Altar server shoulder capes — also called pellegrinas or short pelerines — are short liturgical garments worn over the surplice. They cover the shoulders and upper arms, leave the hands free, and add the liturgical color of the day to the server's outfit. Our one-sided capes come in four colors — red, white, violet and green — with a gold ribbon trim, and each costs $44.
Altar Server Shoulder Capes: What They Are
A shoulder cape is a short, sleeveless garment that sits over the shoulders and falls to about the elbow. In the sacristy it is usually called a pellegrina (Italian) or a pelerine (French and English). It is worn on top of the surplice, so the white linen still shows at the neck and below the cape, and it is removed after Mass with the rest of the vestments.
The cape is not a substitute for the surplice or the alb. It is an optional layer that parishes use to distinguish servers, to add color on solemn occasions, and to give the server's outfit a finished, uniform look. In parishes that follow the traditional Roman rite it is common; in others it appears mainly at Benediction, processions and major feasts.
Pellegrina, Pelerine, or Mozzetta? The Names Explained
The three words are often confused because they describe similar short capes. A pellegrina is open in front and is the version most often worn by altar servers. A pelerine is the same garment under its French name; English catalogs use both spellings, and you will also see "pellerine". A mozzetta is buttoned across the chest and is part of clerical dress for bishops, canons and the Pope — it is not normally worn by altar servers.
A cope is a different garment altogether: a full-length processional cloak with a hood, worn by priests and deacons. If you are looking for the short server cape, you want a pellegrina or pelerine, not a cope.
Read more in our guides: what is a pellegrina and pellegrina vs mozzetta.
One-Sided and Double-Sided Capes
A one-sided cape has a single finished face and one color. It is the classic sacristy choice when a parish already owns a set of colors and wants one cape per season. A double-sided (reversible) cape has two colors and can be turned inside out, which is practical for servers who assist at both Sunday Mass and weekday feasts.
We stock one-sided capes in red, white, violet and green. A double-sided green-and-red cloak is available separately, and a red skirt-and-cape set is available in our altar server skirts category. If your parish needs a reversible cape in another color combination, contact us before ordering.
The Four Liturgical Colors We Stock
Color is the quickest way to tell which season the Church is celebrating. Our capes follow the same color system as the priest's vestments:
- Red — Pentecost, Good Friday, Palm Sunday, feasts of martyrs and the Holy Spirit.
- White — Christmas, Easter, feasts of the Lord and Our Lady, baptisms, weddings and funerals.
- Violet — Advent and Lent, except for the rose Sundays of Gaudete and Laetare.
- Green — Ordinary Time, the long stretch of the year between the major seasons.
We currently stock these four colors. Gold and light blue capes are not part of our current range; if you need a color for a particular feast, write to us and we will tell you what can be made.
How to Wear a Shoulder Cape Over a Surplice
- Put on the cassock first and close it properly.
- Put the surplice over the cassock and settle the sleeves.
- Slip the cape over the head and let it fall evenly over the shoulders.
- Check that the front opening sits straight and that the gold trim is not twisted.
- Fasten or adjust the neck if your model has a closure, then check the length in a mirror.
The cape should cover the shoulders and the top of the arms without pulling at the neck. If it rides up or sits unevenly, the size or the cut is wrong — not the way it was put on.
Size and Fit
Our capes are made in a universal size designed to sit at about elbow length on most servers. Because a cape is worn over a surplice, it needs enough room across the shoulders to fall cleanly without stretching the trim. If you are ordering for a very small server or for an adult, measure from the nape of the neck to the elbow and contact us before ordering; we will confirm whether the universal size will work.
Fabric, Trim, and Construction
The capes are made from a lightweight, airy fabric that keeps the server comfortable during a long Mass or a procession. Each one is finished with a gold ribbon trim that frames the front opening and the hem. They are made in Poland, in Lublewo Gdańskie, and the four colors are cut and finished to the same pattern so a parish can build a matching set.
Caring for an Altar Server Cape
Always check the care label first. As a general rule, wash the cape on a gentle, cool cycle, do not bleach it, and iron it on low heat on the reverse side to protect the gold trim. Store it hung on a padded hanger or folded flat in a vestment drawer; do not press it under heavy items. If the cape is used near incense, brush off resin crumbs before storing — resin can stain the fabric permanently if it is ironed in.
