He said he explained the game to his secretary, and told her to expect to see some increased traffic around the parish in the coming days and weeks as the game picks up.
"I told her that it's a great opportunity to engage them and invite them in to pray," he said.
He's also wondering how he can make his Pokéstop parish more inviting.
"Anytime we have an encounter with another human being it is an opportunity for evangelization," he said. "Cristo Rey being a Pokéstop brings people to our doors who never would have come otherwise...I'm toying with the idea of putting up a sign outside that says 'Pokéstop. Come in and say hello!' or something along those lines. Any chance we get to share the Gospel is a good thing."
Phil, who works in Catholic ministry in Denver, told CNA that he thinks the game still has the potential to be too individualistic. People need to be intentional about how they use the app, and churches need to be intentional about welcoming Pokémon "trainers", as they're called, for the game to have any real impact, he said.
Some Catholics who have used the app said it's simply a good tool to meet other people in an organic way.
Allan Phan, a seminarian at St. Charles Borromeo who is teaching summer catechesis with Totus Tuus this summer, said the game has helped his team bond with each other and with people they've encountered.
"It can be a good tool to spark a conversation and start a relationship with another human being," he told CNA.
Craig de Aragón, a Catholic who works as the assistant director for a group of radio stations in Denver, told CNA that whether at a church or elsewhere, the game is a good chance for people to connect.
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"I think Pokemon Go has the potential to connect people. Whether at churches or any random Pokéstop, it's on us Catholics to connect and reach out to others."
The Wardrobe Door, a Christian blog out of Tennessee, even has eight tips for churches that want to capitalize for the Kingdom using their Pokéstops , including putting out signs and having greeters, drinks and snacks available for whoever Poké-stops by.
Time will tell how long the game craze will last, but until then, if you see someone wandering around your parish parking lot with a phone in their face, you might want to ask them if they're hunting some Pokémon.
Mary Farrow worked as a staff writer for Catholic News Agency until 2020. She has a degree in journalism and English education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.