Our Ministries Fair is nearly upon us. After the Masses, next weekend (Sept. 14/15) at Holy Name Church and the following weekend (Sept. 22) at St. Casimir Church, representatives from about a dozen organizations here in our parish will be available to tell you what they do, answer your questions, and of course invite you to join them. All of our ministries do very important things to further the Good News of Jesus Christ, and all of them are looking for additional members. They not only provide important services to the parish and our community, but they also provide opportunities to develop Christian friendships.

In leading up to our Ministries Fair, I have invited several parishioners to share their witness to how the ministry that they are involved in has deepened their relationship with Jesus. We have had witnesses from a cantor, a lector, and an altar server. This week we will hear from one of our ushers/greeters. Not the stereotype of a group of elderly men standing in the back of the church talking sports until it is time to take up the collection; the ministry of usher/greeter is much more important than that. They are often one of the first people a visitor or a new parishioner meets in the parish. It is important that they feel welcomed. Ushers also help answer people’s questions, maybe provide assistance in finding a seat, and yes, they take up the collection during Mass and hand out the bulletins after Mass.

This week we will have a witness by Phil Kasperowicz, an usher at our Noon Mass.

Since I was an altar boy in grade school, I always was involved in some way with serving at St. Casimir Parish. As a youth, I remember helping with the setup of the carnival with my dad and brother. There were always times that something needed to be done and an extra hand was welcomed. My parents always instilled in me to help as much as I could. My brother was a lector, and my dad was a member of the Holy Name Society. I started helping to usher when I was asked by Mr. Al Nuckowski. He would tell me, he needed to show me what to do so he could retire. As a member of the 12 o’clock ushers with Tom and Nick, we assist anyone to make their stay for Mass as comfortable as we can. In helping others, it gives me a good feeling that I am following the teachings of the Church. Like Father as stated, the Church is not a building, but you and I.