Pokémon Go has come to the Arlington Diocese and it’s
here to stay – for now. The mobile app phenomenon hit gamers’
smartphones July 6 and players have in turn hit the road in
droves in search for PokéStops, gyms and the elusive
Pokémon characters they are trying to catch. Some
players are finding themselves in places they would not
normally go – including church.
In the past week, a number of churches in the diocese have
seen an increase in traffic because unbeknownst to them there
is a gym or Pokémon spot near their location. The
pastor and church employees have no warning that their church
has one of these spots until the players come knocking.
Kevin Flynn, who works at the front desk at St. Charles
Borromeo Church in Arlington, noticed a large group of young
men in their 20s hanging out in the parking lot with their
phones in the air.
“My daughter told me later that the chapel was listed as a
gym,” said Flynn. A gym is a place where Pokémon
players can come and train or do battle with other players.
Some players prefer to visit the gyms in the late evening
when less people are playing. At least four vehicles were
seen at St. Leo Church in Fairfax around 9 p.m. engaged in a
battle for the gym located in the parish’s prayer garden.
Many parishes are trying to figure out how to reach out to
gamers visiting the parish, while also standing firm about
not trespassing overnight or catching Pokémon in the
church. Seminarian John Paul Heisler described a group of
players who came into Church of the Nativity in Burke during
the 11 a.m. Mass on Sunday in search of a Pokémon.
According to Heisler, players were oblivious to the
sacredness of what was happening.
Father Patrick L. Posey, pastor of St. James Church in Falls
Church, sent out a letter informing parishioners about the
six PokéStops on the church property. He welcomed
players to visit the church but asked them to be respectful.
He also encouraged players to celebrate the feast day of St.
James with them at their ice cream social Monday, July 25.
“Hopefully, once a person finds the Pokémon, they will
enter the church and find Christ. Just to be clear, I do not
believe there is anything wrong with playing Pokémon
Go. However, I do think people are happy to search for
Pokémon and reluctant to search for Christ because He
calls us to give more of ourselves.”
Thankfully there are Pokémon players out there that
know how to be respectful and are using it the way it was
intended – to get players out and experience the world.
Kathryn Gliot, a 19-year-old parishioner at St. James, has
been using the game on her early morning runs.
“I played Pokémon when I was a kid so it’s cool that
it is getting people who are gamers outside,” said Gliot. She
encourages new players to come up with a route so they are
familiar with traffic patterns and don’t get lost or injured.
She added, “Don’t look at your phone while crossing the
street.”
While she enjoys the game she recognizes that some players
take Pokémon Go too far.
“You don’t have to go inside the church to catch the
Pokémon,” said Gliot. “I think there should be a way
for churches to complain about it or have [gyms] moved to a
different location.”
There is now a way for pastors to request the removal of gyms
and PokeStops on their campuses. Submit a request at the link
below.
Buyers can be reached at [email protected]
