Although we are discussing these activities in the context of Stewardship, it is important to understand that these activities and initiatives are, for the most part, activities which any active parish should be conducting. Taken together, however, these initiatives will have a long-term positive effect on the life of any parish. Our last article discussed this topic in detail. It should be evident that without the lay leadership to guide the Stewardship efforts of the parish, the parish will never fully develop as a Stewardship parish. Parish Hospitality Programs.
Parishes use a wide variety of methods to welcome new members.
Some do nothing beyond filling out the registration card and asking new members if they want to use envelopes. Other parishes also obtain the requisite registration data. Beyond that, however, they also accomplish a variety of additional activities such as a house visit to the new members to explain the church's ministries and to provide welcoming information packets. Some parishes host a bi-monthly newcomer covered dish supper and use this event to further explain parish ministries and activities. The Hospitality Ministry is a wonderful way to describe the Stewardship activities of the parish and explain to newcomers why use of the weekly envelopes is so important to the Church.