www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Parish Life & Evangelization Look Here: mall chapel and coffehouse / bookstore

�Christ is Risen!�

I agree! Jesus is the reason for the season. Always.



�It looks like this thread has been put off track again by Mr Hash's pet peeve regarding Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny.�

I am sorry if my reply to the mall chapel topic sounded like it was off the topic, but I am familiar with similar ministries inside and outside the Catholic Church at various malls and shopping centers. Discussions with priests have led always to the competition that mall religion has on people, namely hyper-consumerism (we live to buy and not buy to live � similar with the sin of gluttony), materialism, worship of the self. Americans are much aware that when Christian holidays come around, all the perversions of religion show their head. Mall shoppers have seen Santa (not Saint Nick) during Christmas (or as the store signs would read: X-mas), a Bunny during Easter, weird masks and macabre costumes during All Hallows Eve, hearts and cards and candy during the day that Catholics remember Saint Valentinus, etc. Mall religion is shallow and empty calories. I welcome Christian groups to set up shop in the markets of Athens to invite people to faith in Christ Jesus. I once helped my Roman Catholic friends in Kentucky set up a Catholic chapel at a mall plaza. It brought in many new members who were first surprised to find them there. If my pet peeve seems to bring consternation to some it is because it was Catholics who reminded me of faith in Jesus Christ. I can�t understand why anyone would be so upset with someone, especially one who has faith in Christ Jesus, who rejects the religion promoted by an a-religious culture? Please don�t take offense. I hope I didn�t offend anything in your religion. I only find it refreshing to see Catholics and Orthodox thinking outside the box. One orthodox bishop even blesses motor-cyclists at various rallies before they go on trips. Not even the bikers have beards like these bishops! Thinking outside the box. Bringing the faith in Jesus to those who might be on the fringes of religion in the most unlikely places. It all fits in. And why not? Haven�t mall shoppers had enough of those derivatives from Christianity however corrupted they are from their original event and meaning? Jesus is the reason for just about every season.

When the Catholic Catechism of the Catholic Church appeared in bookstores, it was first promoted in an obscure place in one bookstore. when it began to sell like hot-cakes, it found a place before the store's entrance! I hope the same for this current Pope's five-volume series Jesus books.



�Mr Hash, do consider this a formal warning that you are to refrain from bringing these topics into any thread in this section hence forth. Failure to comply with this warning will have the administrators taking action.�

Please forgive me, Father. I didn�t expect such a serious reprimand for only being excited for what I consider a creative evangelical means to counter popular a-religious American culture. I was shocked to read your angry and stern reply to my post. But in my defense, and please don�t get angry with me and suspend my posting privileges, but in my defense; what exactly are you so offended about in my post? I would hate to think that Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny are a part of your faith. As a priest I would imagine that such corrupted symbols of once-Christian celebrations would be an annual headache to Catholic and Orthodox clergy. At the mall bookstores every Christmas and Easter season, the academic a-religion professors of Scripture make another anti-Catholic or anti-Gospel pronouncement for public consumption, especially in the media. Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene. Jesus had a dynasty and children. Jesus never rose from the tomb; his family gravesite has been found. The Catholic Church has kept secrets from its people even under the penalty of death if such �truths� leaked out. You see, the malls of America cater to every opportunity to discredit the ancient churches. Even their Gospels (and ours) are not the �real� ones since the �real� ones were kept hidden or secret. As a Christian I cannot but help notice the front cart or shelves in mall bookstores carrying the latest publication that makes Chick publications look childish.

I am serious here, Father Anthony. My post early on was not intended to be flippant or taunting.

I enjoyed an article by Jaya Paily who posted this on Syriac-Orthodox Christian Digest page: �Jesus Christ vs. the Easter Bunny� Jaya wrote: �Now that several centuries have passed, Easter is no longer recognized as resurrection Sunday. Easter has now evolved into a more materialistic holiday with various chocolates and egg hunts involved. Easter is completely commercialized everywhere, from television advertisements and newspapers to children�s books. There is a rare chance that children are learning about Christ�s resurrection in a short, twenty-page book. It is more likely that children are learning to paint eggs, make Easter baskets, and learn about the Easter bunny. It is frightening to know that our youth are more familiar with commercials and advertisements than religious activities. If our youth are raised in an environment with no religion, they will never learn to appreciate the true meaning of Easter, or any religious activity for that matter. Our youth would no longer understand why Christian adults practice resurrection Sunday.�

