Wildly popular game has more people stopping outside St. Patrick’s Church
By Agnieszka Krawczynski
The B.C. Catholic

A new app that’s part scavenger hunt and part virtual reality is bringing people to the steps of St. Patrick’s Church.

Pastor Father James Hughes said since Pokemon Go became wildly popular, he’s seen more people come by his church.

“They will be standing outside the doorway of the rectory or sitting in their cars.”

Within a week of its release, 21 million people began playing Pokemon Go on iPhone and Android devices. The free game invites users to play with one foot in the real world and one in virtual reality as they catch critters, compete, and level up.

Father Hughes said he’s surprised to see the “resurrection” of Pokemon, a franchise that was first born in Japan in 1996.

“I thought we had given the last rites to Pokemon,” he laughed.

Now his rectory is a Pokestop, a place where game players can physically show up and gain virtual items for the game.

Father Hughes was walking his dog recently when he noticed two girls turn the corner near St. Patrick’s, slow their car, and stop. They didn’t get out and stared intently at their phones.

“By that look, I knew already that they were playing Pokemon Go.”

Though more people are appearing near his front door, Father Hughes isn’t sure it will actually bring them inside the church, but “It’s an opportunity,” he said.

The Diocese of Green Bay in Wisconsin has actually released tips for parishes on what it calls “Pokevangelization.”

“Take advantage of the natural community-building happening around this game,” it suggests. That could mean engaging game players in conversation, letting them know where to charge their phones, allowing them to use the WiFi or bathrooms, or putting up signs offering to take prayer requests.

“The key is to build bridges of trust and break down barriers for those who may not be regular church visitors.”

Father Hughes hopes game players feel welcome to enter St. Patrick’s and put both their feet in a place of deeper significance.

“I wondered if we should put up a Pokestop sign and invite them to come in and meet a real person, namely Jesus.”