Catholics Come Home at St. Mary Parish in Vacaville
By Catholic Herald staff
Father Humberto Gomez, pastor of St. Mary Parish in Vacaville, is gearing up for the media campaign during Advent. He is excited about the campaign, because it opens doors for Catholics who have been away. He added that the Web site component is absolutely essential.
“People will be intrigued, but maybe not ready to walk into a church until they have more information,” Father Gomez said. Divorced Catholics for example, may think they’ll be rejected for being divorced, he explained. The regional Web site gives people a way to get some of their initial questions answered before risking a visit to an actual church, Father Gomez said.
But when they are ready to visit St. Mary Parish, the community there will be ready to welcome them. Father Gomez plans to show the ads to his parishioners beforehand in English and in Spanish, and have materials in both languages at the welcoming table in the church foyer. When the media campaign begins, greeters will be available to answer questions, again in both languages, and Father Gomez will meet with any returning Catholic who wants to talk with him.
“Hospitality is very important,” Father Gomez said. “We want people to feel at home.”
