Selling Cookies in the Church entrance?

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Michael038

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I was rather shocked this past Sunday when I entered the Church doors and to the left there was a table with cookies for sale to benefit the youth group. Also people were munching on the cookies as well. This is in the closed entry section before you actually get into the main Church entry but do you think that this is ok? I just always remember Jesus storming through with his whip and putting a stop to those people selling items in the Church. I dont like it. Do I need to lighten up? What do you think?

Peace
 
Personally, I’ve bought girl scout cookies after Mass. However, I cringe at the thought of people potentially breaking their Communion fast by munching on cookies before Mass!

~~ the phoenix
 
the phoenix:
Personally, I’ve bought girl scout cookies after Mass. However, I cringe at the thought of people potentially breaking their Communion fast by munching on cookies before Mass!

~~ the phoenix
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I agree (bolded font). At my parish there have been people selling things (like this past Sunday it was a cookbook from the Ladies Guild) but it was done after Mass, not before. Sometimes its bookmarks to benefit the restoration of the Stations of the Cross in our church, sometimes its other things, but like I said, its always done after Mass never before. To see people breaking the fast though, that is just totally unacceptable. :tsktsk:
 
Same exact thoughts I had (re: before church). Was this possibly right AFTER another mass? We’ve had fish frys, spaghetti dinners, tickets to conferences, popcorn, homemade tamales, wreaths, breakfasts, passbooks, on and on. All are usually sold on the sidewalk leading in to the church (technically after mass, but if you are there for the next one then you walk on by and know you can stop after mass, too). Inside the church we have a small Catholic store with crosses, bibles, etc. I think I’ve seen an official decision on this saying it is fine in the narthex, but not in the sanctuary.
 
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Forest-Pine:
I think I’ve seen an official decision on this saying it is fine in the narthex, but not in the sanctuary.
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This is how ours are done too, never in the sanctuary. We actually have glass doors that seperate the two areas.

P.S. - Forest-Pine, I ❤️ homemade tamales! Too bad they’re hard to come by here in Arkansas. I miss living in Texas, people would actually come to my door selling them, it was great!
 
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Forest-Pine:
Same exact thoughts I had (re: before church). Was this possibly right AFTER another mass? We’ve had fish frys, spaghetti dinners, tickets to conferences, popcorn, homemade tamales, wreaths, breakfasts, passbooks, on and on. All are usually sold on the sidewalk leading in to the church (technically after mass, but if you are there for the next one then you walk on by and know you can stop after mass, too). Inside the church we have a small Catholic store with crosses, bibles, etc. I think I’ve seen an official decision on this saying it is fine in the narthex, but not in the sanctuary.
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This is not on the sidewalk. This is in the Church entrance. This was aproximetly 15-20 minutes before the Noon Mass. I’m sure there was still some carryover from the 10:30 Mass.
 
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Michael038:
I was rather shocked this past Sunday when I entered the Church doors and to the left there was a table with cookies for sale to benefit the youth group. Also people were munching on the cookies as well. This is in the closed entry section before you actually get into the main Church entry but do you think that this is ok? I just always remember Jesus storming through with his whip and putting a stop to those people selling items in the Church. I dont like it. Do I need to lighten up? What do you think?

Peace
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Maybe you need to lighten up? 😃 Just kidding, but really I don’t see what is so wrong with this. The cookies are being sold to benefit the youth group, *and *they’re being sold outside of the main church (I’ve heard this described as a narthex or vestibule). As for people munching on the cookies, perhaps they’d already been to mass? Make sure, before accusing.

As to Jesus putting his whip to the moneychangers, I always thought this was because they were dishonest, not specifically because they were selling animals for sacrifice in the Temple.
 
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Michael038:
I was rather shocked this past Sunday when I entered the Church doors and to the left there was a table with cookies for sale to benefit the youth group. Also people were munching on the cookies as well. This is in the closed entry section before you actually get into the main Church entry but do you think that this is ok? I just always remember Jesus storming through with his whip and putting a stop to those people selling items in the Church. I dont like it. Do I need to lighten up? What do you think?

Peace
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I believe that it does matter who and what. When the local Cellular providers and new car dealers start setting up tables then we need to start saying aomething. When selling food there should be a large sign reminding people of the REQUIRED 1 hour fast before Holy Communion or limit the sale to AFTER Mass to 1/2 hour before the next.
 
The thing that annoys me about this type of stuff occurs at my church. I personally don’t care if there are people outside the church selling appropriate fundraising items or asking for donations.

