Liturgical enhancements for Yankee Stadium papal mass revealed

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My opinion, it’s awful.

But as I’m reminded daily, I’m very often wrong.🤷
 
Personally, I don’t like the pattern on the stage itself. Reminds me of a bumblebee too much.

If they dropped the black it would look spectacular, though.
 
I think it looks a bit like a glorified baseball field: the overemphasis on the baselines and the enormous “home plate” stand out. I’d personally have placed the crucifix in the center (horizontally) of the sanctuary rather than off to one side… and I would kind of hope the altar would have the “Benedictine arrangement”: seven candles and a crucifix. Maybe even celebrated ad orientem!
 
I’m not sure how I like it. However, there some parts that look nice
and others that look bad. I have to look a little longer to really get
an opinion. But, what is bad is the fact that the whole thing should
be back to include more of the outfield. So, that more people and
parishes be included. The few seats that are in front, are those
reserved for the rich and powerful? This is a once in a life time
opportunity for the laity to be at a Papal Mass in one’s own country. The rich and powerful can get a private audience with the
Holy Father, but we common folk can’t. So give up your places of
honor. (Didn’t Jesus talk against those who take up places of
honor?)
When JP II came to Los Angeles in 1987, one of the Masses was
held in Dodger Stadium. The team owners (The O’ Malley’s)
allowed the outfield to be used for the Mass. I should know, both
my recently deceased Mom, myself and my parish were fortunate
to be on Right Field grass.
 
It seems to me that this arrangement does three things.

  1. *]It meets the guidelines for a sanctuary
    *]It honors the physical space and location
    *]It permits the best viewing possible for those attending. (I’m assuming the Mass will be shown on the screens so those in the outfield can see what is happening.)
 
PatrickJT914 said:
But, what is bad is the fact that the whole thing should
be back to include more of the outfield.
Click to expand...
They are limited by the use of the playing field. Needless to say, the groundskeepers would not be too keen on having thousands of people traipsing on the outfield lawn. Especially at the start of a new season.

Remember, the Archdioces is RENTING the stadium, they have to follow the rules set down by the Yankees.

It would also move the altar much, much further away from the main body of the stadium. Remember, it’s a baseball field, it’s designed to focus towards the infield.
The few seats that are in front, are those
reserved for the rich and powerful? .
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Those are for the priests and deacons who will be attending Mass ‘in choir’. They will also be the ones to bring the Blessed Sacrament to the people in the stands, so it’s appropriate for them to be close.
 
Brendan,
Thank you for clarification. However in regards to the
Groundkeepers they could’ve put carpeting and/or wooden flooring
on the outfield grass and used the dirt warning track around the
field as another walk way. Too bad if the start of a new baseball
season. This is a religious celebration. Again with the L.A. visit of
JP II in Dodger Stadium it was still during the baseball season in
September of 1987. I believe the Dodgers were still away, so, any
damages that happened to the field could’ve been repaired in
plenty of time. Besides hasn’t technology changed since 1987 to
revive the field in 2008? Oh, well they do things differently. Anyway
I hope all the people that are able to attend have a memorable,
prayerful,joyful,and to be proud to be Catholic experience. Just like I had.
 
PatrickJT914 said:
Brendan,
Thank you for clarification. However in regards to the
Groundkeepers they could’ve put carpeting and/or wooden flooring
on the outfield grass and used the dirt warning track around the
field as another walk way
Click to expand...
Should they COULD, but if the stadium folks don’t WANT too, there is little anyone can do about it.

I know that the Papal Mass in DC is in a similar situation.

And it isn’t just the people, it’s the weight of the platform. You can put down concrete pads on infield dirt to support the platform, and just pick them up and rake when your’re done. If you do that on the aerated soil on the outfield…well lets just say that the Pope would make in impression in more ways that one 😛

Sure you could design a substrate under the grass that will handle that, but what if that is not already in place.

.
 
Brendan said:
Those are for the priests and deacons who will be attending Mass ‘in choir’. They will also be the ones to bring the Blessed Sacrament to the people in the stands, so it’s appropriate for them to be close.
Click to expand...
Actually…at least from what I can discern from what I’ve read, those priests won’t necessairly be in the ministers of the Eucharist…for starters it would take too long to get them to the upper decks of the stadium. So communion distribution will be done by other priests in those sections.

Apparently there was also some hullabaloo regarding the number of concelebrants at the mass…at most papal masses there are a handful of concelebrants and everyone else in choir…at this one all the bishops of the US will be ‘concelebrants’…priests will be allowed to vest in choir…but interestingly enough all the priests will receive communion by intinction.
 
The Catholic University of America had students design the altar, pulpit and chair for the Washington, D.C. Mass. If the Yankee Stadium decor is not palatable, perhaps the D.C. version would be more so. Frankly, I don’t know that I would notice what anything looked like; I would be too focused on the Holy Father and the Mass.

Thank you for sharing the picture. 🙂

Kelly
 
Too much black for my taste. But then I am thinking that the Pope has someone that said ok to the design.
 
Catherine_S said:
How would you change itSeminarian?
.
Click to expand...
I would not have the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass said at a baseball stadium. The New York Archdiocese has a lovely and perfectly serviceable cathedral that could be used for Mass. They could erect video screens outside for those who can’t get inside, which would be no different than the people in the upper deck of the stadium, who will only be able to see the Pope via a video screen.

