1“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” Hebrews 13:2
Hospitality training is the first step in the work of evangelization. All external facing ministers including the parish staff and volunteers have a unique capacity to evangelize. Often within the first 3 minutes that a visitor spends with a parishioner, the visitor decides whether they will stay at the parish or leave.
Hospitality training prepares and empowers our staff and volunteers to receive others in the name of Jesus Christ. Additionally, training is followed up with a monthly program that includes videos, reflections, and a chance for each group to work on their action plan.
Who is the training for? Our training is geared toward external facing or “first contact” staff and volunteers.
What is the training for? Training prepares us to receive others in the name of Jesus Christ. Participants will come away feeling greater confidence about sharing Christ with whoever might darken the parish doors. They will be empowered with ‘what to say’, even during brief interactions.
What does training look like? Hospitality training consists of four sessions, including exercises that will allow time to practice the techniques learned. At the end of the training, participants receive a commissioning and a blessing, plus materials to keep and to use for practice.
Called To Holiness – Training begins with a look at our unique calling to live a life that is holy and pleasing to the Lord. We will focus on our gifts of brokenness, perspective, and surrender considering how each one provides an opportunity to allow Christ to work through us and draw us closer. We will also take a look at the roots of hospitality in Church Tradition and Sacred Scripture to help us understand how our hospitality can be a beautiful and powerful fruit of our holiness.
Called To Share – During section two of our training, we will focus on understanding and spreading the Gospel message. We will focus on the gifts of evangelism, Gospel sharing, and prayer. Authentic hospitality is a reflection of Christ’s love shining through us. In order to understand and share that love, we must be strongly connected to Christ through prayer. We will focus on personal, formal, and spontaneous prayer and take some time to practice praying with and for others.
Called To Serve – Christ came to earth to serve rather than be served. During the third segment of our training, we will learn to imitate Christ’s service by focusing on the gifts of joy, service, and peace. Special attention will be given to resolving conflict, dealing hospitably with difficult people, and offering and accepting forgiveness.
Called To Build His Kingdom On Earth – The final segment is where we put all the pieces into practice. Participants will develop and practice skills for sharing the Gospel with those they meet. Using the gifts of connecting, comforting, and mercy we will have an opportunity to plan and practice interactions both in person and on the phone.
What is St. Paul Street Evangelization?
St. Paul Street Evangelization (SPSE) is a ministry dedicated to responding to the mandate of Jesus to preach the Gospel to everyone by taking the Catholic Faith to the streets.
As an on-the-street Catholic evangelization ministry, St. Paul Street Evangelization provides an avenue for people to share the Person of Jesus Christ and the truth and beauty of the Catholic Faith with people who desperately want to hear a message of hope.
“How can lay people evangelize the Catholic faith so publicly? Isn’t that the job of deacons, priests, and bishops?”
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “Lay people also fulfill their prophetic mission by evangelization, ‘that is, the proclamation of Christ by word and the testimony of life.’ For laypeople, ‘this evangelization acquires a specific property and peculiar efficacy because it is accomplished in the ordinary circumstances of the world’” (CCC 905).
Keep up-to-date about this ministry by checking out the calendar on our site and in the bulletin.
St. Paul Street Evangelization Ministry Wish List is below:
The parish starter pack includes: