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Ushers Ministry Embodies Pillar of Hospitality for Parishioners and Visitors Alike
One of the four pillars of parish stewardship is hospitality, and our Ushers Ministry embodies this pillar at every Mass, greeting and assisting our parishioners and visitors as we prepare to celebrate the Liturgy. And with St. Francis Xavier continually emphasizing our parish’s mission of evangelization, the Ushers Ministry works to fulfill this mission by being a welcoming presence to newcomers at Mass.
“I hope our presence and interaction with new people might lead them to look at us and feel they are welcome in the church,” says Jim Stiegler, coordinator for the Ushers Ministry. “We are the face of ‘welcome.’”
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The ministry currently has between 30 to 40 members — this doesn’t include those serving at the Spanish Mass.
“We don’t have enough,” Jim says candidly, particularly at the 11:15 a.m. Sunday Mass.
Typically, four ushers serve at each Mass. The men and women of the ministry take care of several duties. They often greet early arrivals and offer a welcome to all. They open doors and assist the elderly or disabled to easily enter the church. They help those entering the church to find seating — a duty that was a particular challenge during pandemic restrictions when social distancing protocols had to be followed.
The ushers also make sure the gifts are in place and gift bearers are located. If some coaching is needed, the ushers offer that help. A major responsibility is taking up the collection and making sure it is secured. They also make note of any doctors or nurses at Mass in case a medical emergency arises.
After Mass, the ushers go through the pews and pick up discarded bulletins, replace the missalettes, and make sure the pews are tidy for the next Mass.
“We’re probably one of the main representatives of the church when people need to feel welcome, feel ready to be part of Mass,” Jim says. “We need to display hospitality and welcome to all to make you feel good about coming to Mass.”
Jim offers a short training session for new ushers, usually in the evening at the church. Most have been trained in CPR and the use of AED devices. Several have received Active Shooter Training.
“It’s a pretty intense day-long training program so you know what to do,” Jim says. “I hope we never need it, but it’s knowing what might happen.”
