P
PetoVeritas
Guest
I’m wondering if this is just a Texas thing or if this is an issue in Catholic Churches across America.
In every single church I’ve attended here or passed I’ve seen that parking is a huge inconvenience to people who aren’t attending the Mass. The parishioners park wherever they want regardless of how it might inconvenience drivers on the road or other people trying to park, or even emergency vehicles.
I’ve seen in many churches people park on the ROAD and completely shut down a lane of traffic! Apparently so that they can be closer to the sanctuary. I don’t know, but if you go around to the other side of the church there’s always plenty of open parking. People park along the fire lanes, in the road, or I’ve even seen on the grass or side of the lot instead of simply parking in a space a bit farther away.
This is not just something I’m perturbed about, in every single church I’ve attended there have been announcements at the end of Mass and numerous columns printed in the bulletin to remind parishioners to please park in appropriate spaces. There are warnings about being towed or being ticketed. My father used to work at a fire station that was directly across from the first Catholic Church I walked into and he said they had to block off their driveway because the laity was parking all along it preventing them from driving the trucks back into the garage.
Granted there are Masses which are so large that parking space can be limited. I understand that, but so are bar strips on a Saturday night and people don’t park illegally or block driveways (as the announcement in my last bulletin from my current church points out) to get to the bars.
What is the issue here? Why is it when people go to church they forget how to park and being considerate to their fellow man?
I find it kind of sad that not only do our parishioners do this, but that announcements have to constantly be made in the Mass and the bulletin about it.
On another topic too… along with this advisory are constant advisories about “Etiquette” in the Mass!! Why is it Catholics need to be told these things? Things like, “Don’t come in late” (I think for Catholics that’s personally like telling them not to eat) “Don’t leave after Communion” “Turn off your cell phones.” “Dress appropriately for the Mass” “Don’t leave during the Liturgy.” “Don’t chew gum during Mass.” “Don’t bring water to the Mass” “Don’t text or answer calls during Mass” I mean… are these really problems!?
I think it just goes along with the whole attitude Catholics have about attending the Mass starting when they park their car.
I am just curious if this is just a Texas parish problem or a countrywide problem? I know all this sounds critical but perhaps it is a bit. How can someone feel prepared to honor and celebrate God in the Mass when they don’t care where they park, what they’re wearing, while they’re sipping on water, and texting people during Mass?
I have a hard enough time trying to defend my faith without such inconsideration being on constant display.
In every single church I’ve attended here or passed I’ve seen that parking is a huge inconvenience to people who aren’t attending the Mass. The parishioners park wherever they want regardless of how it might inconvenience drivers on the road or other people trying to park, or even emergency vehicles.
I’ve seen in many churches people park on the ROAD and completely shut down a lane of traffic! Apparently so that they can be closer to the sanctuary. I don’t know, but if you go around to the other side of the church there’s always plenty of open parking. People park along the fire lanes, in the road, or I’ve even seen on the grass or side of the lot instead of simply parking in a space a bit farther away.
This is not just something I’m perturbed about, in every single church I’ve attended there have been announcements at the end of Mass and numerous columns printed in the bulletin to remind parishioners to please park in appropriate spaces. There are warnings about being towed or being ticketed. My father used to work at a fire station that was directly across from the first Catholic Church I walked into and he said they had to block off their driveway because the laity was parking all along it preventing them from driving the trucks back into the garage.
Granted there are Masses which are so large that parking space can be limited. I understand that, but so are bar strips on a Saturday night and people don’t park illegally or block driveways (as the announcement in my last bulletin from my current church points out) to get to the bars.
What is the issue here? Why is it when people go to church they forget how to park and being considerate to their fellow man?
I find it kind of sad that not only do our parishioners do this, but that announcements have to constantly be made in the Mass and the bulletin about it.
On another topic too… along with this advisory are constant advisories about “Etiquette” in the Mass!! Why is it Catholics need to be told these things? Things like, “Don’t come in late” (I think for Catholics that’s personally like telling them not to eat) “Don’t leave after Communion” “Turn off your cell phones.” “Dress appropriately for the Mass” “Don’t leave during the Liturgy.” “Don’t chew gum during Mass.” “Don’t bring water to the Mass” “Don’t text or answer calls during Mass” I mean… are these really problems!?
I think it just goes along with the whole attitude Catholics have about attending the Mass starting when they park their car.
I am just curious if this is just a Texas parish problem or a countrywide problem? I know all this sounds critical but perhaps it is a bit. How can someone feel prepared to honor and celebrate God in the Mass when they don’t care where they park, what they’re wearing, while they’re sipping on water, and texting people during Mass?
I have a hard enough time trying to defend my faith without such inconsideration being on constant display.
Generally the driving here is bad, so I guess it goes to follow that the parking would be equally as bad.
