The Church Welcoming!

Welcoming everyone to Catholic parishes – whether they are first-time visitors, longtime members or have been away – is the topic of Bishop David A. Zubik’s new pastoral letter, The Church Welcoming!
 
The letter will be delivered this week to all registered Catholic households in the six-county Diocese of Pittsburgh and posted online at diopitt.org.

“Christian hospitality is one of the most consistent themes in scripture, and something that my family taught me by example from an early age,” Bishop Zubik said. “We need to reclaim this Christian virtue, joyfully welcoming all people to our churches with an open heart, so that they may experience the love and mercy of Jesus in the sacraments.”
 
This Sunday, the official release date, is the Feast of Pentecost. It celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit to fill Christians with gifts necessary to build the Church. Among them is the gift of hospitality.  The major themes of the pastoral letter are:
 
• Welcoming all as if they are Christ
• Welcoming all as if you are Christ
• Welcoming all so, together, we become the body of Christ
 
The letter includes personal stories and questions for reflection.  It is intended to help all members of the Church to think beyond the Church as a place of personal comfort and inspire all to welcome strangers and old friends into the parish community.