5 Ways to Make New Friends at Church

• Introduce Yourself

This one is easy for you extroverts out there. For those introverts, yes, it will take some effort. Make a point each week that you go to mass to introduce yourself to someone near you that you don't know. It's as simple as that. It will automatically serve to make both yourself and that person feel more welcome to the service. Then, once you've met all those people who attend the same mass as you and sit in your normal section, you can move to a different section and begin all over again.

• Get Involved!

An easy way to meet people is to get involved in a ministry. Not only are you giving back your time and efforts to a great cause, you'll be meeting people who are interested in similar charitable activities as you are. You already have something in common! Check your church bulletin or website for opportunities to help out. You can also ask your priest if he knows of a way you can help out. Churches are always looking for good people to volunteer their time. There's generally a ministry for almost everything. And if after looking around, you don't find one that appeals to you, and you notice a need in your community, start your own ministry and advertise it in your church bulletin or website.

• Go on a Retreat

Sign up for your next church retreat or day of reflection. You'll get the opportunity to grow in faith and meet some new interesting people at the same time. You will be able to spend a whole day, or even a week, getting to know a group of people. I did this at the beginning of the year, and met so many wonderful women in my parish. Now every time I go to mass, I have a someone to say hi to.

• Take a Class

Why not learn something new and meet others at the same time? If you have a Catholic or Christian University near you, consider enrolling in a continuing education class. If you don't, that's ok. Almost all offer online classes. You might not meet new people in person, but now days people meet online all the time. You can find a study partner or create a study group to help you complete your assignments and ask each other questions on the lessons. Just don't get caught talking in class!

• Join a Small Group or Bible Study

The Catholic Church was built on small groups meeting in homes in the days of the early church. Just about every church has a bible study group you could join. In groups of just a few people you can explore your faith in topics that interest you. Some groups still meet in homes, others meet at the church. These groups can become like tight knit little families.