Who Wears Shoulder Capes?
Shoulder capes are worn by altar servers, lectors, acolytes and, in some parishes, by choir members. They are especially common in traditional parishes and communities attached to the Extraordinary Form, where the server's outfit follows the older Roman custom. They also appear at Benediction, Corpus Christi processions, Forty Hours devotions and patronal feasts. A parish may own one cape per server in the colors it uses most often.
Shoulder Capes Through the Liturgical Year
A parish that owns red, white, violet and green capes can cover the whole year. Red returns at Pentecost and on martyrs' feasts; white covers Christmas, Easter and the Marian solemnities; violet marks Advent and Lent; green carries Ordinary Time. Because the cape is worn over a white surplice, the color reads clearly from the nave and matches the priest's chasuble without any extra coordination.
Buying Guide: What to Check Before You Order
- Color set — buy the colors your parish actually uses; four covers the year.
- One-sided or reversible — one-sided is simpler and cheaper; reversible saves space.
- Trim — gold ribbon is the traditional finish and matches gold vestments.
- Size — universal size suits most servers; measure for very small or adult servers.
- Fabric — lightweight fabric is easier to wear through a long liturgy.
- Price — our one-sided capes are $44 each.
Frequently Asked Questions About Altar Server Capes
What Are Those Shoulder Capes Called?
They are called pellegrinas or pelerines. "Pellegrina" is the Italian name; "pelerine" is the French and English form. A mozzetta is a similar cape, but it is buttoned across the chest and is worn by clergy rather than altar servers.
What Are Altar Server Robes Called?
The main garments are the cassock (the long robe), the surplice (the white linen garment worn over it), the alb (a full-length white tunic), and the cincture (the cord belt). A shoulder cape or pellegrina is an optional layer worn over the surplice.
Do Altar Servers Wear Capes?
Some parishes do, especially those that follow the traditional Roman rite or want a uniform look for solemn occasions. It is optional: a server can serve in cassock and surplice without a cape. The cape is added for color, coverage and ceremony.
What Is the Difference Between a Pellegrina and a Mozzetta?
A pellegrina is open in front and is worn by altar servers over the surplice. A mozzetta is buttoned across the chest and belongs to clerical dress — it is worn by bishops, canons and the Pope. The two look similar from a distance but have different cuts and different wearers.
Are Altar Server Capes One-Sided or Double-Sided?
Both exist. One-sided capes have a single color and a single finished face; double-sided or reversible capes have two colors and can be turned inside out. Our current capes are one-sided, and a separate double-sided green-and-red cloak is available in the shop.
What Colors Do Altar Server Capes Come In?
Liturgical colors follow the Church's calendar: red, white, violet and green are the core set, with gold and light blue used for particular feasts. We stock red, white, violet and green. Gold and light blue are not part of our current range.
How Do You Measure an Altar Server Cape?
Measure from the nape of the neck to the elbow to check the drop, and across the shoulders to check the width. Our capes are a universal size; for a very small server or an adult, send us the measurements before ordering and we will confirm the fit.
Can Girls Wear Altar Server Capes?
Yes, where the parish permits female altar servers. The cape is not gender-specific; it is sized universally and worn over the same cassock and surplice. Many parishes that have female servers keep a matching set of capes in the sacristy.
How Do You Clean an Altar Server Cape?
Follow the care label. In general, wash on a gentle cool cycle, avoid bleach, and iron on low heat on the reverse side so the gold trim is not flattened or scorched. Store the cape hung or folded flat, away from damp and heavy objects.
Why Do Traditional Parishes Use Shoulder Capes?
They continue the older Roman custom of dressing servers in a distinct, uniform garment, and they add the liturgical color of the day over the white surplice. The cape also gives a clean, finished look for processions and solemn Masses.
What Should an Altar Server Wear Under a Cape?
A cassock and a surplice, or an alb where the parish uses one. The cape goes on top of the white garment, not directly over street clothes. The cassock should be closed and the surplice settled before the cape is put on.
How Much Does an Altar Server Cape Cost?
Our one-sided altar server shoulder capes are $44 each in all four colors. A double-sided green-and-red cloak is $55, and a red skirt-and-cape set is $82. Shipping is free on orders over $100.
Explore the rest of the sacristy: altar server vestments, altar server skirts, altar server cassocks, clergy surplices and clergy albs.
