(See this year's Halloween Pumpkin Carving Pictures, here!)

ORGANIZATION NAME: Welcome Committee

CHAIRPERSON: Co-chairs are Mary Taft and Kristine Wright

MEETING DATE: Second Tuesday of every other month @ 7 PM (subject to change)

MISSION: The Welcome Committee is committed to being a vibrant, caring and welcoming community, dedicated to the growth of our parish family. We welcome visitors and integrate new parishioners into our parish: promote, enhance and facilitate relationships among new and old parishioners.

VISION: To become a resource and a place for new parishioners to seek information, on-going support, and guidance as they get to know our parish community and staff.

GOALS: Plan and facilitate monthly events to welcome and orient new parishioners to the parish.
Foster relationships between existing parishioners and new parishioners.
Continue to find additional and special ways to honor new parishioners.

DESCRIPTION: The Welcome Committee was started in January 2003 by parishioners Amy Hampson and Stacie Ludden, with the help of former staff member, Debbie Wiedner. Since then, the committee has grown, defined itself, and made great strides in welcoming new parishioners into the parish family here at St. Bridget. One of its major accomplishments has been the production of a Welcome brochure. This brochure outlines the Mission, Vision and Goals of St. Bridget parish, includes general parish information, and describes many of our organizations and ministries. Whenever a new parishioner registers through the parish office, someone from the committee makes contact with the new family, presents them with a Welcome basket, including a Welcome brochure and the latest pictorial directory, and assists them in getting involved in parish life.

The Welcome Committee also sponsors Nametag Sunday on the first weekend of the month, including a special “wine and cheese” gathering after the Saturday evening Mass.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED: The Welcoming Committee is a vibrant group committed to making everyone feel at home at St. Bridget. Hospitality is something we all can help with – simply by introducing ourselves to those we don’t know, particularly after Mass, at coffee hours, and at social events. The committee is always looking for new members and encourages anyone to attend its monthly meetings, to learn more about the ministry of hospitality. Some ways you might help:

 

• Assist with Name Tag Sundays

• Help assemble the Welcome baskets

• Deliver the Welcome baskets to new parishioners

• Host special events, such as the Saturday evening wine and cheese socials and the annual Pumpkin Carving event (See this year's pictures, HERE).

• Help update and publish a monthly parish calendar of events

• Periodically help edit and assemble the Welcome brochure