By Celine Klosterman
Parish hospitality stems from a spirit of generosity and from Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 25:35-41 that those who welcome a stranger welcome him.
About 25 parish staffers and volunteers heard that message April 2 during a discussion and presentation on hospitality. Members of the Davenport Diocese’s Stewardship Commission facilitated the event, held at St. Vincent Center in Davenport and via webinar.
Like stewardship, hospitality starts with the attitude that everything Catholics have is a gift worth sharing, said Dan Ebener, diocesan director of stewardship and parish planning. “It’s what we do as Christians.”
Parishioners must look for the face of Christ in each person, invite others to gatherings, rid their parish of cliques, remember the importance of using people’s names and use their parish’s pictorial directory, said Sister Laura Goedken, OP. Diocesan director of development, she attributed those suggestions to Father John Lanzrath of the Diocese of Wichita, Kan., who offered a videotaped presentation on stewardship that was available to webinar participants.
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