I have no right to impose my standards on kids who just want to serve and that “really, I’m sure God doesn’t care”. That’s the standard answer whenever it’s pointed out that things aren’t being done as they should be. After 5 years I’ve simply given up.
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Your comments are non-starters. No matter how bad things are at your parish, it’s no excuse to discount lessor problems. The lessor problems still exist. I really have no idea why you commented on this thread, except maybe that you are frustrated.
 
edward_george said:
At my school, run by Benedictine Monks, the Abbot has expressly asked all serving to wear long pants and dress shoes under their cassocks. Sometimes, I wear another permitted combination–knee socks and shorts with dress shoes, although some people might not prefer this. I also like to wear a dress shirt underneath my cassock, something about not having sleeves **and cuffs underneath feels weird i think. **

Personal preferences aside, I think there is a great onus on those who coordinate parish altar serving programs to ensure that a proper respect for serving at the sacred liturgy is held by those serving. I’ve witnessed everything from tennis shoes and flip flops to even gum chewing from servers in my parish, where catechesis is bad and server formation even worse.

-ACEGC
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Just make sure your collar is not showing…
 
SMHW said:
It doesn’t matter all that much to me.

Our altar servers wear brown albs and are supposed to wear sandals (as the Franciscans do) unless the weather is too cold.
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Brown albs? Sandals? Are they servers or imitators of the Bl. Junipero Serra? That does not seem appropriate.
 
Our adult servers, male and female, wear Sunday Best. They do not wear albs.

The kiddo servers can wear whatever under the albs that doesn’t show because somebody, somewhere along the line bought the heavy-duty albs that look as if they are destined to wear forever. Nuthin’ can be seen through them. They do wear dark trousers and dress shoes- no sandals, no flip-flops.

I remember at Old Parish, one kid wore a swim suit, the kind to wear on a jetski or for water skiing, and beach shoes. ::shudder::
 
japhy said:
I considered making a donation to my parish: three pairs of black dress shoes in a variety of sizes for the altar servers. I’m irritated at how many servers wear tattered jeans and sneakers.
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A friend and I offered to donate a rack and 16 pairs of black penny loafers that could be worn by either males or females. The lady in charge of servers freaked out – although she had no answer – we had her. We were pastorless at the time or else we would have implemented it. Sad to say there is at least a 50/50 chance that someone upset with the solution would simply have stolen the rack and the shoes – that’s MY reality.

With our new pastor, things have improved. Two kids used to dress as if they were going surfing afterwards. They no longer serve, thanks be to God.

I think when it comes down to it, the pastor needs to set a dress code for ALL lay ministers and just take his lumps in the beginning. After six months it will be a non-issue.
 
OutinChgoburbs said:
Our adult servers, male and female, wear Sunday Best. They do not wear albs.

The kiddo servers can wear whatever under the albs that doesn’t show because somebody, somewhere along the line bought the heavy-duty albs that look as if they are destined to wear forever. Nuthin’ can be seen through them. They do wear dark trousers and dress shoes- no sandals, no flip-flops.

I remember at Old Parish, one kid wore a swim suit, the kind to wear on a jetski or for water skiing, and beach shoes. ::shudder::
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How is that enforced?
 
marty1818 said:
We always have to wear dress clothes. So nice pants, shoes, and dark socks. If you aren’t dressed appropriately, then you can’t serve.
matt
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Has anyone ever been told to change or go sit in the pews?
 
SMHW said:
Actually, Bl. Junipero Serra is precisely the Franciscan who they are supposed to model themselves after.
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I think the Bl. Serra would rather they follow Church tradition and vest in albs or cassock and cotta instead of costumes. A friar’s habit is his everyday clothes – he covers it with an alb if he is a priest and is celebrating the Mass.

I’m sure someone thought it looked cute though.
 
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