September 2020
oncept Monthly
Newsletter
I m m a c u l a t e C o n c e p t i o n C a t h o l i c C h u rc h V I S I B L E F I G U R E S O F H O S P I TA L I T Y: THE
USHER Ministry
A
person’s stewardship journey often begins with baby steps, one “yes” building upon the next. This was certainly the case for Immaculate Conception’s head usher Mike Zahler, whose ministry involvement all started with a “yes” to a seemingly innocuous question. “The previous head usher was about to have surgery and he had noticed me at Mass,” Mike says. “I used to do Eucharistic devotion and then I would attend Mass right after. One Sunday he came up to me and asked me if I had a suit. When I answered ‘yes,’ he went on to ask me if I would fill in for him while he was away for surgery. I agreed and essentially that’s how I got started.” Already attending Mass, Mike says he felt substituting would be easy. Then, as time went on, he gradually transitioned from a temporary to a permanent usher. Now, five years later, Mike continues to serve faithfully in this liturgical
ministry, viewing it as his own particular way to live out stewardship. Though the Usher Ministry is traditionally viewed as a man’s ministry, Mike says the ministry is actually open to any registered parishioner, male or female, who is old enough to drive and make a commitment to serve. They are meant to be visible figures of hospitality for the parish, welcoming people into the church and assisting them in finding seating. The latter has become even more important in recent times, due to the COVID-19 outbreak and the social distancing safety requirements. “Nowadays, in addition to all the traditional jobs, we’re also there to remind people to use hand sanitizer and to wear a facemask,” Mike says. “We no longer do Communion the same way, but we still help with that. We also continue to hand out bulletins at the end of Mass, but with gloves so as to reduce the cross-contamination.” continued on back cover
37940 Euclid Avenue
Willoughby, OH 44094
440-942-4500
www.immaculate.net
