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St. Joseph's parish in Greenfield Center knows how to treat its visiting priests. Parishioners have had lots of experience, having gone almost five years without a permanent sacramental minister.

During that time, parish life director Deacon Gary Picher and his wife, Pat, hosted priests in their home for dinner when the clergymen came to celebrate Mass. Some priests stayed in the rectory overnight, too.

But when the parish got the happy news in May that Rev. Simon Udemgba would celebrate the Saturday vigil Mass and two Sunday morning Masses - and call the rectory his weekend home - parishioners decided to kick their welcome wagon up a notch.

They formed a cooking committee to plan out Father Udemgba's Saturday dinners and Sunday breakfasts.

"It's one of those things that just came together," Deacon Picher told The Evangelist.

Parishioners call themselves "Father Simon's Mystery Meals Committee" - a joke about Father Udemgba's unfussy appetite.

"I have a universal stomach," Father Udemgba confirmed. "I can eat anything."

The native of Nigeria has been treated to servings of ziti, lasagna, spaghetti and meatballs, stews, hearty salads, desserts and more.

Father Udemgba is volunteer pastor and counselor for the Mother Teresa Community in Albany's South End (see previous story at www.evangelist.org). He celebrates Mass there on Sunday evenings and lives in Schenectady.

About a dozen volunteers have taken turns cooking and delivering his meals, hosting him at their homes or bringing him to restaurants. They want to double the size of the committee and plan to recruit more cooks through the bulletin and email list.

The effort has helped the parishioners build a relationship with their new sacramental minister.

"They're warming up to him so much," Deacon Picher said. "It gives him a chance to kind of be around here for the weekend."

Terri Coseo, who chairs the committee, said the effort "just makes sense to me as kind of a little welcoming committee. Also, it's kind of inconvenient if [priests] are traveling far - there's not that many restaurants close by. It's good for us to get to know our priest, as well."

Having a permanent sacramental minister is also a welcome change after years of close to 40 priests celebrating Mass at the parish.

"It's a nice God-gift," Deacon Picher said.

Father Udemgba appreciates the meals and the welcoming spirit: "They have a wonderful parish community," he said. "They use all of their joy and goodness to do it."

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