There is something about being offered a warm welcome and a place to sit that quietly says, you belong here. For someone who is just beginning to explore the Catholic faith, walking into an OCIA session for the first time can feel like a big step. The OCIA Hospitality ministry exists to make sure that step feels like the beginning of something good.
Hospitality volunteers are the first faces candidates and catechumens see when they arrive. They greet people by name, make sure everyone has what they need, and create the kind of warm, relaxed atmosphere that helps people feel comfortable enough to ask real questions and share honestly. They prepare light refreshments, set up and clean up the space, and attend to the small details that make a room feel welcoming rather than institutional.
It may not sound like much, but do not underestimate it. The environment in which faith is shared matters enormously. People open up when they feel at ease, and they feel at ease when someone has clearly gone out of their way to make them feel welcome. That is exactly what OCIA Hospitality volunteers do, and they do it with grace and consistency week after week throughout the entire initiation process.
This is a beautiful ministry for parishioners who may not feel called to teach or facilitate but who have a genuine gift for making people feel at home. If that is you, the OCIA team would be grateful to have you.
Please reach out to the parish office or your OCIA coordinator to learn more.
