Are we welcoming in our parishes?

By Sadie Smith 020 8946 5198

The Parish is the family of the Church – are we a hospitable Parish?

Do we make people feel wanted, comfortable, valued, noticed, feel at home - at all times, not just at the door of the Church? Do we make room and welcome others into the bench beside us?

This is the responsibility of all of us, regardless of age, race or colour – if we communicate friendship and welcome to all the people we meet then ”they will know that we are Christians by our love”. We are all needed and wanted.

Jesus makes us all welcome no matter what we look like or how we lead our lives. It is not our place to be judgemental or critical. By greeting the person you don’t know with a smile and a listening ear you may find that you have more in common than you ever expected. There is one thing you do share already - being member of this Parish Community, whether just for one day or for many years makes no difference. As one of the Welcomers at the Sunday Masses said to me “You only have to arrive 10-15 minutes before Mass. It’s a great way of volunteering, it's probably the easiest commitment anyone could make”.

​Our current welcomers are doing a great job – but they need more helpers especially on big feast days and special occasions. They would be delighted to talk to you about what they do and how they enjoy meeting and greeting the people as they come into Mass. Talk to any of the people welcoming you into Mass on Sunday(or to the Parish Priest) for more information, and come and join in this very enjoyable life of the Parish.

One of the ways you can bring this about is by helping to hand out hymn books, newsletters etc. Helping after Mass distributing information, selling tickets or dropping in for a coffee after Mass. If no coffee is available start a coffee morning.

More Volunteers are always welcome for a whole lot of different Ministries - have a look
at the Parish Directory the Parish website.

Everyone should go home from Mass feeling renewed and accepted with a sense of belonging – and that’s the gift that you and I can do for others.

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