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Company's Coming;
A Spiritual Process for Creating More Welcoming Parishes
$9.95 plus 3.35 for shipping and handling (plus sales tax for NY residents)
"A must read for pastoral leaders
wishing to improve their parish's welcoming."
William L. Pickett, PhD, author of
A Concise Guide to Pastoral Planning.
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As Catholics, we have been challenged by the Lord to love our enemies (Mt
5:44). So, if we are called to love our enemies, certainly we are expected to
love those who sit next to us in church. Right? And yet, how many times have
newcomers to a church been greeted with a dirty look because they were sitting
in someone else’s seat?!
Hospitality is manifested in an open and welcoming spirit; a
willingness to drop what we are doing and receive the other person when they
need us. We are reminded of Abraham’s hospitality to the three strangers (Gen
18:1-10). In welcoming the strangers, he was welcoming God.
We recall Jesus’ words: “what you do to the least of my
brothers and sisters you do to me” (Mt 25:40). And then Christ gave us the
exquisite example of hospitality at the last supper when he got down and washed
the disciples’ feet (Jn 13:3-17). And he commanded us, who would claim to be
his followers, to do likewise.
St. Benedict wrote
rules for living a Catholic life. These rules are still practiced by most
monastic communities today. Rule #53 states, “All guests who present themselves
are to be welcomed as Christ, for he himself will say: I was a stranger and you
welcomed me,” (Mt 25:35). |
Ministry Profile
The Center for Parish
Hospitality was formed to help parishes and Diocese engage in a process which
creates more welcoming communities. This process has been pilot tested in
the Diocese of Brooklyn from 2007-2008 with most favorable results.
Dr. Richard McCorry, the founder of the Center for Parish
Hospitality, has worked with parishes and Dioceses across the country for the
past decade helping them to bring about and adapt to the changes going on in the
church today.
Contact Information
- Telephone
- 585-281-1419
- Postal address
- 610 Eastbrooke Lane, Rochester, NY 14618
- Electronic mail
- General Information:
mccorry@catholichospitality.com
Webmaster:
webmaster@catholichospitality.com
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