Will Rogers, the American humorist, entertainer, and social commentator, famously said, You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” That is certainly true, and first impressions are very important for those looking to find a Parish Church. Your parish is where you receive sacraments, find your community, and share faith experiences throughout your life. First impressions are very important, and we fortunately have some fine ambassadors of our parish always at the ready.
The volunteer receptionist ministry is a group of volunteers who serve as the first point of contact for callers and in-person visitors to the parish offices. Ginny Peters is one of those volunteers, and she loves her role: “I believe St. Francis is a very welcoming Catholic community that embraces anyone who is hurting, wanting to learn about St. Francis, or looking to build their faith. Certainly, as the receptionist, we are not called to ‘educate’ someone in their faith, but we can certainly be a source of welcome, comfort, and love.”
Anita Misko, another volunteer receptionist, agrees, saying, “You do reflect the whole community here. You’re the first person they’ll get information from about our parish. I think you need to be upbeat and positive and reflect the love of Christ. That’s the job in a nutshell.” As a parishioner for over 15 years, Anita drives past other Catholic churches to get to St. Francis. “I think it’s a very family-oriented church. I like the fact that we are very aware of social issues out there. We don’t distinguish people by their race, color, creed, or whatever else. We’re welcoming, and it’s all about our faith in God and what Jesus taught us. We need to be there for one another, because we’re a community; St Francis is a church family community.”
Ginny loves her role, saying, “I believe you have to have a knowledge and understanding of our Catholic faith, but we also point our parishioners to the proper people on our staff when they have specific questions. We are a source of welcoming, first and foremost, as we are the first people our guests encounter. We are here to reflect the spirit of love, joy, concern, and comfort of the parish as we address their needs or point them to the best person to help them.”
Interested in helping out as the parish’s ‘first impression’? These wonderful volunteers warmly greet visitors to the church office area for a 3-hour shift during normal business hours. Shifts are scheduled for 9 AM to Noon or 1 PM to 4 PM once a week, based on the volunteer’s personal schedule and vacation. To find out more, please contact Dina DaRe at Dina.DaRe@stfrancisraleigh.org | (919) 847-8205 x 242