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Do you remember when you first stepped foot in St. Cecilia’s? Maybe you were just out of college and looking for post-grad faith opportunities like the ones you had at your alma mater. Maybe you had just moved from out-of-state and didn’t know who to turn to for brewery recommendations, much less a friend to share a drink with you. Maybe you were a new parent or newly married, and wanted to meet other couples in your same chapter of life. Safe to say, all of us were new at some point, and that experience of showing up to a Candlelight Mass or Donut Sunday social alone can be intimidating at best, terrifying at worst.
Our mission is to solve this by utilizing a three-fold intentional approach to help our newest friends find their sense of home.- First, we strive to foster an ongoing sense of belonging with both new parishioners and those who may already be a part of our community but seek to be better integrated.
- Next, we strive to introduce or reacquaint all parishioners with active ministries to promote relationship building, overall engagement, and investment into the life of the parish.
- Finally, we want to create connections so rich that they cultivate a consistent transition in status from "visitor" to "parishioner."
How do we do this? It's simple, really. Our Welcoming Committee is divided up into two teams, Parish Fellowship and Young Adult Fellowship, and is present at events hosted for the Eastside Family and those in the young adult community. We seek out those who may be new or in search of community and opportunities. With nametags and all, we make ourselves "seen" so that new friends will feel "seen", as well, and can be encouraged in knowing that we are there to support them.
Christ calls each one of us to welcome Him by extending a hand to a stranger. Join us in answering this invitation and building a community that all can call home!
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