Churches I Saw While Traveling

[palmas85]

While traveling across country, I stopped for Mass in Ajo, Arizona, at the Church of the Immaculate Conception. The following sign was on the door. Also in stopping at several other Churches a phenomena that will undoubtedly shock many of the more progressive and minimalist among us. Almost every Church had in plain view, a Crucifix in the center of the altar.:bigyikes: Actually, I rather enjoyed having the crucifix on the altar. Oh the Church in Ajo still had the Tabernacle front and center and, ready for this? it was covered with a veil, as was the chalice. Amazing huh.

Comments, thoughts, criticisms etc?

 

[LISA_Annette]

While traveling across country, I stopped for Mass in Ajo, Arizona, at the Church of the Immaculate Conception. The following sign was on the door. Also in stopping at several other Churches a phenomena that will undoubtedly shock many of the more progressive and minimalist among us. Almost every Church had in plain view, a Crucifix in the center of the altar.:bigyikes: Actually, I rather enjoyed having the crucifix on the altar. Oh the Church in Ajo still had the Tabernacle front and center and, ready for this? it was covered with a veil, as was the chalice. Amazing huh.

Comments, thoughts, criticisms etc?

Good for them for putting those signs!

Often we need to be reminded of the Presence of Jesus in the Tabernacle—some never seemed to be impressed by it. the sign is something I saw when entering an Orthodox Church—they just would not let anybody enter with shorts----I thought a little irritably: Why don’t we have those signs too? People need to be educated about dress-code—I see too much irreverent dress from men and women

 

[the_phoenix]

Awesome Sign!

:clapping: :tiphat:

~~ the phoenix

 

[CarrieH]

Bravo! They put up a similar sign in our parish church, but only about maintaining quiet. Some were still offended by this, but I say “right on!” and would be delighted if they added the parts about no shorts, etc.

 

[Jordan_Francis]

I don’t think we should be refusing entry based on a dress code. Obviously, if someone is wearing something particulalry unmodest, then yes. Shorts, however? Shouldn’t it up to the person attending? Ideally we should all be striving to honor God in the best way that we can, for some that includes wearing nice clothing that they do have. What if someone is just walking off the street and hadn’t intended on being at Mass? What if its a street person?

 

[mystified]

In general, I am in full agreement with this stance. However, as one who has served at the altar in full summer Boy Scout uniform (short sleeves, short pants, knee socks), at the request of the priest, it would seem that there are shorts and there are shorts.
Some are modest and some most assuredly are not.

 

[paulkrause]

Thank you for this post - I think many of us could be more reverent and I think a sign such as the one shown in this thread is a good reminder. I was a sponsor this past year of a young man who was confirmed and the catechists had to drill the young people (and their sponsors) on proper attire, no chewing gum, genuflect before the tabernacle, etc. because the bishop was going to be presiding. It was the most reverent Mass I have attended at our local parish. I have also been on vacation in AZ where I have been hiking and enjoying the outdoors. If I wanted to attend Mass and they had a sign of what was expected of me I simply would go and put on a pair of pants or I would need to come back the following day prepared - I think that is very reasonable. There are certainly exceptional cases such as a homeless person (which I encountered as well in my college years at the nearby cathedral), but those can certainly be taken into account. And if we are living our Catholic faith, there is no reason why this unfortunate individual could not be wearing a decent pair of pants and a shirt.

As a someone who, in their younger adult years (not that long ago), came to Mass wearing what I would on the basketball court, I can say a sign such as this one is very appropriate, informative and necessary. I wish I would have seen one during that time, it would have been a help to me.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

I’m surprised the sign didn’t include, no sinners allowed.

Jim

 

[Lepanto]

I’m surprised the sign didn’t include, no sinners allowed.

Jim

If I walked in wearing nothing but my Speedo, would that be acceptable too?

 

[Hijikata]

I’m surprised the sign didn’t include, no sinners allowed.

Jim

I’m surprised you are disagreeing with this. I mean come on, it is not like that is very hard to follow? We are not going to the beach, we are attending a sacrifice.



Oh by the way, awsome sign. It’s sad though that we have to post such things, or even worse, people do such things.

 

[Semper_Fi_1]

While traveling across country, I stopped for Mass in Ajo, Arizona, at the Church of the Immaculate Conception. The following sign was on the door. Also in stopping at several other Churches a phenomena that will undoubtedly shock many of the more progressive and minimalist among us. Almost every Church had in plain view, a Crucifix in the center of the altar.:bigyikes: Actually, I rather enjoyed having the crucifix on the altar. Oh the Church in Ajo still had the Tabernacle front and center and, ready for this? it was covered with a veil, as was the chalice. Amazing huh.

Comments, thoughts, criticisms etc?

that’s a beautful altar and church for sure… but i’ve never seen a statue of mary in front of the altar, always on the side. at holy ghost here in denver they have a statue of mary on the left side of the altar pointing to the tabernacle. symbolism only a Catholic would understand.

 

[Cat]

We live in a city that sponsors several large soccer national tournaments every season.

During the season, due to its location, our parish receives many of these families as guests during Mass. Many times, these families rush in just as Mass is starting, and the kids (often teenagers, so they can’t change in the car like little kids could) are still wearing their soccer gear. Usually they have flip-flops on, not their cleats.

Often they are literally sweating and flushed from play. Obviously they have come straight from the soccer fields, probably left just as their game finished, or maybe even left before the game was finished. Unlike other sports, soccer fields don’t seem to have locker rooms.

What would these people think if they saw this sign on our parish door?

I purposely am impressed and humbled by their love for Jesus and the Holy Mass that is so great that they literally run into Mass from their games.

