MERRILLVILLE – We're called to follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, who came down (to Earth) not to be served, but to serve. Humility is at the very heart of Catholicism, and it is essential for the faithful to understand the significance of humility in their relationship with God and with one another.
That was the message delivered by Deacon Michael Halas, master of ceremonies to the bishop, during a talk as part of the “Coffee and Conversation” series by the Diocese of Gary on May 31 at the Pastoral Center.
Deacon Halas, who serves Our Lady of Grace parish in Highland, explained that hospitality is more than just a friendly smile or a welcoming gesture – it's a way of being that reflects God's love and care for each person. In sacred scripture, he reminded those gathered, Christians are referred to as strangers and builders on Earth who are called to show hospitality to others, just like Abraham and Sarah. (Genesis, chapter 18)
“As a parish community of faith,” he said, “our hospitality ministry is about creating a sense of belonging and connection among our parishioners, our visitors and our guests. It's about making people feel seen, heard and valued. The question is, how can we do this effectively? ... By serving with humility, of course.”
He continued, “We are serving Christ himself, and this elevates hospitality from a social courtesy to that of a sacred act. The Church is meant to be a spiritual home for all, where everybody feels welcome. Humble servants are essential to create this environment.”
Deacon Halas said humility is often misunderstood as weakness or a lack of confidence but stated true humility is “recognizing our limitations and acknowledging that our talents, our abilities and our accomplishments come from God.” He described humility as being aware of one’s sinfulness and understanding that “we are not the ones in control but rather instruments of God's love and care, and we're not seeking to draw attention to ourselves but rather to point others to Jesus Christ.”
In the context of church ministry, Deacon Halas said hospitality refers to the practice of welcoming and serving others, which involves creating a sense of community, belonging and more.
“Our actions, kindness and generosity can speak volumes about our faith,” he said. “Some key aspects of hospitality church ministry include welcoming e-commerce and guests, building relationships and connections, providing practical support and care, creating a sense of belonging and reflecting God’s love and hospitality.”
Deacon Halas continued, answering a variety of questions on the subject of being humble servants:
1. Why is hospitality essential to parish communities of faith? First, it plays an important role in evangelization. “A warm welcome can be the first step in someone's faith journey,” said Deacon Halas.
Hospitality is also critical for retention, helping newcomers feel comfortable and encouraging participation. It fosters community building which creates a sense of family-like belonging among parishioners. It provides a witness, demonstrating the love of Christ to the wider community. Finally, it is a key part of pastoral care, offering support and care to those in need.
2. What does it look like to serve with humility? Deacon Halas shared that the faithful can be humble servants by practicing active listening. “When we listen attentively to others, we show that we value and respect them – truly hearing their joys and their concerns and needs,” he said.
Deacon Halas explained that not every act of service needs to be visible. Most acts of kindness are done behind the scenes. Approaching others with empathy and compassion can help a person “step into another person’s shoes,” and understand their experience.
Service can also be accomplished through providing practical help, such as helping at parish events or providing information, connecting someone to resources.
“We should treat every individual with the inherent worth they possess as a child of God, regardless of their background or circumstances,” he said.
Deacon Halas added that treating everyone with respect and dignity helps to create a sense of belonging where everyone feels valued and part of the faith community.
3. What are some simple actions that can make a big impact? Smiling and making eye contact is a simple gesture of warmth, which can be accompanied by a genuine greeting like “Welcome!” “Good morning!” “It's great to see you,” or “Glad you're here.”
Offering assistance and helping with directions can go a long way to make someone feel at ease. Introducing oneself, inviting participation from others, active listening and being inclusive are other actions that can make someone more comfortable. He challenged those in attendance to actively seek out those who might be on the periphery, those on the margins, and reminded them to pray for the parish community, visitors and guests.
“When we embrace the heart of a servant, the fruits are abundant,” Deacon Halas said. “We have stronger community bonds, trust and connections deepen when people feel genuinely cared for.”
4. How do we navigate the obstacles and overcome them? People may have a desire to seek recognition, but they should focus on the impact of the service and not personal praise. They may feel a need for comparison and competition, but can overcome these feelings by recognizing the unique gifts in each person and instead celebrate the successes of others.
Those who start to feel indispensable must recognize that the work continues beyond individual involvement. A sense of pride should be balanced with a spirit of gratitude and recognition of God’s role in any success.
On the opposite side of the spectrum, some people can find themselves feeling burned out and harboring feelings of resentment. For that reason, Deacon Halas said it’s important to practice self-care.
“If you just burn out, you’re not going to be effective,” he said. “Remember that you are the source of your strength.”
The Coffee and Conversation program provides an opportunity for those involved with parish hospitality to come together to learn and share ideas, successes and challenges they may be facing at their parish.
Liz Bushemi, of Our Lady of Consolation, shared that because of problems within the world and in the economy, she believes people sometimes forget about God and Christianity, but she continues to remain optimistic.
“Having events like this, inviting people to do ministry, that’s how we reconnect people to faith, and we can do it even if it takes a few years,” she said.
The May event in the Coffee and Conversation series saw the largest attendance to date. The next event, “Joyfully Creative Hospitality” with Vicky Hathaway, is scheduled for Sept. 6. For more information, contact Lisa Curly at lcurly@dcgary.org.
