sea world , sat. evening mass and dinner

[dianemb]

Plan on spending saturday in sea waorld , going to mass and then to dinner. anyone have any suggestions as to churches close to sea world and then resturants close by?

Thanks Diane

 

[Familymoon]

Not necessarily a good answer to your question...but I read something in my book about Masses when planning our trip that I thought would be interesting to pass along.
The unofficial guide had this to say:

On Sundays at the Polynesian Resort, mass for Catholics is celebrated at 8 and 10:15am. For a schedule of services and churches in the WDW area, inquire at your hotel's front desk.

Interestingly, we've been receiving mail from Roman Catholic readers about the Mary, Queen of the Universe Shrine, located across I-4 from WDW. Here's what a Roselle Park, NJ genteman confided after going to the Shrine for a regularly scheduled mass:

This "Church" held about 2,000 people, and we were encouraged to squeeze toward the end of the row like in the amusement parks to fit more people in. After the entrance hymn, a priest greeted the crowd, then proceeded to give a history of the "little church". Next, he began suggesting how donations would follow, the first of which donors usually put a check in teh basket! Well, after 15 minutes of a not-so-Catholic mass, I got up and left. As I made my way (out), I met a priest who greeted me warmly. I told him my opinion of the commercial I just sat through and he had no comment at all. He just looked down and walked away.

Several of our Unofficial Guide reserach team are Catholic, so we sent them to Mary Queen of the Universe to determine first hand if the reports we've been receiving from readers are representative. Here's there report:

You've got to be suspicious of any church that features its gift shop on its website, and the Shrine is no exception. If overt fundraising makes you uncomfortable, this is not the place for you. Upon entering the church, guests are handed a small pamphlet best described as a "rate card". Mine said I could get a roof tile with my name on it for only $50. For $900 I could get an entire pew seat. If you though indulgences were a thing of the past, the rate card notes that donors will receive "...remembrance in daily Mass; and all the spiritual benefits accorded the family of Mary, Queen of the Universe Shrine." Donation envelopes are stored like napkins in the pews. The Shrine purports to be a Catholic church, but is not affiliated with any diocese or parish.

 

[dianemb]

i keep reading that the masses have been stopped at the poly for quite awhile now.

 

[Familymoon]

Indeed - I just saw that on another website. Sad, because this book was the 2003 edition and the website states that the Polynesian discontinued the masses as of August 2002.
I found the Orlando Diocese's website and pulled these three for you - but there are several if you want to check out the site yourself. www.orlandodiocese.org

SAINT JAMES CATHEDRAL
215 North Orange Avenue
Orlando, FL 32801
Tel: 407-422-2005
Fax: 407-422-2009
http://www.stjcc.net
Email: DSLcathedral@mpinet.net
Mail: P.O. Box 1868
Orlando 32802
Rector: Rev. John McCormick
Masses:
Sat:4 & 6 p.m


SAINT JOSEPH
1501 North Alafaya Trail
Orlando, FL 32828-5999
Tel: 407-275-0841
Administration:407-282-7784
Fax: 407-282-7348
Mail: 1501 N. Alafaya Trail
Orlando 32828-5999
Pastor: Rev. Robert W. Brown
Mass Schedule:
Sat: 6 p.m

SAINT JOHN VIANNEY
6200 S. Orange Blossom Trail
Orlando, FL 32809
Tel: 407-855-5391
Fax: 407-859-3631
Mail: 6200 S. Orange Blossom Trail
Orlando 32809-4612
Pastor: Fr. Paul J. Henry
Mass Schedule:
Sat:5 p.m.

 

[Mike]

I have attended Mass a couple of times at Mary Queen of the Universe Shrine. Yes, the requests for donations are a little more upfront and in your face than most people are used to. But you have to keep in mind that the sole mission of this shrine is to serve the tourists. There is no parish base. The Shrine's existsence relies on the financial support of the tourists. It was the priests from the Shrine that volunteered to do the Masses at the Poly. They have since had to stop due to a shortage of priests but they continue to serve the liturgical needs of the tourists at the Shrine.
I am sorry to stray off topic but I believe the Unofficial Guide is way off base here. You are asked for a donation once, you are given a pamphlet, and then the choice is yours. Just an FYI, the same thing was done at the Masses at the Poly. There is no such thing as a free lunch.
In my opinion, the Shrine is a very beautiful place to celebrate Mass. They go out of their way to make everyone feel welcomed. I don't believe it is all that close to Sea World but it is right off of I-4 so it should be an easy enough drive. There are also many restaurants in the area. We went to an Olive Garden nearby.

 

[dianemb]

THANKS FOR THE INFO. I SAW THAT DIXIE STAMPEDE WAS CLOSE BY AND THEY HAVE A CHRISTMAS SHOW SO I MIGHT TRY TAHT. THANKS AGAIN

 

[lentesta]

Hey Mike,

I helped write that review of the MQotU shrine in the Unofficial Guide. First, let me say that I incorrectly said that the Shrine wasn't part of the Orlando diocese. It is, although the person I asked at the Shrine apparently also did not know. My fault for getting that wrong.

That being said, I think that the fundraising that went on during Mass is not in line with the way fundraising is done at mainstream Catholic churches, at least with the two Catholic churches I attend regularly here in North Carolina. It wasn't just that we were asked once for a donation. The priest asked for donations twice during his opening remarks the first time I visited the Shrine. And that was after a speaker had addressed the crowd pre-Mass to ask for donations. More fundraising went on during the sermon. It was at that point I had to leave, as I felt too uncomfortable to stay. Perhaps too much of my dad, who still thinks Mass should be said in Latin, has rubbed off.

