Words of welcome for continental visitors – Summer Sundays
Presiders at weekend liturgies may like to welcome groups or individuals from continental Europe with greetings like these at the beginning or end of Mass. Phonetic versions are given for priests or congregation leaders unfamiliar with these languages.
Dutch
‘Beste vrienden, die bij ons uw verlof komt doorbrengen, wij zijn blij u hier te begroeten.’ (Phonetically ‘Best-eh freend-en, dee by uns oo fer-lof come-teh door-breng-en, vigh zine bligh oo here tuh buh-ghroot-in.’)
French
‘Chers amis qui venez passer vos vacances chez nous, nous sommes heureux de vous acceuillir parmi nous.’ (Phonetically: ‘Shares am-ee key venay passay vo va-kawnce shay noo, noo soms uru de vooz a-cow-year parmee noo.’)
German
‘Liebe Freunde, Sie kamen um Ihre Ferien hier zu verbringen. Wir freuen uns, Sie bei uns aufzunehmen.’ (Phonetically: ‘Leeba froy-unda, zee cam-en um eere fair-ee-en here tsoo ver-bring-en. Veer froy-en unts, zee by unts owf-zoo-name-in.’)
Italian
‘Cari amici, che venite a passare le vostre vacanza qui da noi, siamo felici di accogliervi nella nostra communità.’ (Phonetically: ‘Caree amee-chee, kay vay-nee-tay ah pass-ah-ray lay voss-tray vah-can-za kwee da noy, see-amo fay-lee-chay day akol-ee-err-vee nellah noss-trah com-oo-nee-tah.)
Spanish
‘Quiero dar una bienvenida muy especial a los visitantes españoles. Deseo que tengan unas vaccaciones felices entre nosotros. (Phonetically: ‘Ki-er-oh dar oona be-en-ven-eeda mo-ee espes-ee-al a lows visi-tant-eys e-span-yole-es. Des-ay-o kay ten-gan oon-as vack-ass-ee-owen-es fe-lee-th-es en-tray nose-ot-rose.’)