2 minute read
Greeter Ministry: Upholding Hospitality as a Pillar of Our Vibrant Faith Community
We’ve learned a lot of new ways to do things during the COVID-19 pandemic, from electronic clinic visits to virtual Mass and much more. We’ve also learned that an important part of our faith is celebrating with one another. The Mass is to be experienced in person, alongside our brothers and sisters in Christ. So, what could be more important than making sure every single person seated around us knows they are truly welcome in God’s house?
Here at St. Patrick's Parish, we are blessed with a dedicated group of greeters who ensure that all who enter our church feel welcome. The greeters are there to open the door, lend a smile or answer a question.
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Barbara Cross takes care of organizing greeters for the 9 a.m. Sunday Mass. With several couples helping, each team greets about once per month. Barbara and her husband, Tom, have served as greeters for about 10 years. They are both active in Grass Valley and at St. Patrick’s and enjoy being involved and making connections with folks.
“This ministry has been a real joy for us,” Barbara says. “We can put names with faces. So often, you know faces, but you don’t know their names.”
Barbara and Tom know what it’s like to be a new face at a Catholic Church. Barbara grew up in Southern California and the couple lived on the East Coast for many years. Catholic parishes have always been a place for them to feel welcome and build community.
“When we would move, the first thing I would always do is find a church and be a part of that,” Barbara says. “That was a great introduction to the community. It’s been a real strength for me.”
Being involved at church has been a real blessing to Barbara throughout her life.
“Ministries are a big part of my faith,” she says. “I love doing things to help others, and showing Christ’s love to others. Being involved has certainly strengthened my faith, and I’ve gotten to know so many more people.”
Through the Greeter Ministry, Barbara hopes she can spread the hospitality to guests, and parishioners, both new and old, at St. Patrick’s.
“Through this ministry, you get to see people and get to know people that we would not necessarily ever interact with,” Barbara says.
Importantly, it has been a way for Barbara and Tom to invite parishioners to get involved in other ministries, especially young couples. And, of course, they just want to be there to uplift people when they enter St. Patrick’s.
“People really do open up to you as you start to see them more at Mass,” Barbara says. “It’s fun to watch that transformation.”
As more and more people return to Mass and new faces enter our doors, we want to make sure every single person feels welcomed and loved. The greeters can also help tourists who may have questions.
“We want to make sure it’s a good experience coming here,” Barbara says. “We don’t want them feeling like they don’t need to come to Mass. Greeters welcome them at that first step back in the door.”
Barbara invites anyone who loves spreading hospitality to get involved as a greeter.
“Don’t be afraid of it — give it a try!” Barbara says. “There’s no big time commitment since you are there anyway!”
