Welcome All as Christ

Contemporary Topics in Parish Leadership is a series from Liturgical Press that addresses timely realities in parish leadership. Written primarily for parish staff, leadership teams, and parish councils, each topic affirms the pastoral realities facing today’s church leaders in a way that is engaging, relevant, and, most important, accessible. Short chapters grounded in real-world experiences invite readers to consider the depth of pastoral realities from a scriptural, theological, and ministerial perspective. “Questions for Reflection” and “Continuing the Conversation” at the end of each chapter encourage personal reflection, group discussion, and suggestions for practical implementation in today’s diverse parishes.

Too often we relegate parish hospitality to the few minutes immediately before or after Sunday liturgy. If we are willing to reimagine our understanding of hospitality, however, we begin to realize that welcoming others is more than bulletins and donuts (as important as those are!). Welcome All as Christ offers concrete suggestions for implementing a holistic approach to parish hospitality, grounded in St. Benedict’s invitation to “Welcome all as Christ” and set amid the pastoral realities of today’s church.

John T. Kyler is a Catholic author, educator, and speaker whose work focuses on the intersection of liturgy, justice, and healthy vulnerability in pastoral ministry. An instructor in the Emmaus Institute for Ministry Formation and a regular contributor to several pastoral magazines and journals, John holds a master of education from the University of Notre Dame and a master of theological studies from Saint John’s University. .