HOST Communities are a form of ministry that enables baptized Catholics to live out their sharing in the life of Christ, to use their gills of faith and love and their talents, time, and energy in a way both simple and fulfilling. HOST relates to HOSPffALITY and EUCHARIST. The Lord is HOST to us all, sheltering and nourishing us by his loving care. HOST ministry is to extend our hospitality in a human, caring way. As a conununity we gather around the Table of the Eucharist and as sharers in His life, we are sent forth to carry His love into the neighborhood and to the world.

The Vatican 11 Council Fathers in the Constitution on the Church, affirmed that "each individual lay person is called to stand before the world as a sign that Jesus lives." When we act as a church we are expressing our call as the baptized, our call to ministry in union with our pastors and shepherds. Baptism calls one to mission and to accountability for mission. We are all builders of the kingdom. The first major objective of HOST Communities is to be present to one's neighbors as a visible accessible member of the parish.
How can you do this?
Who are your neighbors?
Do you know them by name?
Are there any needs you can minister to?
Are there Catholics who seem alienated and needyour invitation to belong?

HOST Communities can open unlimited opportunities and possibilities of awareness and connections that bring new life, energy and bonding. We are looking at ways of welcoming new members, being aware of those in our midst who are ifl or hospitalized, congratulating parents with a new baby, reaching out in compassion when there is a death, or helping when someone is in need. Undoubtedly you can think of other ways.

When we think of 950 families it's impossible to know and respond to the interactions and happenings occurring on a regular basis. However, when we visualize six to ten families or individuals in a neighborhood cluster, it's much more feasible to get to know our neighbors and call them by name when we meet them. There are over 100 HOST Communities in Blessed Sacrament Parish. In order to build community and establish closer contact with individual parishioners, we will be contacting persons in each neighborhood community cluster to act as "Hospitality Contact Persons." They win reach out to invite others to welcome newcomers to the neighborhood community, to offer bereavement or to fulfill other spiritual needs which may arise among their neighbors. After Sign-up Sunday for Renew 2000, we would also lean on the contact persons to personally invite anyone in their neighborhood who did not sign up for Renew. This will not be a very demanding conunitment, but vital to foster parish life. We ask your prayers and suggestions to bring HOST Communities to life and growth.