What is a Welcoming Parish?
When you attend Mass at a parish you have not been to before, there are clues to how welcoming it is. When you enter the property, helpful signage directs you to the church entrance, greeters open the door, look directly at you, speak to you, and are ready to answer any questions you may have. When the service is over, they are at the doors saying good-bye and wishing you a good week. The presider at Mass may welcome visitors, the people around you are cordial, the music is singable and over all you feel comfortable in your surroundings. You conclude that this is a welcoming parish and you would like to come back here again.
If you have to figure out where the entrance to the church is, no one greets or speaks to you, the people around you ignore you and you feel like you have stumbled into a private club where you do not belong—you may not want to come back. This parish is clearly for the “insiders.” There is no room for newcomers or visitors no matter how beautiful the church may appear.
When we are closed in upon ourselves and show no regard for
newcomers , we are not the missionary disciples, Christ calls us to be.
A Welcoming Parish Website is an Evangelizing Website
Take a moment to consider what a welcoming parish website looks like. The items visitors look for such as the Mass schedule, directions, complete address and contact information, the current bulletin, how to join or return to the church, how to access the sacraments either for themselves or their children, have prominent positions on the homepage alongside a genuinely friendly welcome statement. Parish websites require a conscious effort to make them welcoming.
Two Approaches to the Parish Website
- The first approach and the most common is that the parish website is for the “insiders.” In this case, the “insiders” are staff and leaders who want parishioners to see their programs and projects featured. What leaders may not understand is that parishioners rarely visit the parish website because this information is already available to them through Sunday announcements, the parish bulletin and other forms of parish communications such as e-letters, and social media posts. While this information is worthwhile and belongs on the website, parishioners are not the only audience parishes need to address if they want to be evangelizing or welcoming parishes.
- The second approach is that the parish website is for everyone who visits it—parishioners and visitors. It includes elements that address the needs of visitors: a welcome message, special links to sections which invite visitors to visit, join or come back to this parish; a link to the sacraments as well as information that parishioners are usually seeking: the bulletin and/or links to forms or resources and stories or photos that interest them.
The Challenge to be Welcoming Continues
As much as I try to encourage welcoming websites that keep visitors in mind, it is difficult to convince parishes even those that call themselves “very friendly,” that their website tells a different story. I have been told by very well-meaning people that a welcome message, a section for Join Us or Find a Sacrament are a waste of quality homepage space. I thought that attitude was in the past, but recently a new generation parish website “expert” told me that very thing. We have about 8 seconds to engage a visitor on our website. If they do not feel welcome and wanted immediately, they click away and never come back.
When Will We Be a Welcoming Parish?
We will be a welcoming (hence vibrant and growing) parish when every area of parish life reaches outward and welcomes everyone in. This includes the parish office staff, the greeters, the ministry teams, the various parish groups and all public communications including websites. When we are closed in upon ourselves and show little regard for newcomers, we are not yet the missionary disciples Christ calls us to be.
Your thoughts and comments are welcome.
Comments (2)
John J. Boucher
January 25, 2022 at 10:14 am
One evangelization exercise I have used to help parishes become more welcoming was originally developed by Susan Blum Gerding. The parish team and all ministries were invited to use this exercise yearly to help evaluate how they were doing at becoming more welcoming by visiting other parishes to see how they are doing. I have seen it dramatically change parishes in this area of radical hospitality. An adaptation of her exercise is below:
Hospitality Survey
Please visit two or three different Catholic parishes over the next few weeks for Sunday Mass. Fill out a separate survey for each parish visited. After each visit allocate ten points for each positive response to the following statements:
_____ 1. I was welcomed at the door to the church or in the gathering space of the church.
_____ 2. I was welcomed through word or eye contact by the person next to me as I entered the pew.
_____ 3. The priest or lector welcomed newcomers during their introductory comments.
_____ 4. Newcomers were recognized and identified during the course of the Mass.
______ 5. Newcomers were personally greeted by other parishioners during the course of the mass.
______6. At the Sign of Peace, I felt sincerely welcomed or greeted by the people near me.
______ 7. After Mass, there was an opportunity for me to meet other people — coffee and donuts or whatever.
______ 8. During this social time, I was welcomed and greeted by at least one parishioner.
______ 9. During this social time, I was included in at least one interesting conversation.
______ 10. During this social time, I was introduced to at least one other parishioner.
______ 11. I was invited to come back.
______ 12. I was invited to come to parish activities other than Mass.
_____ 13. I was introduced to the pastor, an associate pastor, or another staff person.
_____ 14. I felt truly welcomed and would look forward to attending this church again.
Total score: _________
Comments:
Your Name ______________________________________
Name of Parish visited
Town of Parish
Date of Visit
Sr. Susan Wolf, SND
January 25, 2022 at 10:34 am
Thanks John. This is very helpful and specific.
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