HOSPITALITY

With a choice of five weekend Masses to attend, Sacred Heart parishioners might find themselves praying next to strangers, their only interaction being the brief Sign of Peace.

That's not enough, thought Rev. Henry J. McKee, pastor, who puts a high priority on making people feel welcome at church.  Several years ago, to encourage friendships and a welcoming spirit among his flock, he called for volunteers to form a hospitality committee.

Now parishioners are greeted as they go to Sunday Mass, and are served refreshments at cafeteria gatherings after some Masses and events.

"It gives us a feeling of belonging," says Jack Reick, chairman of the 30-plus-member hospitality committee.  "Those who attend, and those who volunteer."

New volunteers are always welcome.  Their tasks:

•     For greeters (20 in place now; some doing double-duty at receptions);   Sign up for a Mass of your choice every other week, arrive 15 minutes early to hand out parish Bulletins near one of five church doors, and speak to people as they enter.  Pitch in at other times if some greeters can't be there.
•     For reception workers (30 at present):  Attend an annual hour-long orientation meeting, help serve light refreshments at free parish get-togethers 8-to-10 times a year.  Reick, who takes on heftier chores such as food purchases, estimates that the average committee-person spends two hours per event--- setting up, serving, cleaning up.

Volunteers might offer morning pastry and coffee or--after the choir's annual Christmas concert--a celebratory late-afternoon glass of wine with cheese or fruit.  They served 150 persons an Ash Wednesday "simple meal" marking Lent, planned  a little party for children completing their First Penance, a Sunday afternoon reception for the sick and their families attending the annual Healing Mass, a get-together for those who could use a little company after the All Souls Day Memorial Mass.

And at other special times when church is over, but you're not quite ready to go home, you can cross the parking lot and there--the coffee is ready, the tables set, the food set out.  The volunteer hospitality team--whose easy cooperation could be the envy of a corporation--is waiting with a "glad-you-came" attitude.

CONTACT:    Jack Reick
                      Chairman, Hospitality Committee
                      610  446-8679