Common Mistakes Churches Make About Visitors to Their Parish (and how to fix them!)

“We want to be a welcoming community.” Sound familiar? We work with churches all over the country and one of the most common things we hear from church staff everywhere is that they want their parish community to be welcoming, friendly, and accessible to visitors. This endeavor requires more than just open doors, however, and even the most well-intentioned churches can sometimes miss the mark when it comes to helping newcomers feel truly welcome and included. Let's delve into some key aspects that might be easily overlooked in your parish’s collaborative quest to bridge the gap between established parishioners and visitors.

Mistake — Lack of Information
Walking into a new place can be intimidating, especially when there's a lack of easy-to-access information available. How are visitors supposed to know where to park, where the bathrooms are, how to get access to ministries or services, if there is childcare available, about opportunities for those with disabilities, or simply that you pray the rosary together as a community after the 5 p.m. Mass? It can be scary walking into a new parish for the first time when you don’t know what to expect.

Fix it by —

• Providing clear and concise literature and digital resources that introduce your visitors to the history, mission, activities, and other FAQ’s of the parish. A great way to do this is to include a menu item or a link on your website’s homepage that is front and center for visitors to gather this information. If the homepage suggestion already makes you feel lost, we can help! We assist churches all over the country with their websites and would be happy to get you set up for visitor success.

• It’s also important to have a friendly point-person whose main job at Mass is to greet visitors and help newcomers get acquainted with the parish. Some communities have volunteer greeters at every Mass who play this part, while and others have a staff member who oversees community outreach or evangelization and is available to newcomers.

• Another easy way to catch visitors’ attention is to have a table or area set aside near your entrance with a sign that clearly points visitors to printed resources. Don’t forget to have these resources available outside of your regular Sunday Mass times too! Weddings, funerals, and even programs like youth groups often have visitors who are looking to be included!

Mistake — Overwhelming Liturgical Jargon & Unexplained Traditions
While longstanding parishioners might be well-acquainted with your parish’s liturgical language and practices, newcomers can often feel lost in a sea of unfamiliar terms, rituals, and culture.

Fix it by —

• Making a conscious effort to explain your church’s rituals, prayers, and customs in an accessible way. This could be as simple as your priest or lectors explaining parts of the Mass ahead of the events taking place when something new or complicated is coming up.

• Educate visitors using the screens in your sanctuary if you have them. Display a slide explaining rituals, with prayers people can read, or even a schedule of what to expect out of the service so that newcomers can be more familiar with what is going on and what to expect.

• Some churches also provide literature or brochures accessible to each seat in the parish that explain the main parts of the Mass and invite visitors to learn more by registering or attending a new-comer’s gathering. These are great ways to help people follow along and to invite them deeper into the parish community.

Mistake — Exclusive Social Circles and Inaccessible Leadership

Human nature often leads people to gravitate toward those they already know. This can inadvertently create exclusive social circles within the church.

Fix it by –

• Creating space before or after Mass to actively encourage existing members to welcome and engage with newcomers (and each other). Some churches will even give parishioners a conversational prompt like “What’s your favorite local restaurant?” or “Do you belong to any of the parish’s ministries?”

• Another strategy would be for your pastor, when greeting everyone at the beginning of Mass, to ask if there are any visitors who would like to introduce themselves. Often simply asking their names and where they’re from can inspire other parishioners to engage with them after the celebration.

• Make sure you have the contact information for your church staff or ministry leaders on your parish website in an easy-to-find place. This simple step can go a long way toward taking the guesswork out of accessing leadership and finding resources for visitors!

Mistake — Neglecting Technology  

In today's digital age, churches that neglect technology miss out on valuable opportunities to connect with visitors. Don’t forget, 90% of Americans communicate daily through social media and over 65% of website views are from cell phones instead of home computers!

Fix it by —

• Maintain an up-to-date website and active parish social media presence! These tools greatly help parishes distribute information, share stories, and showcase the warmth of their church community. Don’t worry, you don’t have to be a digital expert to achieve these two goals. We have a plethora of free resources for parishes on the Web and Social Media section of our blog to help you navigate this world! 

We hope some of these solutions have inspired you! In the heart of every church beats a desire to embrace all who seek solace and belonging. By addressing these sometimes overlooked aspects of welcoming visitors to your parish, we sow the seeds of belonging and can ensure that your visitors feel valued, connected, and empowered.