3 minute read
The Hospitality Ministry: Fostering a Warm and Welcoming Community at All Times
For many Catholics, it can be a daunting prospect to visit a new parish. The church feels unfamiliar, the music and parish habits might be different from their home parish, and sometimes nobody makes an effort to smile and welcome you to that parish community. So, the Hospitality Ministry at Our Lady of the Assumption is aiming to make sure that we are a welcoming community for all that visit and participate in parish life.
This parish ministry, led by Victoria Yniguez, takes inspiration from Matthew 25:35, “For I was a stranger, you welcomed me.” The ministry aims to make our parish hospitality offerings more well-rounded, increase our efforts in welcoming people to the parish for Sunday Masses, and support existing parish ministries in their own hospitality efforts.
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“We are a parish community that wants to make hospitality to all a priority,” says Fr. Eduino Silveira. “When we develop this sense of belonging through hospitality, we are able to build the foundations for our parish community.”
As the ministry’s mission statement puts forth, “The Hospitality Ministry welcomes new members to the parish family, continues to embrace longstanding members, and seeks ways to encourage disaffiliated members to return to the parish and the Catholic faith.”
Some of the Hospitality Ministry’s previous efforts have involved creating small groups for social dinners throughout the year. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the ministry also shared prayer materials like rosaries with the community to help encourage the faith in such a time of uncertainty and despair.
This ministry hopes to make more connections with parishioners and walk alongside them through the ups and downs of life, as well as to celebrate anniversaries, births, and milestones, and also offer comfort in times of sickness, despair, and death. In many ways, the members hope to be an additional avenue of support to other ministries like Martha and Mary, the Bereavement Ministry, and others. They also want to invite individuals and families to welcome parishioners and visitors to Masses on Sunday mornings.
“Looking out for our neighbors, truly being brothers and sisters to them, is something we are called to by the nature of our faith,” Fr. Eduino says. “Offering hospitality to strangers is an opportunity for us to grow as Christians and live the message of the Gospel. From there, we develop those stronger foundations of community and we are able to pray for each other out of a strong desire to support each other in times of need.” Let us all work together to increase the hospitality of our parish.
