How can you tell if someone attending Mass is a newcomer or visitor? Maybe you have many parishioners at your parish. Enough, so that it is impossible to recognize everyone. Especially if it is a Mass you don't normally attend.
Kathi Rowley of Mary, Queen of Peace recently gave us this tip. "If they have to ask for or are looking for the bathroom, they probably haven't been there before." She pays attention to those who pop out of Mass and are obviously hunting for something! What a brilliant idea. So for all of you that are working on welcoming...give it a try.
(Thanks to Kathi for this tip!)
She also shared her parish's 3 step process to make contact with newcomers. During the week in which they register, two senior parish volunteers with the 'gift of gab', call the newcomers and welcome them. A month later, the pastor makes a phone call to welcome them again. Finally, 6 months out, someone from the pastoral council calls them again. This is working well for our Sammamish parish and we think it will work well for you. If you try this, please let us know by emailing parishstewardship@seattlearch.org. As always, we welcome your comments.
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