BINGO - *Rant* Lady of Loretto Church in Hometown

I wanted to express my extreme disgust regarding a recent experience at the Hometown, "Lady of Loretto" Saturday Bingo.  

To begin, it is advertised on their website and throughout the neighborhood that Bingo is held on Saturdays with the doors opening at 4pm and games starting at 6:30pm.  Two weeks ago the parish priest - "Father Tom" decided it was "too cold" and cancelled it.  Lucky enough the word got around to some - however not to all.  Many people showed up because as we know NOTHING keeps Bingo players away ... only to find a note on the door 'Bingo Cancelled'.  

Now enter last weekend, Saturday, Feb 1, 2014. We were supposed to get a decent amount of snow, which we did, and there were rumors that the priest would 'cancel' bingo due to the snow.  People called the parish throughout the day on Saturday and were told the same thing:  "Call back at 3:00pm for a FINAL DECISION whether or not Bingo will be cancelled.  At 3:00pm - I called and spoke to a gentlemen that told me the decision was made and Bingo was ON.  I then SPECIFICALLY asked him:  "Well if there isnt that great of a turn out they will not cancel it will they?  Because if that is the case - I will go to another Bingo - he assured me that would NOT happen, once it's said to be ON - it's ON.  Period! 

 I picked up my aunt, drove through the snow and cold, got there at 4:00pm when the doors open like many others and we began our fun evening of getting our cards all taped together, setting up our luck charms, and so on and so forth.  There was approximately 35 - 40 people that did the exact same thing - came out in the snow to enjoy a night of Bingo.  

Then it happened - around 6:15pm - a man named Matt that works as a one of the Bingo personnel decided to make an announcement that "Bingo is being cancelled due to poor turnout and since there is poor turnout we could hold our cards until next time OR get a refund.  I immediately said, "Why not take a vote?  We are ALL here and ALL ready to play and we COULD have went somewhere else but NO we came HERE." - He proceeded that there would be NO VOTE - BINGO CANCELLED.  

Needless to say I got every last penny I spent back and stated I would NEVER return to their bingo hall again, that was absolutely ridiculous to cancel and it was horrible that we all wasted 2 hours sitting there, setting up, and waiting - just to have our whole night ruined.  Not to mention TOO LATE to attend another bingo hall because they start at 6:30pm a well.  

On Monday, I called the parish to express my absolute disgust with what took place and was directed to the priest - Father Tom.  He was EXTREMELY rude and said, "Yes I heard all about you, Bingo was cancelled because we didnt have enough people to make money and we will not have it to lose money" - I then told him that I would NEVER be attending and he said "That's fine - GOODBYE" - ...

HARDLY the ettiquette for a priest, and hardly the 'truth' about 'making money'.  Sometimes things arent always about "making money".  The kitchen was FULLY STOCKED with food (hot food), the players were there, cards were sold, plenty of pull tabs sold (which is a huge money maker in bingo halls) - and we were thrown out.  

I've worked with Bingo before, I know how many cards are sold and know there is ALWAYS money to be made.  Prizes may have to be cut and the church may not make "as much" - however - there are WAY more weekends in the year to worry about 'making money'.  This was an example of this particular institution NOT caring about the people - ONLY THEMSELVES.  Sounds very selfish to me.  

The entire situation was handled WRONG and RUDELY - not only by the staff but also the priest and as I stated to them, and now I'm stating on the internet - I WILL NOT EVER RETURN THERE.  

Thanks for listening !