Hey priests! 5 Ideas to prepare for Easter Mass visitors

Every year, there are lots of new faces at the biggest Masses of the year on Easter and Christmas. But it can still come as a surprise when we are used to seeing the same crowd at church Sunday after Sunday.

As Easter draws near, let’s not have the influx of new faces catch us by surprise this time. Let’s think about what our parishes can do to prepare for these visitors. 

Some may be traveling from far away to visit family. Some may be our neighbors, raised Catholic but who now only go to Mass at Christmas and Easter. Some may be stepping into a Catholic church for the very first time.

What are we doing to welcome them? How can we help them feel God’s love in their brief time with us? What can we do to encourage them to come back next week?

The LPi blog has a checklist of 21 things parishes can do to welcome visitors, while the Archdiocese of Milwaukee has a list of 10 ways to prepare.

Here are our favorite ways to warmly welcome Easter visitors — and hopefully encourage their return.

The first step is making sure visitors can find Mass times and other information. Check that your parish website is accurate and mobile-friendly.

When Father takes a moment to welcome all the visitors, they know that they are wanted here. He might even mention a few great community-building services the parish offers, such as a young adult group or moms and tots community, and encourage visitors to join one of these and come back soon.

Encourage the parish “regulars,” ushers, and greeters to be extra welcoming. Consider adding a few more volunteers to welcome visitors on the big day. While you’re at it, add signs pointing out where the bathrooms are, and check that the vestibule, bathrooms, and parking lot are cleaned up and debris-free.

Consider offering a children’s bulletin at the church entrance, or a coloring page that corresponds with the readings and some crayons. Some parishes include a welcome message for parents of young children in their bulletin, or Father might mention it from the pulpit. A little gesture to welcome children means the world to parents, and can make all the difference in them coming back.

If it’s feasible, consider offering donuts after Mass — this is a surefire way to get new faces to stick around! Or consider offering visitors a book to take home. We recommend Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis, Rome Sweet Home by Scott Hahn, and Something Other Than God by Jennifer Fulwiler.

What will your parish do to prepare for the influx of Easter visitors? We’d love to hear your ideas — please share them in the comments!