Liturgy - Welcome Team

The Passkeepers and Welcomer provide a welcome as people come into church for mass, organise the offertory collection, and maintain overall security.

Contact: John Wastle 447 3442                 wastles@btinternet.com

 

Volunteering Role Descriptor  

The Welcome Team, comprising two passkeepers and a “welcomer”, undertake their duties at Sunday Masses and other major services.  The head passkeeper is responsible for overseeing the work of the Welcome Team and reports to the Parish Priest.  Other passkeepers assist during services as necessary, for example in taking up the Offertory collection.

The Welcome Team should arrive a half hour before Mass starts to make preparations and remain afterwards for 10-15 minutes to clear up.

Before Mass, the “welcomer” is required to:

offer a friendly greeting to those arriving for the service

give appropriate advice to visitors to the parish

distribute hymn books and music sheets

offer Welcome leaflet to newcomers to the parish

The passkeepers are required to:

prepare hymn books and any additional music sheets for distribution

begin to take a count of those attending

give appropriate advice to visitors to the parish

offer Welcome leaflet to newcomers to the parish

ensure that two more passkeepers are available to take the

Offertory collection:

ensure that a chalice and wine decanter are in place for the Offertory Procession

identify 3-4 parishioners for the Offertory Procession

ensure a clear passage for the priest and altar servers in procession to the altar.

During Mass, the Passkeepers should undertake the following, as necessary:

ensure a clear passage to Parish Room for children and leaders for Children’s Liturgy

continue to take a count of those attending

show those arriving late to spaces in the pews

alert Children’s Liturgy leaders to return to Church to follow in

Offertory Procession:

take up the Offertory collection, bringing baskets to the back of Church

arrange Offertory Procession: bearers of collection, chalice and wine; and children

take second or retiral collections as arranged.

At the end of Mass, the Duty Passkeepers are responsible for carrying out the following:

opening the double doors from Church to the vestibule and, vestibule to the courtyard

ensuring a clear passage for the priest and altar servers in procession from the altar

collect hymn books and additional music sheets from those leaving Church

collect books, music sheets, newsletters, personal property etc left in pews

leave found personal property in prominent place

return hymn books and music sheets to storage under the arches at the back of Church.

 
Additional matters which may need attention:

Four children selected by the Children’s Liturgy Group form the Offertory Procession on the first Sunday of the month.

Those for whose intentions Mass is offered (as set out in the Parish Newsletter) should be invited to take part in the Offertory Procession.

Passkeepers should watch for elderly or disabled people who might be unable to reach the altar for Communion, and should offer to make arrangements for the priest to bring communion to their place.

Passkeepers should be prepared to summon medical staff from among the congregation in cases of illness, and to summon the emergency services, if necessary.  Cold drinks from the parish room kitchen can be offered to those who are unwell, and seats in the parish room and the courtyard.

Parents embarrassed by their noisy small children should be reassured.  They should be offered places in the side chapel at the front left of church or in the chapel at the back left; or seats at the rear of church behind the pews.

Parents who need to feed or change small children can do so in privacy in the chapel at the back left of church (in winter, switch on heating; switch off afterwards).

Other services:
Arrangements for weekday Masses are made on the day by those who regularly attend these services.  In addition, special arrangements are made in advance by the parish priest and the head passkeeper for other services, such as Midnight Mass and the Easter Triduum.  However, the duties set out above for Sunday Mass generally apply to other services.

Contact:
John Wastle 447 3442 wastles@btinternet.com

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