Liturgical Hospitality Ministry

Ministers of Hospitality truly present the face of the Cathedral to our many visitors. During our liturgies, these ministers are responsible for greeting and welcoming, helping those with special needs, gathering the Offertory donations, selecting those to present the Offertory gifts, directing lines for Holy Communion, distributing programs and bulletins, and generally assisting visitors as needed. Ministers of Hospitality also assist in a variety of ways during special nonliturgical events, such as concerts and receptions.

Who Can Serve

Any male or female 18 years of age or older who has received introductory training in the ministry or has attended a parish workshop on the ministry may serve as a Minister of Liturgical Hospitality. Consider serving at the Sunday Mass that you regularly attend. Ministers for weekly Masses (the Saturday 5:30pm Vigil and the Sunday Masses) are expected to serve on the Saturday or Sunday for which they are scheduled (which need not be every weekend of the month) and at other special liturgies and events as they may be available.

We also need Ministers of Liturgical Hospitality to serve at weekday and holy day Masses and other special liturgies and events. Many of those who serve in this capacity may not be available to serve on the weekends but can help with these occasional needs. Many are “weekday parishioners,” working in the city during the week but attending Mass at their home parishes on the weekends. We invite and welcome all who would like to be trained to serve in this way to contact us. Once you are ready to serve, you will receive email notices of upcoming liturgies and events and can volunteer if you are available.

History

The Liturgical Hospitality Ministry is an ancient one in the life of the Church and finds its origins in one of the former minor orders of church offices, namely the office of porter or one responsible for welcoming guests at the door of the monastery or church or other ecclesial structure. Over time, this function was performed by laypersons not directly in line to become ordained ministers of the Church.

This ministry in the past has been typically performed by men, often members of some male church organization such as the Holy Name Society, the Knights of Columbus or similar organization. In service of the liturgy of the Mass, those performing the function came to be known as ushers, much like those performing similar roles in theaters, concert halls and similar venues.

In the renewal of the liturgy from the Second Vatican Council, this ministry has undergone a further transformation. Now the ministers are called to perform tasks intended to foster the community's full participation in the liturgy from the time one enters the house of God to worship. This ministry focuses hospitality in all its forms to convey a much different sense of its new and larger role.

Formation

In February of 2011, the Ministers of Liturgical Hospitality gathered for a formation presentation, The Art of Hos•pi•tal•i•ty, defined as the the friendly and generous reception of guests, visitors, or strangers. The notes from this presentation can be found here.

Contact

For more information on joining our corps of Ministers of Liturgical Hospitality, please email cathstmatt@stmatthewscathedral.org. Please let us know whether you are interested in serving at weekly Mass (the Saturday 5:30pm Vigil or Sunday Masses) or at weekday and holy day Masses and other special liturgies, or both.