What caught my attention, Father Anthony, was the words �more materialistic holiday� Materialism runs on all eight cylinders at the malls. Chairs are hard to find to sit down on (made uncomfortable to promote continued shopping). If Jesus died and was risen from the dead (as you say in your greeting), chocolates are on sale. If Jesus became incarnate and was born of a virgin, a two-for-one sale on twin mattresses. If some Christians remember their dead, scarface mask in at half price. The day of Saint Valentinus? Well, I will refrain from this one. You see, Father Anthony, faith in the one true God has always had competition with foreign gods (God himself even made it the FIRST Commandment not to worship them). Orthodox faith has always fought tooth and nail with imposters, the Gnostics, the materialistic hedonists. The Bible is mostly about God�s invitation to love and serve only him. Unfortunately, most of man�s doings is drifting from the faith and honest religion. The Jewish feast of the Dedication serves as a reminder how those can infiltrate into our temples and lives and set up false gods. Sometimes, it takes a hammer to topple over the false gods.

I have to disagree that my post above is off topic. I hope you can understand and give me a chance to dialogue. There are many related topics to mall materialism and mall chapels. I feel threatened that a priest can issue such severe warnings when I am only responding to what I consider a wonderful and very creative Evangelical tool. It is heart-warming to see that faith in Christ Jesus is finally taking on the challenge of a-religious culture.

If you really think what I just wrote is blasphemous, I will stop posting on this particular forum. Personally, I don�t think what the Catholics and Orthodox are doing (setting up mall chapels) is blasphemous. It is an answer. I welcome you to tell me different.

I also appreciate you trying to keep posts on topic. But in all topics of discussion, brainstorms and related ideas pop up. Some feel inclined to contribute. And yes, some topics do get de-railed. You are a fine administrator. I know some corporations that need someone of your talent.


Eddie Hashinsky

Suggestion: Can't these mall chapels have a Saint Nicholas visit and pictures taken with treats for the kids? Now THERE is a way to instill confusion into mall religion: Saint Nicholas and no Santa Claus. i like.

Ed,

I think that your posts come across as a bit annoying because they often seem to focus on incidental side issues rather then the main issue.

The problem here is not Santa or the Easter Bunny. There is nothing wrong with either and neither is evil in itself. When I was in kindergarten my teacher read us �Uncle Wiggly� stories. The stories contained an introduction to basic morality. All in all they were good and used for good. Think about the meaning of �When I was a child�� in 1 Cor 13. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the fun and good will offered by Santa and the Easter Bunny and the make believe world of storytelling for children (even in malls!).

One could discuss how childish ways are for children, how adult ways are for adults, and how it is necessary to discern the two, and how both have their proper context.

But I think that even that would pretty much miss the point.

The larger point is that - for some - Santa and the Bunny are filling a void, a spiritual hunger. We should not waste time condemning what fills the void. We should, rather, respect that such things as Santa and the Bunny can be properly used in society (mostly for children but fun and good will overall). To constantly condemn what fills the void closes hearts and minds to what should fill the void. The better way is to discuss how to lead the society to understand the void it feels is really a spiritual hunger, and that this spiritual hunger can only be filled by Jesus Christ.

Admin John

On topic: When I popped in on one of my husband's business trips I was thrilled to find a chapel in a mall. There were a fair number of people there. More than I'd have expected. And there were several Masses on the schedule - I recall at least three or four a day. It was run by Francsicans.

A priest I know (a fellow marathoner) pointed out that one of life's great joys is praying while on the run. He's right. I always appreciated his "just do it" attitude toward prayer. So seeing a chapel in a mall was great - an unexpected benefit to my search for a good latte. I didn't go to a mall expecting a church. Of course, I showed up just as a Mass was starting. So I went. It was great. And as an added benefit, the place next door made the greatest lattes. As I told my husband: "life IS good." :-)

Truly a gift from God! What a wonderful blessing

Maybe we should start a national/international apostolate.
Air Port Ministries, INC.
We could have online donations and credit cards accepted here at the terminals.
Stephanos I

You're late to the party but I'm sure these people would be willing to make room for you
http://members.iinet.net.au/~holloway1/LIST.html