Connection The
KING’S
THE NEW PARISHIONER RECEPTIONS:
Helping People to Find a “Second Home” at Cathedral of Christ the King
T
here is something special about gathering around a table for a meal. Whether it’s something as festive as a holiday dinner with extended family, or as low-key as Friday night pizza, food has the power to bring people together and help them to connect and build relationships. Even in Jesus’ life and ministry, there is a theme of people gathering together to “break bread.” Here at the Cathedral of Christ the King, we hope to meet and welcome those who have recently joined our community at our New Parishioner Receptions. And while our typical evenings of in-person food and fellowship have temporarily moved to the Zoom videoconferencing platform during the pandemic, we hope that these will still be
Our New Parishioner Receptions have temporarily moved to Zoom, but we hope to welcome newcomers, in person, again soon.
an opportunity for people to experience the warmth of our Cathedral community. “We try to provide some kind of a reception or welcome event where they can meet other new parishioners, as well as staff members, ministry leaders, and Parish Council to give them an overview of this parish they’ve joined,” says Katie Sheppard, our Director of Advancement at the Cathedral. Our community typically welcomes 100-160 new parish families a year, and despite the limitations of the pandemic, newcomers have continued to join. The hope is to host these welcome events once a quarter or so. Although the Zoom receptions look a bit different, they provided an opportunity for those who have recently
registered to connect with other parishioners, our priests, and staff who want to welcome them. Newcomers were divided into small breakout groups based on their stage in life, and ministry leaders and staff were available to answer questions. Katie hopes that these events will help people feel connected within the parish community, and allow them to explore where they might use their gifts to serve and become involved. “I want it to make the difference between someone who just sits in the pew and doesn’t interact with anyone, versus someone who feels invited to be actively involved in the life of the parish beyond Sunday Mass,” Katie says. “I want them to feel excited about the prospect of a ministry they feel called to, or an encounter they want to repeat.
If you would like more information on how to get involved with preparing food or via another role in our New Parishioner Receptions, please visit https://cathedralctk.org/hospitality. The next Zoom gathering for newcomers is scheduled for June 21. 4
