Ministry Profile: Newcomers Welcoming/Hospitality Committee

It’s usually a little awkward to go somewhere new, especially when you don’t know anyone. It can be a challenge to meet new people and feel connected to a new place. However, here at Our Lady Star of the Sea, we hope that from the first moment someone steps through our doors, they feel welcome and at home in our community.

“I grew up a cradle Catholic in the northeast,” says parishioner Nancy Vella, who coordinates the Newcomers Welcoming/Hospitality Committee. “We were extremely reserved — you zipped into church without looking at anybody and you zipped out as soon as you could. Now, my husband and I, we go to church and we love going to church because not only is it our time with the Lord, but it’s our time with our friends and our family. I would like everybody to have that same experience.”

The Newcomers Welcoming/Hospitality Ministry serves to help ensure that new parishioners can connect within our parish family. Once a month, they host a table in the back of the church, providing an opportunity for new parishioners to register and have their questions answered. “Our purpose is to reach out to new parishioners, to welcome them, to say, ‘We’re glad you’re here! What can we do to help you?’” Nancy says. Each month, the members of the committee also divide up a list of newly registered parishioners and reach out to them, either by phone, email, or a note in the mail. In pre-COVID times, the committee has also hosted a newcomers’ social twice a year. Not only is it an opportunity for new parishioners to enjoy wine and cheese with other newcomers, but they are also able to meet members of the Parish Council, the pastor, and other ministry leaders.

“It’s such fun,” Nancy says. “It’s a social and a networking kind of thing — it’s a nice time.”

Many of those who serve as part of the Newcomers Welcoming/Hospitality Committee also serve as greeters at Mass.

“My husband and I love opening doors for people,” Nancy says. “You truly do put a smile on people’s faces, so they’re coming into church feeling good about it and we feel good about it, too. It’s a nice thing to do.”

At the end of the day, Nancy hopes that the efforts of the committee will help to assure our new members that they made the right choice in joining our community.

“We want them to feel comfortable, to feel happy, and that they made the right decision,” she says. “Choosing a parish, it’s difficult. We want people to realize they we’re a welcoming parish, we’re happy they’re here and we want them to be part of our community, part of our family.”

Nancy encourages her fellow parishioners to consider becoming involved in the committee, helping others to feel welcome and at home.

For more information, or to become part of the Newcomers Welcoming/Hospitality Ministry, please contact Nancy Vella at 904-710-3723 or vellapvb@gmail.com.

Parishioner Rob Vella serves at the monthly welcome table in the back of the church.