When was the last time you got the honor to help vest a seminarian?

So one of the things that we've had to come to grips with as budding seminarians is that we're going to have to get our own vestments. We were informed of this in a chapel meeting a couple of weeks ago. Since then we've been doing a bunch of research on vestments (identifying what the heck they really are--example: That long black one actually has a real name. Seriously, it does), companies that make them, and being blown away at the prices. OK, so some of us were more amazed than others about the prices. But seriously. OUT OF CONTROL.

With that in mind, I'm offering a one-time experience for you all to step up to the plate (offering plate if that makes you feel better about it) to help contribute to the vestments that I'll be wearing for the next x years...or until they totally wear out.

Here's what we need...that long black thing that goes under that flowing white one that makes you look angelic. It is called a CASSOCK and they run between $180--$350 depending on the style, who makes them etc. Peep this picture. Dude looks total dork, but hey, I'm sure I'll look just the same amount of "priest-nerd". BTW, I have no idea who this guy is, but he's the one on wikipedia, so he's got THAT going for him.




The next item that goes over the top of the Cassock is called the Surplice. Now, these come in a WIDE variety of styles, from really ornate to really simple. Basically they are flowey white and make you look like angelic or "billowey" as one of our seminarians put it. Of course, he's 6'11" and 325 so just about ANYTHING he puts on makes him look "billowey". These are slightly less expensive--again depending on what style you get. I'm going for plain flowey. Nothing showy--they can come with a whole bunch of lace insets which, I think, are a bit much. Check out the picture. The guy is wearing one with the lacey frou-frou insets--and he's using incense. To me, you BETTER be using incense if you have this kind of surplice...I've never been big on smells and bells so plain white is fine by me. Approximate cost: $85--$145.


The next thing I'll need is called an alb. It is the white version of the black cassock (for the most part). Again, there are a number of options, styles, etc. that you can have with this vestment....and again, I'm going with straight forward plain white alb. The approximate cost of this vestment is between $85--$135. I've gone back to my trusty friend from the cassock picture for the shot of the alb. It also has to have a cincture--the rope belt thing. Those are cheap though, only about $25.

SO, if anyone wants to help out with the $$ of course we'd all be thankful at the Hanisian household...and the kids can have new shoes for winter and mittens too. :) Yes, I just went there.