Is there any better tradition of fellowship in our church than sharing coffee and donuts after Mass? There is a reason why this opportunity to spend time with our parish community is such a long-storied part of the church. After we come together on Sundays to worship our Lord by celebrating the source and summit of our faith, the Eucharist, we take the time to gather as a community and enjoy each other’s company, share stories, and learn more about what is going on in each other’s lives.
This time we spend together helps us grow in love and friendship as God’s `ohana who share the same Faith being disciples of Jesus.
For Willie Naone, ministry coordinator, having coffee and donuts after Mass is an important part of sharing in each other’s lives, while also being a welcoming parish for visitors.
“It’s amazing that you can meet so many different people from our parish as well as the visitors,” Willie says. “You can speak to them for only 10 minutes, but feel that you’ve known them for years!”
This ministry took a break during the COVID restrictions. But when this ministry returned, it was a joy for all of those involved.
“When Fr. Lio gave me the green light to start serving again, it was all smiles from the parishioners who said, ‘The donut man is back!’” Willie says.
The members of this ministry help to serve the coffee and donuts and make sure that the Grace Parish Center is tidied up afterward. Having the new Grace Parish Center as a place to serve has been a huge blessing for those involved.
“The way we served previously would cause quite the backup of people leaving the church,” Willie says. “Plus we didn’t have much room for storage, so I would have to bring our supplies home with me each week. But now we have some storage space, and we have more flow to how people are served, and it just works much better. It is such a benefit to the whole parish.”
The Coffee and Donuts Ministry serves after each of the Sunday Masses.
“We have about 12 people who volunteer to help,” Willie says. “In addition, we have a few Knights of Columbus who also serve. The volunteers who serve find this to be such a fruitful ministry. It is a joy to see the parishioners coming together and enjoying fellowship. Our volunteers commit in many different capacities. One couple commits to serving after all of the Masses once a month, others serve after the Mass that they regularly attend. It just depends on what they can do.”
The ministry loves to serve others and be able to provide a joyful space for parishioners to get together and spend time together as a community. Willie also welcomes any feedback or suggestions that anyone in the parish may have to improve this ministry.
To become a part of the Coffee and Donuts Ministry or to provide any feedback, contact Willie Naone at [email protected] or stop and visit with him after Mass.
-Courtesy of Catholic Stewardship Consultants
“It’s amazing that you can meet so many different people from our parish as well as the visitors. You can speak to them for only 10 minutes, but feel that you’ve known them for years!”
