More than 370 people from across Slough gathered outside St Ethelbert’s Catholic Church on Saturday 25 July as the parish opened its doors, and its barbecue, to the local community in a joyful expression of welcome, hospitality and faith.
Situated in the heart of Slough on the town’s busy High Street, the parish served burgers, sausages, ribs and chicken throughout the afternoon, welcoming between 370 and 400 people from all walks of life and of different faiths and beliefs between 12 noon and 6pm.
For Parish Priest Fr Pius Amoako, the event was about much more than sharing food.
“Our first aim was to share the goodness of God and invite the community to come and worship with us,” he said. “As people enjoyed their meal, we began conversations with them, getting to know them and listening to their stories. It was an opportunity to build relationships and to let people know they are always welcome at St Ethelbert’s.”
Inspired by Jesus’ encounter with the woman at the well, where a simple conversation became an invitation to encounter God’s love, parish volunteers used the barbecue as an opportunity to meet people where they were, offering friendship, welcome and an invitation to explore the Catholic faith.
The outreach bore immediate fruit. At the parish Mass the following day, several people who had attended the barbecue returned to worship with the parish community, a joyful sign that the invitation had already begun to make a difference.
The barbecue was made possible thanks to the generosity and dedication of parish volunteers, who spent the day preparing food, welcoming guests and creating a warm and inclusive atmosphere in the centre of the town.
As we see often through the example of Jesus, evangelisation begins with encounter. Through simple acts of hospitality and genuine conversation, the parish of St Ethelbert demonstrated how sharing a meal can become an opportunity to share the love of Christ and extend an open invitation to those seeking faith, friendship and community.
