To the priest, what is worn at Mass is more than just clothing — it is a holy garment. Each layer is put on with intention and a prayer. Vestments can reflect not only the liturgical season but also the priest’s culture, specific spirituality, or charism.
Most of us might not think that a priest is concerned with something “beautiful” to wear for Mass. However, given the eagerness priests have shown in response to custom vestments made by Maria Diplan, thoughts about this are changing.
Oratorian Father Johnni do Bonfim Silva, parochial vicar at St. Philip Neri Church in Fort Mill, shared his perspective: “Vestments should always reflect the dignity of what is being celebrated. Custom-made vestments, especially those made at home, are of utmost importance because they are made to my size, and I feel they are something special to wear at holy Mass. Whenever I put on my vestments, I remember the person who made them and pray for her. For liturgy, [it is] always the best.”
### The Cost and Craft of Custom Vestments
Having “the best” and appropriately sized vestments for liturgies isn’t necessarily inexpensive. According to Maria, fabrics can cost up to $300 a yard, and only a few companies worldwide still possess the machinery needed to produce certain fabrics in colors specific to the liturgical season.
Maria has personally searched and traveled for the right fabrics, trims, and ribbons. Her home studio currently holds materials sourced from New York, England, Germany, and Italy. For embroidery, she partners with a company in Brazil that customizes logos and designs in size, color, and shape to meet the specific needs of each vestment.
In the end, the result is an extraordinary piece of artistic clothing — rich in symbols and colors, made with prayer, love, and a feeling of “unworthiness,” Maria says — created in the service of something sacred.
### Maria’s Journey: From the Dominican Republic to St. Philip Neri
Maria’s story begins in the Dominican Republic, where she was born into a family with 10 children. After her mother experienced complications following childbirth, she asked her sister Enoelia to adopt baby Maria. Enoelia accepted, and Maria’s mother passed shortly after.
Enoelia raised Maria in the Catholic faith and in a ministry of sewing vestments for parish priests. Maria began learning the art of sewing, initially crafting each stitch of embroidery by hand.
Lessons in the craft have continued throughout her life. While sewing priests’ vestments might seem straightforward, the customization required for each piece is complex. There is no fashion design school dedicated to clerical attire.
Now 87, Enoelia taught Maria much of what she knows, but Maria has had to learn most skills through experience.
### Collaboration and Feedback
As a parishioner of St. Philip Neri, Maria has enjoyed open and honest communication with priests about what works and what does not — including preferences about types of snaps versus Velcro, fit, fabrics used, and more.
Precision and attention to detail are paramount to Maria, and this dedication is why priests have begun spreading the word about her custom-made vestments.
Father Anthony Onoko, pastor at St. John the Baptist Church in Perryopolis, Pennsylvania, sought Maria’s work after hearing about her craftsmanship.
He commented, “A custom piece carries intention. It is crafted prayerfully, thoughtfully, and with a sense of purpose that ready-made vestments simply cannot match. It becomes not just something to wear, but something that accompanies me in worship and a visible expression of sacred service to God. It reminds me of the dignity of the work I do and the responsibility I carry whenever I stand before God’s people.”
### Combining Tradition and Technology
Although embroidery is no longer hand-stitched, modern technology allows for computer software to tailor designs to embroidery machinery.
Maria’s partner company in Brazil has a vast library of designs, but she continually collaborates with designers to customize logos, emblems, crosses, and religious symbols.
For example, when creating stoles for the Rock Hill Oratory, Maria sent the Oratorian logo to the Brazilian company, which made a digital embroidery file. Now, the priests of the Oratory have stoles embroidered with their community’s logo.
Fabrics, ribbons, trims, and embroidery designs come from various parts of the world, incorporating an individual priest’s ethnicity, culture, and spirituality. This makes custom vestments highly appealing, with each piece serving as a testament to the universality of the Catholic Church.
### Looking Ahead
Maria has named her company MD Ecclesiastics and hopes to launch a website soon to expand her services across the diocese.
For now, her motto remains simple: “Whatever God wants.” She understands that to grow, more people would need to be trained and hired to continue this ministry.
Still, Maria remains humble and circumspect about her work. She said she feels “unworthy” because creating and sewing a garment worn by a priest — who celebrates holy Mass and acts *in persona Christi* — is like clothing Christ himself.
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### Glossary of Common Vestments and Altar Linens
**For the Clergy:**
– **Deacon’s Stole:** A long, scarf-like vestment symbolizing the deacon’s role as servant or messenger of the Church. It is worn over the left shoulder and fastened at the waist.
– **Chasuble:** The poncho-like outer vestment worn by a bishop or priest during Mass or ceremonies. The deacon’s chasuble has stitched sleeves.
– **Alb:** A white vestment worn by anyone serving during Mass or ceremonies, tied at the waist with a cincture (cord).
**For the Altar:**
– **Corporal:** A square linen cloth on which the chalice and paten are placed during Mass.
– **Purificator:** A small rectangular cloth used to cleanse the chalice and paten after Communion.
– **Pall:** A stiffened square of linen used to cover the chalice.
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Learn more about the sacred art of vestment making and its significance in the liturgy by following MD Ecclesiastics’ journey as they expand their ministry of beautiful and meaningful liturgical garments.
https://themiscellany.org/creating-sacred-vestments-prayer-precision-intention-and-love