I despise these giant papal Masses. It turns the Mass into a public spectacle. And given the way Communion is distributed nowadays, the opportunity for the desecration of the Blessed Sacrament is alarming.

The idea that Mass is going to be said in a venue that most of the time houses drunkards shouting, “Hey, Giambi, you stink” in much more colorful language than that, appalls me. Yankee Stadium is not sacred ground, no matter what Bob Costas would have us believe.

Like I say. That’s my personal opinion. I’m not criticizing the Pope or anyone else. I think the general idea behind allowing so many people to attend a Papal Mass in person is lovely. It’s the execution of it that I have issues with.
 
Seminarian_X said:
I would not have the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass said at a baseball stadium. The New York Archdiocese has a lovely and perfectly serviceable cathedral that could be used for Mass. They could erect video screens outside for those who can’t get inside, which would be no different than the people in the upper deck of the stadium, who will only be able to see the Pope via a video screen.

I despise these giant papal Masses. It turns the Mass into a public spectacle. And given the way Communion is distributed nowadays, the opportunity for the desecration of the Blessed Sacrament is alarming.

The idea that Mass is going to be said in a venue that most of the time houses drunkards shouting, “Hey, Giambi, you stink” in much more colorful language than that, appalls me. Yankee Stadium is not sacred ground, no matter what Bob Costas would have us believe.

Like I say. That’s my personal opinion. I’m not criticizing the Pope or anyone else. I think the general idea behind allowing so many people to attend a Papal Mass in person is lovely. It’s the execution of it that I have issues with.
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It is a matter of crowd control. I remember the huge JPII masses (Washington Football Stadium or such). Rome also has huge outdoor masses and has plans for those so all within earshot can attend (saw one flipping through EWTN last year). This is no different.

No Cathedral anywhere has anywhere close to the space needed for anticipated crowds like that.

Masses can be said anywhere (look up in the field for the military), and Yankee Stadium is one of those improvised locations which are allowed for. The crowd will not be your typical NYY crowd and all that goes through it, it is just a building with lots of seats.

Would moving everything to Newark, NJ (e.g. Giants Stadium) work any better?
 
Well, I and my older two sons are looking forward to it.

It may also be that some of those seats down on the field are designated for those who are mobility impaired. The diocesan office here asked about mobility impairments for those who are getting tickets (and needed that information by early February), so that would’ve been my first thought.

Anyways … we’re looking forward to getting down there in April.
 
Seminarian_X said:
I would not have the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass said at a baseball stadium. The New York Archdiocese has a lovely and perfectly serviceable cathedral that could be used for Mass. They could erect video screens outside for those who can’t get inside, which would be no different than the people in the upper deck of the stadium, who will only be able to see the Pope via a video screen.

I despise these giant papal Masses. It turns the Mass into a public spectacle. And given the way Communion is distributed nowadays, the opportunity for the desecration of the Blessed Sacrament is alarming.

The idea that Mass is going to be said in a venue that most of the time houses drunkards shouting, “Hey, Giambi, you stink” in much more colorful language than that, appalls me. Yankee Stadium is not sacred ground, no matter what Bob Costas would have us believe.

Like I say. That’s my personal opinion. I’m not criticizing the Pope or anyone else. I think the general idea behind allowing so many people to attend a Papal Mass in person is lovely. It’s the execution of it that I have issues with.
Click to expand...
Hve you ever been to St Patricks? There is very little room betwen the doors of the church and 5th Avenue. It would cause a MAJOR disturbance midtown not to mention the mess it would cause for public transportation. Just not practical. The stadium is the best choice, but I would have gone with the Meadowlands and Giants stadium which is not being used at this time of year…unless it is in the process of being torn down already.
 
The Pope is saying a mass at St Patrick’s (the first pope to do so actually)…and John Allen reported that his line of thinking is similar to seminarian X’s…sacred liturgy in sacred spaces, but he also is aware of people’s desire to be at a liturgy celebrated by him. Keep in mind that under JPII, every liturgical action would have been celebrated in a HUGE space.
 
Seminarian_X said:
I would not have the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass said at a baseball stadium. The New York Archdiocese has a lovely and perfectly serviceable cathedral that could be used for Mass. They could erect video screens outside for those who can’t get inside, which would be no different than the people in the upper deck of the stadium, who will only be able to see the Pope via a video screen.

I despise these giant papal Masses. It turns the Mass into a public spectacle. And given the way Communion is distributed nowadays, the opportunity for the desecration of the Blessed Sacrament is alarming.

The idea that Mass is going to be said in a venue that most of the time houses drunkards shouting, “Hey, Giambi, you stink” in much more colorful language than that, appalls me. Yankee Stadium is not sacred ground, no matter what Bob Costas would have us believe.

Like I say. That’s my personal opinion. I’m not criticizing the Pope or anyone else. I think the general idea behind allowing so many people to attend a Papal Mass in person is lovely. It’s the execution of it that I have issues with.
Click to expand...
I’m just wondering, not attacking your opinion-

You are aware the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass has been celebrated in stadiums long before this, and not just when Pope Paul VI or JPII came to the US? The one that comes to mind is the XXVIII International Eucharistic Conference held in Chicago in 1926.
 
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