Hospitality

HOSPITALITY MINISTRY

INTRODUCTION AND INAUGURATION – Wednesday, September 28, 2005

1. This ministry has something in common with the ministry of ushering and greeting. Just as usher-greeters welcome parishioners and visitors and bring them into the place of gathering, Hospitality Ministry is geared toward making every member of the parish feel welcomed, accepted and comfortable in the midst of other members.
2. Ministers of Hospitality help enquirers and hesitating Catholics to come in. They help these to “taste and see that the Lord is good”. Just as we cannot say how good or bad the pudding is when we have not tasted it, we cannot say much about the services at St. Henry Community unless we had truly belonged.
3. Ministers of Hospitality help to create hospitable environment to welcome new comers. They help them to really join and truly be part and parcel of the parish community by presence at our celebrations and parish events.
4. People who go to Church and remain passive onlookers soon get bored and lose interest. They do not understand what is going on and are in danger of dropping out. So it is important that Ministers of Hospitality serve as mentors to new comers, exposing to them the need and ways they can make positive contributions to the parish community through their time, talent and treasure, simply put, by true involvement.
5. Based on the lesson taught by the story in Acts of the Apostles 6:1-7, we need diversity of ministers for this ministry – Anglo, African-American, Spanish and Creole-speaking ministers.
6. The Receptionist responsible for taking the registration of new comers should publish the names of new comers to the parish monthly or bimonthly in the parish Bulletin. These are to be given recognition at each Mass.
7. If we could get them together for socials, it is desirable that some parishioners join in welcoming them into the community. It was a bit difficult when we tried it before but nothing prevents giving it another trial.

November 6, 2005 was our first Hospitality and welcoming Sunday. On that occasion we recognized and formally welcomed about 40 new members of our parish. Those of them who could make it, attended the 11:30 AM Mass after which we moved to the Parish Hall for socials. It was a memorable day. We hope that this important ministry in our parish will continue for many years to come.

Fr. Francis Akwue, C.S.Sp.
      Pastor