How Do We Become a Welcoming Parish?

How do we become a welcoming parish?
Think of how you feel when you walk into a party, or a new place for the first time and you don’t know anybody.  Depending on your personality, you will handle it in different ways.  
Now think what it is like to walk into St. Louis de Montfort as a new person.  Maybe this person is single, maybe they are with their spouse, maybe they have two or three small children, or maybe they are retired, newly widowed etc.  Each person who walks through the doors of the parish has a different story and a different journey that brought them here and now.
What is there experience going to be like?  It completely depends on you.  No, not the pastor, not the leadership team – you.  Why do I say that?  Because this parish is huge.  The pastor is greeting people coming in and out, talking to people who pull him aside.  The leadership team is speaking to those they notice and those who want to talk to them about some event coming up, or they need prayer, or having a hardship they need to talk through – so it is up to you.
Every parishioner has a command from God that was confirmed at their confirmation.  “Go out and make disciples.” Every parishioner comes to Mass to be with God and partake in the great Sacrament of the Eucharist.  What is the final command from the priest? “Go and share what has been given to you.”  We just received Jesus in the Eucharist and now are infused with the power and grace of that Sacrament to go into the world and make disciples!!
How do we become a welcoming parish?  By each one of us living out the great command of our Baptism, Confirmation and sacramental grace. 

1. Say hello to someone you don’t know.
2. That person who is an acquaintance (you met once but you are not sure what their name is) ask them how they are doing. (Don’t worry, on nametag Sunday you will learn their name).
3. Say hello, get to know someone at Mass each Sunday.  Build a relationship and then ask them to join you for breakfast or a cup of coffee.

When you have children, many times your children will introduce you to new people by their mere actions.  For many, they don’t have small children and it is much harder to integrate. 
People long for connection, community and to be known.  They need to be invited and to be ‘seen’.  Yes, many of us are very involved but it is up to you to welcome them.  That is how we become a welcoming parish.  It is up to you.