AM I A GOOD FIT TO BE A MINISTER OF HOSPITALITY?

Those who desire to pursue the Ministry of Hospitality need to be persons who by their very nature are friendly, caring and giving. They should be persons of good Christian witness and active in the sacramental life of their church.  If you are interested in joining the important Liturgical Ministry, please contact Marie Winterson in the Parish Office at 301-474-3920.
 

PRIMARY DUTY:

• Greet people before Mass!  By offering a word of welcome, especially to visitors , Ministers of Hospitality help form the worshipping community.

• Ministers of Hospitality are asked to be in place at least 25 minutes prior to the start of worship
• Ministers of Hospitality are asked to check of the worship space to make sure there is no clutter left from the previous Mass.

• Ministers of Hospitality are asked to gather the collection from the Assembly
• Ministers of Hospitality are asked to select people to bring forward the gifts of bread and wine & the collection

• Ministers of Hospitality are asked to distribute the bulletins to parishioners.
• Ministers of Hospitality are asked to oversee the general cleanup of the worship space (worship aids, candles, palms, etc.)

Throughout the ages, hospitality has been an important part of civilized life. Indeed, in ancient cultures, hospitality was necessary for survival in a hostile environment and therefore, it was a sacred duty to provide shelter and warmth for a guest. Sacred scripture is full of examples of Old Testament heroes who provided hospitality to strangers only to realize that they were messengers from God. Jesus was a guest of “sinners,” Pharisees, and disciples. It was in a simple act of hospitality - washing his apostles’ feet - that he taught them true humility and service. Our parishes, too, must be a source and model of hospitality. As a People of God, our most significant gathering is at Sunday Liturgy. Christ, himself, is “always present in his Church.” He is present in his Word, in the Eucharistic elements, and in the person of the priest. He is present, too, in the assembly, “when the Church prays and sings, for he promised, ‘wherever two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.’” (CSL #7)

Would you like the opportunity to become a Minister of Hospitality?  Please fill out the form below and we will contact you!