Recently I was asked to give a talk about "Glenmary hospitality." Glenmarian's may not be as well known for their hospitality as say the Benedictine's. The Rule of St. Benedict says, “All guests who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ…” But Glenmary priests, brothers and sisters do have a sense of hospitality in our missionary spirit. Glenmary founder Fr. Bishop wrote, "The true missioner adopts all the people in his area, regardless of creed, for his own." We are open to love and serve all those who live in our mission area. Fr. Bishop went on to say, "Whether he ever makes a convert to the Church or not, the town, the county, the lives of the people must be better because of his example, his preaching, his activities among the poor, the sick, and the sinful of all creeds and none.”
Glenmarian's welcome all who knock on our door. Fr. Vic Subb who serves in two mission counties in rural Tennessee says that "One of the joys of being a Glenmary missioner is that God sends many people into our lives. One of the blessings in my life is that each time someone knocks on the door, a new adventure begins."
In a small mission parish we are fortunate to be able to know when someone new comes to Mass on Sunday. Being a small mission, makes recognizing and welcoming them easier than if we were to be in large parish. We attempt to make our small missions welcoming places for all who come. Not welcoming in a way of "entertaining" someone as if they are a guest, we want them to feel at home and become a participating member. And not welcoming in a way that a corporation has greeters at the front door, we are not doing a public relations stunt but welcoming in the sense that we want to enter into a relationship with those we encounter.
Hospitality is of course biblical. Two passages I think of : “You shall treat the alien who resides with you no differently than the natives born among you; you shall love the alien as yourself; for you too were once aliens in the land of Egypt. I, the LORD, am your God.” From Leviticus 19:34 And “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me…” From Matthew 25:35
If you are ever traveling through some of our mission areas, please come in and worship with us and experience our hospitality. Or knock on the door of one of our missioners and see if what I wrote here is true. I think St. Teresa of Kolkata said it best, “The greatest disease in the West today is not TB or leprosy; it is being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for. We can cure physical diseases with medicine, but the only cure for loneliness, despair, and hopelessness is love.” Glenmarians genuinely care for the people in the missions and in our proclaiming the Good News and sharing the sacraments we want those with whom we meet to know that they are wanted and loved by God.
Glenmarian's welcome all who knock on our door. Fr. Vic Subb who serves in two mission counties in rural Tennessee says that "One of the joys of being a Glenmary missioner is that God sends many people into our lives. One of the blessings in my life is that each time someone knocks on the door, a new adventure begins."
In a small mission parish we are fortunate to be able to know when someone new comes to Mass on Sunday. Being a small mission, makes recognizing and welcoming them easier than if we were to be in large parish. We attempt to make our small missions welcoming places for all who come. Not welcoming in a way of "entertaining" someone as if they are a guest, we want them to feel at home and become a participating member. And not welcoming in a way that a corporation has greeters at the front door, we are not doing a public relations stunt but welcoming in the sense that we want to enter into a relationship with those we encounter.
Hospitality is of course biblical. Two passages I think of : “You shall treat the alien who resides with you no differently than the natives born among you; you shall love the alien as yourself; for you too were once aliens in the land of Egypt. I, the LORD, am your God.” From Leviticus 19:34 And “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me…” From Matthew 25:35
If you are ever traveling through some of our mission areas, please come in and worship with us and experience our hospitality. Or knock on the door of one of our missioners and see if what I wrote here is true. I think St. Teresa of Kolkata said it best, “The greatest disease in the West today is not TB or leprosy; it is being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for. We can cure physical diseases with medicine, but the only cure for loneliness, despair, and hopelessness is love.” Glenmarians genuinely care for the people in the missions and in our proclaiming the Good News and sharing the sacraments we want those with whom we meet to know that they are wanted and loved by God.
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