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Hospitality: Creating Space for Catechesis

Recently, my niece brought home two girlfriends from college and of course my mother had them over for lunch. Anyone who knows my mother knows she is a passionate cook. But, it wasn't the food alone that seemed to nourish these young women. I watched as my mother skillfully listened, asked questions, and made everyone feel at home. As the young women were leaving, one friend turned to my niece and said, "Your grandma is so wonderful! She should be a TV talk show host!" We all got a big kick out of her comment, but the truth behind it is my mother's gift of hospitality.

My mother is a natural at creating an atmosphere of hospitality. I am amazed at the ease with which she welcomes, accepts, and listens to people. Whenever she invites someone over--whether for a meal or a simple chat over coffee--she intuitively knows how to set the stage for people to be relaxed and open.

The experience of genuine hospitality is a gift. You are immediately disarmed, put at ease, and enriched by the warmth of inclusion. In his book, Reaching Out, Henri Nouwen defines hospitality as "the creation of a free and fearless space for people to be authentically themselves . . . "

As catechetical leaders, we create the space for catechesis to take place. We invite people into relationship--relationship with themselves, with the church, with the triune God. Hospitality provides the space where people can explore their own needs, abilities, and hopes. Opening oneself to growth and change is risky unless one is feeling welcomed, accepted, and safe. By allowing others the freedom to be themselves, we are opening the door to grace and transformation.

As a new catechetical year gears up and you continue coordinating programs and processes, be intentional about creating an environment of hospitality. The art of hospitality includes: careful listening, openness, acceptance, reflection, encouragement, trustworthiness, competency, integrity, and the willingness to be present.

Here are some tips for creating an environment of hospitality in which catechesis can flourish:

Create a space of hospitality within your self by making prayer/meditation a priority in your life.
Take a look at all the places where people make their initial contact with the parish or school (i.e.: reception area, entrance to church, foyer of parish hall or school, etc.) Make sure these places are welcoming and easy to find.
Those who answer the phones and greet people--volunteers as well as paid staff--need to be well trained in the art of hospitality.
Catechists, teachers, youth ministers, facilitators, and anyone conducting meetings or gatherings need to know the importance of hospitality. Ask them to reflect and share with one another a personal experience of hospitality: Who were the people involved? What was the event and the environment like? As a result of being welcomed, what effect did that have on them? Then, you can help make connections to the importance of hospitality in their particular ministries, as well as some specific ways they can create that atmosphere in their setting.
Formally welcome people back (catechists, parents, children, young people, adults) using prayer, ritual, nametags, refreshments, and a warm atmosphere.
Make sure people are welcomed as they enter into various on-going processes during the year. Sometimes when processes are on-going, we are not as attentive to welcoming, introducing, and connecting people with one another as we are when programs have a definite beginning and ending.

Take every opportunity you have this year to create an atmosphere of hospitality!

Ask yourself: How welcome do people of diverse ethnic, racial, political backgrounds feel here? Who are the "outsiders" of our parish or school? Who feels afraid to voice their opinions? Who needs to know they are welcomed? What can I do this year to see that all are welcome?