We also have homeless people walk into our Masses. Often, they are dressed…well, let’s just say, very inappropriately in very old and handed-down clothing that is…interesting to read. Should they turned away?

 

[Dauphin]

My Cathedral desperately needs a sign like this. Just before confession yesterday, there were people positively hollering at each other across the nave. A grown man did a sprint down the centre aisle. It’s as if they had absolutely no idea where they were; no notion of the sacred.

 

[Dauphin]

We live in a city that sponsors several large soccer national tournaments every season.

During the season, due to its location, our parish receives many of these families as guests during Mass. Many times, these families rush in just as Mass is starting, and the kids (often teenagers, so they can’t change in the car like little kids could) are still wearing their soccer gear. Usually they have flip-flops on, not their cleats.

Often they are literally sweating and flushed from play. Obviously they have come straight from the soccer fields, probably left just as their game finished, or maybe even left before the game was finished. Unlike other sports, soccer fields don’t seem to have locker rooms.

What would these people think if they saw this sign on our parish door?

I purposely am impressed and humbled by their love for Jesus and the Holy Mass that is so great that they literally run into Mass from their games.

We also have homeless people walk into our Masses. Often, they are dressed…well, let’s just say, very inappropriately in very old and handed-down clothing that is…interesting to read. Should they turned away?

If people are capable, they should dress well in the presence of our Lord. If this is beyond their capability, they should just do their best. No one has suggested that homeless people should be turned away. Preferably, someone would give them presentable clothes to wear.

 

[Rabbititus]

that’s a beautful altar and church for sure… but i’ve never seen a statue of mary in front of the altar, always on the side. at holy ghost here in denver they have a statue of mary on the left side of the altar pointing to the tabernacle. symbolism only a Catholic would understand.

My church puts a statue of Mary in front of the altar durring May. The statue in the picture above has a crown of flowers, so perhaps the picture was taken in May after the May Crowning at a church which does the same thing.

I like the altar too, it definately has “noble simplicity.”

 

[Lepanto]

We live in a city that sponsors several large soccer national tournaments every season.

During the season, due to its location, our parish receives many of these families as guests during Mass. Many times, these families rush in just as Mass is starting, and the kids (often teenagers, so they can’t change in the car like little kids could) are still wearing their soccer gear. Usually they have flip-flops on, not their cleats.

Often they are literally sweating and flushed from play. Obviously they have come straight from the soccer fields, probably left just as their game finished, or maybe even left before the game was finished. Unlike other sports, soccer fields don’t seem to have locker rooms.

What would these people think if they saw this sign on our parish door?

I purposely am impressed and humbled by their love for Jesus and the Holy Mass that is so great that they literally run into Mass from their games.

We also have homeless people walk into our Masses. Often, they are dressed…well, let’s just say, very inappropriately in very old and handed-down clothing that is…interesting to read. Should they turned away?

It’s great that they are coming to Mass…but what’s the message here? Which is more important…God or a game?

 

[Cavaille-Coll]

I love the sign, but they left one thing out: no visible cleavage! I’m tired of having to stare at the ceiling to avoid the chests of women who are trying to advertise. Please, ladies, don’t let your choice of fashion lead us men into mental sin!

 

[paulkrause]

hello Cat - I understand the lack of time and trying to make it to Holy Mass as it is starting (we have multiple small children) and I appreciate very much that those families are making a concerted effort to go to Mass. However, as Lepanto stated; what is more important: God or [soccer] game?

They should leave their games early, and more than five minutes so they can have be in the proper frame of mind and attire. I do not think it is unreasonable to be dressed in a way to show respect. Would a family show up at another family member’s wedding at the last minute, right before the bride is ready to walk down the aisle, wearing soccer gear, shorts, etc. and dripping sweat and say “well you know we had this soccer game…” Of course not, the soccer family would probably skip at least one game entirely (if not the entire day if need be) in order to have plenty of time to celebrate the sacrement of matrimony with their family.

I’m a huge fan of sports (just ask my wife); watching and playing. But Sunday should be off limits.

 

[love4mary]

I rarely see our priest wearing Clerical clothing. For Mass, he normally wears T-Shirt–Shorts–and raggy old sneakers.

A couple of weeks ago he made a hospital visit to my mom, wearing is “normal” Mass attire. Is it wrong for me to expect a preist, or a nun for that matter to dress according to their called vocations?

As for church appearance, we have a large crucifix in the chapel behind the altar, but its off to the right and our altar is so small that fr. has actually knocked over the chalices before. (we have room for an altar twice that size and the resources to afford it)

 

[Lucania]

We live in a city that sponsors several large soccer national tournaments every season.

During the season, due to its location, our parish receives many of these families as guests during Mass. Many times, these families rush in just as Mass is starting, and the kids (often teenagers, so they can’t change in the car like little kids could) are still wearing their soccer gear. Usually they have flip-flops on, not their cleats.

Often they are literally sweating and flushed from play. Obviously they have come straight from the soccer fields, probably left just as their game finished, or maybe even left before the game was finished. Unlike other sports, soccer fields don’t seem to have locker rooms.

What would these people think if they saw this sign on our parish door?

I purposely am impressed and humbled by their love for Jesus and the Holy Mass that is so great that they literally run into Mass from their games.

We also have homeless people walk into our Masses. Often, they are dressed…well, let’s just say, very inappropriately in very old and handed-down clothing that is…interesting to read. Should they turned away?

Are these Soccer Tournaments mentioned on a Sunday morning? If so, I would go to an earlier or later Mass. If none available, I’d go to Saturday Vigil Mass. I am picturing the scenario you have given & I think the concentration level would be really low for teens or pre-teens when they have to rush into Mass right from the Soccer field, tired & most likely sweaty & dirty. There are enough distractions as it is. That’s my opinion as a parent.