The Advent and Christmas seasons are some of the busiest weeks of the year for your parish, and volunteers are the heartbeat behind every rehearsal, liturgy, donation drive, hospitality table, and outreach ministry. Once the season settles and the new year begins, there’s a perfect moment to pause and express genuine gratitude.

Here are seven heartfelt, impactful, and truly memorable ways to show volunteer appreciation after the holidays— plus how Unison can help you stay organized and connected with the teams who make parish life possible.

1. Send Personalized Thank-You Notes

Take time to write personal notes to volunteers, calling out specific contributions:

• “Your care in preparing the Advent wreath each week brought so much beauty to our worship.”
• “Your consistency at the Giving Tree table helped dozens of families feel supported.”

Personalization matters—it shows volunteers that you saw their efforts.

Tip: Use Unison’s built-in messaging tools to export your volunteer list and personalize each message easily.

2. Host a Post-Holiday Volunteer Appreciation Gathering

January or February is an ideal time to host a simple gathering: hot cocoa, cookies, coffee hour, or a short evening reception.

Keep it simple, but keep it special. Consider:

• A slideshow of volunteer photos from Advent/Christmas
• A short blessing for volunteers
• Recognizing long-serving volunteers publicly
• Giving out small tokens of gratitude

This kind of event fosters connection, especially after a season of high activity.

3. Spotlight Volunteers in Your Bulletin, Website, or Social Media

Featuring volunteers publicly boosts morale and builds a culture of recognition.

Ideas include:

• “Volunteer of the Month” spotlight
• Short interviews
• A photo recap of holiday ministries
• A “By the Numbers” visual—e.g., 56 liturgies supported, 22 choir practices led, 400 hospitality cups served

See how other parishes highlight volunteers through storytelling in articles like this one from Catholic Volunteer Network.

4. Share Impact Stories from the Holiday Season

Volunteers don’t just want to know what they did—they want to know why it mattered.

Compile small impact stories or stats such as:

• How many families were supported
• Feedback from parishioners
• Photos from events
• Notes from priests, staff, or ministry leads

5. Give Small, Practical Thank-You Gifts

This doesn’t need to be expensive. Some of the best gifts are thoughtful and useful:

• A prayer card with a blessing for volunteers
• Coffee gift cards from a local shop
• A parish-branded pen, mug, or tote
• Scripture cards for the new year
• A small book of daily reflections

Or take a collective approach: have staff record quick “thank you” videos compiled into one reel to send to all volunteers.

6. Provide a “Volunteer Reset” for the New Year

After the busyness of the season, volunteers may appreciate a moment to regroup.

Give them:

• An updated schedule for the next quarter
• Any new policies or expectations
• A reminder of their impact
• A short survey about what worked and what didn’t

If you schedule volunteers in Unison, this is a great moment to share the new schedule link, encourage volunteers to update their availability, and invite new team members to onboard.

7. Invite Volunteers to Discern New Roles or Ministries

Often, post-holiday seasons spark clarity for volunteers—they may want to serve in a new way.

Offer:

• Ministry exploration sessions
• A “serve in 2026” interest form built in Unison
• Short-term opportunities for those with limited time
• A chance to step into leadership or mentorship roles

Helping volunteers discern where they feel called is a powerful form of appreciation.

Unison Makes Volunteer Appreciation Easier

Gratitude is most impactful when it’s ongoing—not just seasonal. Unison helps parishes:

• Communicate with volunteers quickly
• Organize ministries and schedules
• Track availability and preferences
• Build stronger, more connected communities

Whether you’re managing Advent, Lent, or everyday parish life, Unison makes it easier to coordinate the people who make ministry possible.