Cathedral Welcome

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I wish Catholic churches could post this and mean it. Unfortunately, when I see people starting entire threads on the topic of somebody wearing a baseball cap at Mass, I am skeptical about the ability of Catholics to be truly welcoming.
 
Tis_Bearself said:
I wish Catholic churches could post this and mean it. Unfortunately, when I see people starting entire threads on the topic of somebody wearing a baseball cap at Mass, I am skeptical about the ability of Catholics to be truly welcoming.
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And what does this have to do with the other? We can welcome everyone, but we have expectations that the guest will take the trouble to show some respect to the host.
 
Ontheway said:
And what does this have to do with the other? We can welcome everyone, but we have expectations that the guest will take the trouble to show some respect to the host.
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Well, but if someone wanders in ‘by mistake’, as the Coventry welcome states, they may well be in a baseball cap.
 
I would love to visit this cathedral sometime. The sign is wonderful and I would be curious to know how many people come in when they see the sign that otherwise might not have.
Obviously, I am sure they don’t take a poll at the door.

Thanks for the link.

Mary.
 
ComplineSanFran said:
Well, but if someone wanders in ‘by mistake’, as the Coventry welcome states, they may well be in a baseball cap.
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In addition, if they are “having problems”, an addict, just got out of prison, haven’t been in a church for 10 years, don’t like “organized religion” or are in need of prayer, then whether or not they are conforming to some particular dress code expectation - which not all people universally associate with “showing respect” - is likely to be the last thing on their mind, and pretty unimportant in the grand scheme of why they are in the church.
 
ComplineSanFran said:
Well, but if someone wanders in ‘by mistake’, as the Coventry welcome states, they may well be in a baseball cap.
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Yes, and they may well be naked, (ok, wearing a skimpy bathing suit) or carrying a boom box blasting very loud music, or conversing loudly with their friends, or … you choose.
 
ComplineSanFran said:
Well, but if someone wanders in ‘by mistake’, as the Coventry welcome states, they may well be in a baseball cap.
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I have just returned from Italy, where I visited about two dozen churches. Italy is overrun by tourists during the summer, and every church I visited,including the Vatican, was packed with thousands of tourists from throughout the world. I would guess that the vast majority were not Catholic or Christian, and for many this would have been the first time in a church of any kind.
And, guess what. Not a single baseball cap, not a single sign of disrespect. All were quiet, respectful of the place and even though there were no church services being held, one had the feeling that those visitors knew that these places needed to be respected.

There were no signs telling them to be quiet, except during service.

The churches were open to anyone who cared to come and they did come in.
 
MaryT777 said:
I would love to visit this cathedral sometime. The sign is wonderful and I would be curious to know how many people come in when they see the sign that otherwise might not have.
Obviously, I am sure they don’t take a poll at the door.

Thanks for the link.

Mary.
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Do you know the story of Coventry Cathedral, Mary? It is in the center of England and the story goes, Germany bombed it during World War 2 for just that reason. This beautiful ancient Cathedral was destroyed.

The web site continues the story:

"The decision to rebuild the cathedral was taken the morning after its destruction. Rebuilding would not be an act of defiance, but rather a sign of faith, trust and hope for the future of the world. It was the vision of the Provost at the time, Richard Howard, which led the people of Coventry away from feelings of bitterness and hatred. This has led to the cathedral’s Ministry of Peace and Reconciliation, which has provided spiritual and practical support, in areas of conflict throughout the world.

Shortly after the destruction, the cathedral stonemason, Jock Forbes, noticed that two of the charred medieval roof timbers had fallen in the shape of a cross. He set them up in the ruins where they were later placed on an altar of rubble with the moving words ‘Father Forgive’ inscribed on the Sanctuary wall. Another cross was fashioned from three medieval nails by local priest, the Revd Arthur Wales. The Cross of Nails has become the symbol of Coventry’s ministry of reconciliation."

I remember the rebuilding and the ‘Cross of Nails’ being the symbol for a new hope.

And I love that they have their welcome be to everyone.

s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/93/e9/43/93e9430a397c672918260f8fbf08829f.jpg
 
Ontheway said:
I have just returned from Italy, where I visited about two dozen churches. Italy is overrun by tourists during the summer, and every church I visited,including the Vatican, was packed with thousands of tourists from throughout the world. I would guess that the vast majority were not Catholic or Christian, and for many this would have been the first time in a church of any kind.
And, guess what. Not a single baseball cap, not a single sign of disrespect. All were quiet, respectful of the place and even though there were no church services being held, one had the feeling that those visitors knew that these places needed to be respected.

There were no signs telling them to be quiet, except during service.

The churches were open to anyone who cared to come and they did come in.
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Thank you for this. Far far from the sheer exhibitonism of that sign; and I know Covernty cvery well, scuse typos but wish photos would be but down to size as they distort my screen so much mails are all but impossible to read orwrite etc.

We need to teach respect in holy places; maybe in a cafe this would be right but not here.
 
