New Parishioners' Welcoming Committee

by Anne Beaton

During August 2001, the following notice appeared in our parish bulletin:

New Parishioners' Welcoming Committee: We are excited to announce another new initiative that will get underway in September. A New Parishioners' Social will take place each month here at Blessed Sacrament. Our hope is to bring new families together in a meaningful way at the start of their journey through our community. New parishioners are asked to please complete the short form which appears at the bottom of the parish bulletin each week.

The social is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about Blessed Sacrament, visit with Father Joe and with one another.

September 2002 was the first anniversary of our New Parishioners' Social. Based solely on the comments from our new parishioners, we are happy to say that our initial hope and vision as described above has certainly been realized, especially in relation to new parishioners. They have expressed, "feeling welcome, informed and less isolated in our ever growing community."

It would appear this type of event is unique to Blessed Sacrament. The most often asked questions are "What is the Social like?" and "How big is it?" It is best described as a small, relaxed gathering hosted by Father Joe at his residence. In the past year, we have welcomed several hundred wonderful people arriving from various areas in this region, each province of Canada, as well as from many countries around the world. The evening is well received because it is always filled with good will, good food, and good cheer. The date for each event is set several months in advance, consequently the size of each group is totally dependent upon the number of people available on a specific date - from in the thirties to single digit and anywhere in between.

If per chance you did complete the short form which appears at the bottom of the parish bulletin and it was not acknowledged, please contact the Parish Office at 232-4891. It is never too late.

(This article appeared in our November 24, 2002 Spirit of Blessed Sacrament. )