Saying "Welcome" How we welcome folks into our Sunday liturgy can make or break their faith -- as well as the spirit of the parish! |
| How do you say, "Welcome?" We know that many of the households registered in our parishes are not active. Who knows the reasons why? It might simply be that their faith grew cold. Or it might be that their marriage went on the rocks and the church offered them only a legal solution when what they needed was a pastoral one. It might be that they just can’t get to Mass because their spouse is not Catholic, there is resentment, pressure, or simply silence at home about faith. Or it might be one of many other reasons. The thing is that the inborn hunger for God which all humans experience is still there, operating in their lives. And Christ still loves them and calls them home. Within their own hearts, folks know. Deep down, they know they want to be connected to the church and their faith. But many, many of them simply do not feel welcome or don’t know how to make their way back. Maybe they haven’t darkened our doors in a while, or they feel they have some impediment which makes returning impossible. Yet, they do want their kids to “get some religion.” They do know how important all this is, even if they just can’t get to it in their own lives. Maybe they anesthetize themselves with TV, food, activity, work, or drugs and just keep their faith on the back burner. You can really help them – and the whole community – understand how much Christ loves them by offering them a huge, generous welcome whenever you have the chance. How? In the religious education system and program in the parish, first of all, make sure they feel welcome when they are present. And make ways for them to be present. We honestly don’t ask enough of our parents. In the material on Faith Gatherings in Dreams and Visions, we urge you to make sure that everyone who attends those (and we think it should be mandatory for any parent) gets a warm, personal invitation to be with us at the Sunday liturgy, no matter what their situation in life. Welcome them back to the Sunday Assembly. Once they’re back, once they’re present more often, you can help them sort out whatever impediments there might be to receiving communion. One of the results of these faith gatherings is that people come to the surface of the parish who have been submerged for a long time. Suddenly there they sit, safely with their kids at one of the tables in the assembly hall, participating in catechesis. They might not even be coming on weekends to Mass yet, and they might only be present because it’s required of them, but there they are. This is a golden moment, a sacred moment, when you can offer them bread rather than a stone. Who is worthy? If you’re worried that folks will mistake an invitation to Sunday Mass with an invitation to receive the Eucharist, there are two points. First, who is really worthy to receive the Eucharist, when you get right down to it? The fact that none of us is leads us all to pray out loud every week, “Oh Lord, I am not worthy to receive you.” And we aren’t! It’s true! But God still loves us week in and week out, and God also loves those others, the ones on the margins and in the shadows of the church. They have never left God’s care, even if we’ve kept them at arm’s length. Second, you can simply resolve the question of who’s welcome to receive the Eucharist by inviting everyone present to come forward in the communion procession, but to simply place a hand over their heart if they are not partaking. This is also very welcoming. It’s hard to be in the assembly on Sunday and then just sit there when everyone else gets up to receive. This allows all present to come forward and join in the procession. And it allows folks to sort out their own consciences, as we are all called to do before receiving communion, so that even folks who might regularly receive, on a given Sunday, may choose not to. The message of welcome! Use the message in blue below, in whatever form you're most comfortable, to let folks know that you do indeed welcome them! For many people, they never ever hear their “name” mentioned at Mass because they’re on one of the lists of “outsiders.” You can change that by offering an explicit welcome. Ask a parish leader to read this, or a variation of it, before Mass once a month or so. Or find a way to get the word out: Whoever you are and whatever you’ve done, you belong to us because you belong to Christ! The Litany of the Worthy Who are you? Are you divorced? Are you married with kids, worrying for them and committed to their welfare? Are you married for the second, or even the third time? Are you a single parent struggling to make ends meet? Are you gay or lesbian? Well if you are, then you belong to us because you belong to Christ. Christ is the host here today. Christ sets this table. And Christ welcomes all. Are you lonely? Are you a widow? Are you a single man or woman who would prefer to have a spouse? Are you disabled or disfigured? Have you run out of luck? Are you living with shame? Have you been a prisoner? Well if you are, then you belong to us because you belong to Christ. Christ is the host here today. Christ sets this table. And Christ welcomes all. Are you a newcomer in this parish? An immigrant maybe? Are you from another Christian tradition? Are you full of doubt today, like Thomas? Has it been a while since you darkened the doorway of this church? Or are you a regular here, full of faith and enthusiasm for the parish? Well if you are, then you belong to us because you belong to Christ. Christ is the host here today. Christ sets this table. And Christ welcomes all. All people of good will are welcome here: that's the really good news! If you've been away, you can come back, if you've been living in darkness, you can come to the light, if you haven't been able to believe without seeing him, look around you, the Body of Christ has come to Mass today. Sinners are welcome. Saints, too. Everyone is welcome to come to Christ: My Lord and my God, indeed! © Bill Huebsch. Excerpted with permission from Whole Community Catechesis in Plain English available from Twenty-Third Publications. 800-321-0411. |
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| Share your parish story! If you have been working with whole community or lifelong catechesis or faith formation and you have a story to tell, we want to hear it! Go to this page and send us your story! Give us the link to your parish web site at the same time, please. And thanks! |
| Pastoral Planning A step-by-step guide: Dreams & Visions: Pastoral Planning for Lifelong Faith Formation A new book which includes a chapter outlining those all-important Planning Team Meetings. Training How to teach your parish about lifelong formation including excellent PowerPoint presentations to download and use, complete with presentation notes. Implementation How to state and sustain faith sharing throughout the parish using the Question of the Week With free prayer sheets. Prayer Services to accompany faith sharing. You can download and use these in 5 minutes! Outlines for adult or intergenerational Faith Gatherings linked to your children's textbook series. Outlines for adult Bible Studies which are in plain English! Download each session and get all you need in one item. Complete plans for Parish Based Retreats in several practical scheduling formats. Background Material All the current books you need to better understand lifelong formation, plus free articles you can download, copy, and use. Vatican II Lots of strong resources to help you teach about the Council. We are approaching the 50th Anniversary of the date on which John XXIII called Vatican II: Jan 25, 1959. |
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