Hospitality Ministry
Do you love St. John’s
parish? Can you smile and extend a friendly handshake? Do you
enjoy interacting with people? If you answered ‘Yes’ to these
questions, than you are just who we are looking for to come and be a
part of an exciting new ministry here at St John’s Parish!
I am pleased to
announce that St John’s is launching a hospitality ministry in
response to the recent Catholics Come Home initiative that we as a
diocese have been participating in. We already have formed a
committee of four wonderful parishioners who are ready and willing
to help coordinate this effort. What we need now are volunteers to
help get this ministry off the ground.
What will this
hospitality ministry do? The main component will be for hospitality
ministers to be present outside of church on the weekends to welcome
those who are coming to St. John’s for Mass. For those who
volunteer, it would mean for instance, arriving to church 15 minutes
prior to Mass beginning, to welcome people as they come into Mass
and also staying a few minutes afterwards to thank people for
coming. It’s just that simple…but the impact of that smile and
friendly handshake and kind word can have a lasting impact that
could open the door for someone’s return to the Church. It also
helps to build upon what we have here already: a welcoming
environment that says “We’re glad you’re with us today here at St
John’s!”
Another goal too is to
create a welcome reception for parishioners who are new to the
parish or who have newly registered. The direction we take in
launching this new ministry will largely depend on establishing a
critical mass of volunteers, and I want to especially appeal to
parishioners who are currently not involved in a particular ministry
at this time. So…if you are interested in being a part of this
exciting new ministry, please contact Helen Marie Lee at 688.6826.
May God bless our
efforts!
Prayer for Returning Catholics
Dear Lord,
May our hearts and minds be nourished by your sustaining love,
may our words and actions be guided by your ever present grace,
That all who seek to know you; encounter you here,
That all who seek to serve you; be welcomed to the vineyard,
That all who seek to love you; know that they are loved.
That all who seek to return to their Catholic faith
may be welcomed and received.
Amen.