ComplineSan Fran,

I couldn’t use the quote feature for some reason but I wanted to say thank you for noting the history of this Cathedral. Very moving. I was in England many moons ago and never did know of it then. If I ever go back to England I will stop in for sure.

The history might explain the welcoming attitude realizing what is important in the midst of war. God is inclusive and loves everyone and I just really am drawn to their mindset of welcoming.

Mary.
 
Rosebud77 said:
Thank you for this. Far far from the sheer exhibitonism of that sign; and I know Covernty cvery well, scuse typos but wish photos would be but down to size as they distort my screen so much mails are all but impossible to read orwrite etc.
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My fault for posting the picture. I don’t know a way of sizing it so it doesn’t skew all the postings. If there is a way to post them correctly, I would love to know.
 
ComplineSanFran said:
My fault for posting the picture. I don’t know a way of sizing it so it doesn’t skew all the postings. If there is a way to post them correctly, I would love to know.
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Sokay…But often a url is better 😉

As someone who grew up in England just after the war… Cpventry rebuilding was a great victory cry for nationalistic reasons… Part of the great victory over Hitler. Which is great and right. England in those years was literally scarred and battered from bombing.

It was hailed and viewed as that. not as a holy place, or a place of worship. A showplace

“Phoenix from the ashes” was the motto printed on the booklets we all bought.

we went there as families. admiring the tapestry, the artistry, the rebuilding. This was our National Church, part of the culture that Hitler had threatened

Whole classes were taken from schools in trains and coaches .

I never remember us seeing at as a House of God as such?

I do have problems with great cathedrals etc becoming tourist attractions in these days when spirituality and respect are so sorely needed.

Nothing about this being a House of God? of respecting that? Respecting Him?

In my younger days they were building 2 great cathedrals in Liverpool, one at each end of Hope Street appropriately enough. A neo-Gothic Anglican and the ultra modern RC that got affectionately nicknamed…“the Mersey funnel”

The Anglican had a separate chapel set aside for Prayer, well signed.

Are we not to also be Pray-ers. ? To teach respect for the House of God?
 
That is really cool. I love it!

It’s a shame that the old cathedral was bombed out.
 
Ontheway said:
I have just returned from Italy, where I visited about two dozen churches. Italy is overrun by tourists during the summer, and every church I visited,including the Vatican, was packed with thousands of tourists from throughout the world. I would guess that the vast majority were not Catholic or Christian, and for many this would have been the first time in a church of any kind.
And, guess what. Not a single baseball cap, not a single sign of disrespect. All were quiet, respectful of the place and even though there were no church services being held, one had the feeling that those visitors knew that these places needed to be respected.

There were no signs telling them to be quiet, except during service.

The churches were open to anyone who cared to come and they did come in.
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Yeah, I’ve taken extended trips to Italy too and many other countries in Europe where I visited and prayed in many churches and cathedrals, usually more than one per day. Expecting people to be quiet and not disrupt any service going on is not the same as fussing about petty clothing stuff and you know it. And a ball cap is hardly the same thing as a bikini and a boom box.

I’m pretty sure I saw tourists or people off the street wearing ball caps, shorts, heavy metal t shirts. Maybe sometimes I did myself. I can’t remember because I wasn’t on this board then and didn’t realize it would be an issue to some such as you. I was focusing on things like praying, being in the presence of God, looking at the art.

In several US cities I have seen people in the cathedrals who are not making noise or bothering anyone but they clearly came into the church in order to have a place to sit down or in some cases to sleep. I have seen them sleeping in the back or in a side Chapel where they hope to not be seen. I was touched, I thought of the Lord watching over them as they took a nap they must really need. Some of them weren’t dressed too great either.

I think you get my point. God bless.
 
ctb95 said:
That is really cool. I love it!

It’s a shame that the old cathedral was bombed out.
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Most of our cities were devastated by air raids. St Paul’s in London escaped damage amazingly; See how God loves our Church of England… Coventry rescued and rebuilt…Liverpool fine new gothic style edifice.

It is sad though when our churches and cathedrals become more and yet less than houses of Prayer. We need the spirituality as well as the social. More so these days

OK; lovely trip down memory lane for me… Thank you!,

England immediately after the war was a childhood like no other; food was strictly rationed into the 50s. We all kept hens and grew vegetables.
 
It may be of interest that the present Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, was for a time head of the reconciliation centre at Coventry Cathedral, and it was while in that role that he risked his life in some very dangerous situations trying to reconcile warring groups in West Africa.
 
Rosebud77 said:
Most of our cities were devastated by air raids. St Paul’s in London escaped damage amazingly; See how God loves our Church of England… Coventry rescued and rebuilt…Liverpool fine new gothic style edifice.

It is sad though when our churches and cathedrals become more and yet less than houses of Prayer. We need the spirituality as well as the social. More so these days

OK; lovely trip down memory lane for me… Thank you!,

England immediately after the war was a childhood like no other; food was strictly rationed into the 50s. We all kept hens and grew vegetables.
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… and played amid the wreckage of our neighbours’ houses. Different days. We had so little, and we felt so confident.
 
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