I know that the Shrine needs money to operate. But I think sometimes it can appear that that is the main message being sent out from the Shrine, and I'm not sure it should be. And, as our previous readers have noted, it makes a lot of people uncomfortable.

What I should have written as a follow-up was that folks should check with their regular church to see if other services are available in the Orlando area for them to attend, especially if the overt fundraising makes them uncomfortable.

If anyone has alternate recommendations for Mass (or any other religious service), I'll be happy to submit them for inclusion in the next Guide and on our website.

Sincerely,

Len

 

[Familymoon]

Len - thank you for that insight.

I (obviously, since I posted it) really loved getting that information from the book - I certainly would have gone and certainly would have agreed wholeheartedly.

The notion of "a free lunch" in reference to a Catholic Mass is absurd, IMO - a religious service IS free...and if there is no parish base, then perhaps they should merge with another parish in the diocese. Or, maybe they should change the way they do things and they *would* have a parish. I guarantee if my parish behaved in that way, it would *not* be my parish, yk?

I was able to find the website for the diocese in Orlando and pulled a few (posted above). If we make it to Mass on our visit, I'll be sure to update you on any reviews.

 

[lentesta]

Familymoon, thanks very much for those alternate listings. I'll check these out during out next few research trips. If you've been to any of these, do you know which churches offer "contemporary" services and which offer "traditional?"

Sincerely,

Len

 

[Mike]

Originally posted by Familymoon

The notion of "a free lunch" in reference to a Catholic Mass is absurd, IMO - a religious service IS free...

How do you figure? Who do you expect to pay for the electricity, the air conditioning, the books, the supplies, the building, the maintenance, etc. A religious service is not free. There are real world costs associated with it. Why do you feel like being associated with a parish will magically make these costs go away. The parish needs donations to survive. It is no different in this case except that the parish base changes from week to week. I really don't get this. Do you not support your Church because you feel like religious services should be free? This is a Church for the tourists thus the tourists ARE the parish.


lentesta,
We have had different experiences at the Shrine. I never experienced a speaker requesting a donation before Mass. Everytime I've attended services there the priest has addressed the congregation before the mass talking about the history of the Shrine, explaining the need for support, requesting donations, asking the people where they were from, etc. This has happened every single time. But I don't recall any mention of donations during the actual Mass.
I agree with your statement that the fundraising is not in line with what you would see at your regular Church. That is why I said that "the requests for donations are a little more upfront and in your face than most people are used to".
I respect your opinion and people should worship where they are comfortable. But to be totally honest I think the implications made by the statement "You've got to be suspicious of any church that features its gift shop on its website, and the Shrine is no exception" is off base. The word suspicious implies that there is something shaddy going on which is different than saying that it may make people uncomfortable.
Just my opinion.

Mike

 

[Mike]

lentesta,
I just thought of another thing. I am wondering why there was no warning given about the Masses that used to be held at the Poly. The same requests for donations to support the Shrine were made at the beginning of those Masses as well and the same fundraising pamphlets were distributed.

I've never read anything negative about Mass at the Polynesian. All I hear is how much people miss them. Yet when the same thing is done at the Masses at the Shrine everyone feels uncomfortable. To be honest, the last Mass I attended at the Poly (back in 2001) was the biggest "sales pitch" that I got for supporting the Shrine compared to all of the other Masses that I attended either at the Poly or the Shrine itself.

Again, just my opinion, but I don't see a difference between the two.

Thanks!

Mike

 

[vickyBaby]

You've got to be suspicious of any church that features its gift shop on its website, and the Shrine is no exception.

That is ridiculous. Better be suspicious of these Churches then since they list their giftshops on their website:

St. Patrick's National Cathedral and Collegiate Church, Dublin
http://www.stpatrickscathedral.ie/Default.htm

Washington National Cathedral, Washington DC
http://www.cathedral.org/cathedral/

The Cathedral of St. John the Divine, NYC
http://www.stjohndivine.org/

The Saint Louis Cathedral, New Orleans, LA
http://www.saintlouiscathedral.org/giftshop.htm

The Cathedral Church of St. James, Toronto
http://www.stjamescathedral.on.ca/giftshop.asp?pgid=13

The Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption, San Francisco, CA
http://www.stmarycathedralsf.org/gift.html

I could find more for you if you want, or you can do your own search and you will discover that your statement doesn't hold water.

 

[PammyK]

FYI...
Of the parishes Familymoon listed, only St. John Vianney could be considered close to WDW. The cathedral is in downtown Orlando and St. Joseph on N. Alafaya is also going to be a bit of a hike.

Mary, Queen of the Universe is a lovely church and while they do make a "pitch" for donations, I have never found it an issue personally. Maybe because my focus in attending Mass is not in critiquing the building or priest or congregation but rather in praying in community with my brothers and sisters, hearing the liturgy of the word and sharing the Eucharist. I dunno...then again, I've always found that the Unofficial Guide seems to look for the negative in things. Just MHO.

If you will be at Sea World, Mary Queen of the Universe is very close and very easy to get to. From the Sea World parking lot follow the signs to International Drive and head SOUTH on I-Drive. You'll come to a traffic light with a Walgreen on the right corner and a big sign saying "VINELAND VILLAGES" on the far right corner of the intersection. Turn right at this light onto Vineland Avenue. Proceed down Vineland, passing the Orlando Premium Outlets on the left and Dixie Stampede on the right. The shrine will be on the LEFT, just past the outlets.

There may actually be a back entrance off of I-Drive, but I'm not certain of that.

Saturday evening vigil Mass is at 6pm.

Also, the following link will provide parish information for Orlando and cities all over the country.....
Mass Times

 

[dianemb]

THANKS EVERYONE. THANK YOU PAM FOR ALL THE DIRECTION INFO.