Having reflected on the primary work of hospitality, namely, invitation, we can now reflect on the more traditional understanding of that word, which is providing a welcoming environment for those who come to our parish.
One of the things that makes the Cathedral unique is that it is a church to which many visitors come. First of all, we have visitors from area parishes who come to us for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is the availability of our Mass and confession times. I do not see these individuals so much as visitors as members of our local diocesan family. Since the Cathedral is the mother church of the diocese, all of the faithful in the diocese should feel at home here. This is something I love about our hosting Confirmations / First Holy Communions here. Young people and their families from throughout our diocese get the opportunity to encounter this beautiful church, and in doing so, I hope they come to experience a sense of belonging to something bigger than their own parishes. And for the children who receive these Sacraments of Initiation, they will always have a special sacramental connection to this church, one that I hope they cherish. The team from the diocese, under the direction of Sister M. Clementia, FSGM, do a great job of demonstrating this pillar of hospitality for these groups when they come here.
We also get many visitors to our church who are not members of our diocese. Some find themselves in town for a family event, others are in town to visit the Lincoln sites, and others are in town for various sporting events, just to name a few. You can often tell who the visitors are when you see them looking around the church after Mass. I have been very pleased to see some of our regular parishioners approach those visitors, welcoming them and even giving them some information about our church. In case you are not aware, we have little pamphlets just inside of the church near the Atrium with information about the Cathedral, including some history and brief explanations of the various elements to be found in the church. Feel free to introduce yourself to any of those visitors and offer them a pamphlet. I know I have asked people from time to time if they are visitors, and they tell me: “We’re parishioners here.” I have to swallow my pride in those moments, apologizing, but then realizing it is just an opportunity to get to know somebody I had not previously recognized. So do not fear making a “mistake” by greeting someone who you think might be a visitor but actually is a regular here. The very act of acknowledging and greeting another person is a very tangible sign of hospitality.
Much more can be said about how to be hospitable, but I think the core of this pillar is seeing in each person who comes through our doors a brother or sister in the Lord. We belong to the same extended family, and it should be our joy to see them here, a joy which we can express by making eye contact, smiling, and making a simple greeting. This is not limited to those official “greeters”, but is something about which we all should be proactive. We rarely know the stories of the people with whom we worship, and you never know what burden they be bearing. A simple kind acknowledgment, so easy for us to do, can do a long way in that person feeling seen, loved, and welcomed.
Father Alford