Welcoming Team

This is such an important role within the church. To be welcomed as you arrive gives such a feeling of belonging and coming home.

These are the details of how we manage to be welcoming:

· Arrive at least 45 minutes before a funeral and 30 minutes before Mass or meeting starts

· Continue with preparations as required for the reason you are attending

· Pick up keys, plastic folder and piety box from sacristy

· Unlock church doors

· Ensure Mass sheets and newsletters are on show and easily available

· Welcome everyone to the church/hall with warmth and a smile. Know names and faces.

· Check Eucharistic ministers and readers are present and organise replacements if not

· Direct people to Mass sheets and newsletters. Inform if hymn books required

· Take out seats as necessary to accommodate wheelchairs.

· At busy times and for latecomers, direct people to seats

· Collect items from people e. g. raffle ticket stubs, Mass requests, donations, money for piety stall items etc. Pass these to appropriate person as advised

· Find 4 people to make the collection and fill in if necessary.

· 2 people to do the offertory procession

· Answer general queries and pass more in-depth questions to Fr Seelan or Pastoral Assistant

· At the end of Mass, hand out anything that requires handing out e. g. papers, envelopes, leaflets etc

· Replace any moved chairs

· Remove any Mass sheets or newsletters left behind in the church and replace kneelers

· Carry out any other duties as requested occasionally by priest or pastoral assistant

· If no one else is available, ensure candles are not alight, lock up the church and garden gate and return keys, plastic folder and piety box to sacristy

Stewarding can be done by anyone who likes meeting people and being helpful. Knowledge to deal with queries will build up with time and there is always support from the team and Pastoral Assistant, Tracey Penn