We have a place that sells religious goods. It is located in the back of the church behind glass doors from the main church. That would be ok if it was technically outside the main church, but the area is considered the main church because every Mass they make an announcement that basically says, that if your child acts up feel free to take them to this area and they still can participate in the Mass since they can both see and hear the Mass there. Also this area is where people that can’t find seats stand during Mass. They don’t open the store during Mass but sometimes people that run the area will be back there answering questions and stuff.

So either this area is part of the main church and shouldn’t have a store in it, or it isn’t can’t be both. Personally if they are telling people to take their kids to this area, I think that means this is part of the church and should not have a store there. They could easily move this store to the lower level.
 
Br. Rich SFO:
When selling food there should be a large sign reminding people of the REQUIRED 1 hour fast before Holy Communion or limit the sale to AFTER Mass to 1/2 hour before the next.
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I agree. They need to really spell it out for people too- they just don’t get it, or they do things based solely on what their parents taught them or on what they learned in CCD. You pretty much have to say word-for-word “Unless you are sick or old and must eat within an hour of receiving communion- which is highly unlikely, except maybe for a diabetic- you must fast for one hour before receiving communion- if you break this fast, you must not receive communion- doing so would be a sacrilige- i.e. a mortal sin.”
 
I don’t see anything wrong with selling cookies after or before Mass as long as the proceeds go to a good cause. We sell Irish soda bread after and before each Mass on St. Patty’s Day.

I can’t imagine anyone buying a box of cookies before Mass and then opening it up and eating a cookie out of it. Most Catholics know about the one hour fast before receiving the Holy Eucharist.
 
Michael I don’t like but…was it raining windy cold. That was my first thought second was I hope they won’t sold individually without wrappers I would hatefor people to spill crumbs all over and /or around the Church. No need to invite rodents in.
 
hilde the dog:
Michael I don’t like but…was it raining windy cold. That was my first thought second was I hope they won’t sold individually without wrappers I would hatefor people to spill crumbs all over and /or around the Church. No need to invite rodents in.
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no it was a warm sunny day. They were wrapped as well.
M
 
I’ve seen a lot of churches with church festivals going on, with cookie, hotdog and other food sales in close proximity of the church and before and during masses.

I can’t see any problem, many of the festival goers may not even be Catholic. For those who are , and intend to both hear the mass and receive communion, they have to be assumed to be responsible parties who know the fasting rules of the church.

I can’t see any other assumption being made, putting up signs and that, I haven’t seen it, and just don’t think its necessary.
 
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m134e5:
I agree. They need to really spell it out for people too- they just don’t get it, or they do things based solely on what their parents taught them or on what they learned in CCD. You pretty much have to say word-for-word “Unless you are sick or old and must eat within an hour of receiving communion- which is highly unlikely, except maybe for a diabetic- you must fast for one hour before receiving communion- if you break this fast, you must not receive communion- doing so would be a sacrilige- i.e. a mortal sin.”
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Are you people the Communion police? I beleive your judgemental statements here are cause for thought!! We are all responsible for our own actions, and will be held accountable. Heres the words I pick out of this…Unless, sick, old, except maybe…I’m assuming you can see inside these people and know what’s going on with them. Judge not lest you be judged. And yes I fast, and yes I know…
 
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maryj:
Are you people the Communion police? I beleive your judgemental statements here are cause for thought!! We are all responsible for our own actions, and will be held accountable. Heres the words I pick out of this…Unless, sick, old, except maybe…I’m assuming you can see inside these people and know what’s going on with them. Judge not lest you be judged. And yes I fast, and yes I know…
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Isn’t much fun being correct/right if no one else knows it. Some folks get warm fuzzies this way. Then there is the old game described in a book called “Games People Play” published back in the 60’s. One of my favorites was “Ain’t it Awful?” I have observed it being played at work, at Church, in Volunteer Groups, and even in Supermarket aisles. We have a few Liturgy Police in our parish. Keeps those careless priests on their toes. 👍
 
Back in the late 60’s we had people on both ends of the spectrum calling our pastor to complain about one thing or another. It got so bad that he announced one Sunday that he was resigning to go elsewhere in the diocese. A few phone calls were made to the members of our K of C Council and by Sunday nihjt we had a meeting in the gym and formed a Parish Council. Back then it could be a decision making body with the pastor holding a veto power in which case the matter went to the Bishop. In the years that followed the pastor never had to exercise his veto. The whiners were referred to the Council and usually went away unhappy, but their complaints were heard and sometimes discussed and even acted on. Took a lot of heat off the pastor. Since those heady days Parish Councils have become advisory but still effective at diffusing problems and offering good support and ideas to our priests.

As far as EMHCs we have a deacon who trains them and part of the training is doctrinal and philosopical in nature. He has had several candidates who didn’t believe in the real presence. They were not installed into this ministry.
 
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