Whenever we travel, we always attend Mass at the local Church. It is interesting to note the differences in the services.
In the USA, the dress code in Church has gotten much more casual over the years. I personally very rarely wear shorts or jeans to Church.
I was wondering how the locals on AC dress for Mass on Sunday.
The bottom line is,are shorts acceptable, or should I pack a pair of long pants to wear to Church?

Mark

Good morning Mark. Only been there once but I don't think long pants are at all necessary. The locals dress in there Sunday best. Nice shorts work well with nice light shirt. Take knee pads. no knellers and hard tile floor. Just about everyone kneels on the floor for a much longer time than we do here. Go enjoy, and pray for us all. Danny

In Europe or Mexico, it is not acceptable to wear shortsto Mass. In the United States Virgin Islands it is. Are you sure it will be OK in Belize? We also go to a Catholic Church everywhere we go.

Our daughter was married in the San Pedro Catholic Church last June. Shorts are fine, just wear shoes. If so inclined slipping Father Jim or Father Paul a few extra US$ after Mass to help continue fixing up the windows in the sanctuary would be great. Be prepared for a long Mass, but interesting.

have been to the church in town ,for three happy occasions ,a wedding,renewing of vows and baptismal ,and every one had nice tropical light clothes on and some had pants on , some had shorts. most where locals, some gringos like me ..and all where welcomed .

island Mom,
I was raised on St. Croix and I would say that by and large (probably due to stiff colonial traditions) The VI are indeed much more formal about things than here, many wore suits to church in STX. Everyone posting here is right, dress appropriately & casually.
Chris
Casa Picasso

Dear Chris,
We had the great pleasure of attending Mass at the Catholic Church on the island of St. John, USVI, this past April. The new church was in the process of being built. There were no windows and no air conditioning in the building. We returned that hot day to St. John after exploring Tortola since early that morning. We had on shorts at Mass on a Saturday evening at 5 pm. We were so happy that we were not kicked out. We would have been if we were in Europe. I am usually happier to be at Mass in a long, flowing skirt with my guys in long pants. Thanks for the good advise.

Thanks for the responses.
Island Mom reminds me of the time we went to Mass in St Thomas during a cruise ship stop. I still remember the women in their bright white dresses and the traditional church music set to a caribbean beat.

I agree with Danny (however skip the kneelers - the kneeling didn't bother me and at my church they don't kneel at all!) I wore (short) shorts, a button down shirt and Tevas and didn't feel any bad vibes from the locals. There is no a/c so the downtown church is quite warm. God understands that we gringos may not be used to that warm environment.

My wife & I were in the RC Church in downtown last August, I was one of many people wearing shorts and a t-shirt. The mass runs pretty long, but on the plus side there was a friendly puppy that strolled in and took a nap in our pew.

Bottom line- Be comfortable, be casual and be respectful. No worries.

Don't you just love the way the dogs attend church on AC?

The last time we were in Aruba, the dogs wandered through the church there too.

Mark

Does anyone know what the mass times are for Sundays?

For men, shorts are ok if they are more or less in the dressy shorts category - the boarder who said button-down/or botton-front shirt got it right. Add to that, clean and not so wrinkled. Women - definitely a dress, or longer pants.