The objective of the Welcoming Committee is to reach out to new arrived and/or registered parishioners to welcome and introduce them to the opportunities and ministries of the Ave Maria Parish. The Committee routinely helps to facilitate a myriad of activities such as: Mass greeters; quarterly wine and cheese get-togethers; etc.

The Welcoming Committee is always looking for additional volunteers to help in extending our parish’s loving hands, by welcoming our new parish members.

If you are interested in this ministry, the Welcoming Committee meets the 4th Monday of each month. For more information, please contact Joni Rocco (720) 988-3663.

Thank you and God bless you for considering this ministry opportunity.

All parishioners are an integral part of the Ave Maria Catholic Church’s faith community.  The Welcoming Community fosters the important belief that everyone is welcome by warmly greeting all who enter the church to celebrate the Mass, as well as contacting new parishioners in a timely manner.  The Welcoming Committee is a ministry comprised of volunteers under the overall direction of the Liturgist and Pastor.  Volunteer participation in the Welcoming Committee is open to all registered members of the parish, who wish to participate in this ministry’s activities.  A central coordinator for the Welcoming Committee will be designated and appointed by the Liturgist and Pastor.  Co-coordinators may be designated and appointed by the central committee coordinator, if/as needed.

Mission Statement

Assists the Pastor in directly contacting and welcoming newly registered people who have joined the Ave Maria Parish community in a timely fashion. 

Purpose

To promote the parish’s motto of being a “Welcoming Parish Community”, the Welcoming Committee will greet people at the weekend liturgies in the gathering space (outside the church’s general worship space) and contact newly registered church members in the parish community.

Responsibilities

The activities of the ministry include:

1. Establish and maintain a warm, welcoming, friendly environment for all parish-ioners and guests.

2. Warmly greet and welcome people at the weekend liturgical celebrations in the gathering space (outside the church’s general worship space).

3. Ensure all newly registered church members receive a welcoming phone call and email, as well as an invitation by mail to a quarterly reception that provides the opportunity to meet other new members and discover the wealth of ministries offered at the Ave Maria Catholic Church.

With the support and assistance of the parish Liturgist, the Welcoming Committee central coordinator will ensure all volunteer participants in this ministry strive to:

1. Promote the values and norms of the Catholic faith and to be the face of Christ in all that they say and do in their activities.

2. Be knowledgeable of and comply with, established Church, diocesan, and parish norms and guidelines concerning welcoming activities.

3. Be receptive and engaging to parishioners who are interested in becoming new committee members and assisting in committee activities (e.g., providing a dish for the quarterly receptions or assisting with welcoming phone calls).

4. Facilitate regular meetings (monthly, or as needed) for entire committee to discuss committee activities, committee-related purchases, and any other needs. Ave Maria’s parish Liturgist will be invited to attend each meeting as well as receive minutes from those meetings for their review.

5. Schedule committee members to assist with fellowship activities (coffee and donuts) after the Sunday Masses in Dwyer Hall on the committee’s specific scheduled hospitality weekends.

6. Invite and encourage all committee members to assist in welcoming at any Liturgy, even if they are not scheduled.

7. Assign greeters for each weekend liturgy and post the greeter schedule in the sacristy and provide a copy to the parish liturgist. 

Changes to and/or additions to the Welcoming Committee ministry responsibilities and duties will be at the discretion of the parish Liturgist, Pastor (whether verbally or in writing) and/or Parochial Vicar.  Resolutions to issues regarding the Welcoming Committee’s mission statement, purpose, and responsibilities will be resolved by the parish Liturgist and/or Pastor, respectively.