Collette Abbott has been a familiar and welcoming face at the Archdiocese of Liverpool for more than a decade. Working as a receptionist at the St Margaret Clitherow Centre, she helps keep the building running smoothly while ensuring visitors, clergy and staff feel at home from the moment they arrive.

Her day usually begins early, around 7.30am, especially when conferences or meetings are scheduled. The first task is often preparing the meeting rooms and halls, checking bookings and making sure everything is ready for the day ahead. Collette oversees the spaces used for events, coordinates with housekeeping staff and the chef, and helps prioritise requests as they come in.

Visitors and delegates begin arriving throughout the morning, and welcoming them is a key part of her role. She also supports facilitators when needed, sometimes helping with IT set-ups before meetings begin. Before long, it is time for the daily Mass at 8.30am, which Collette attends, occasionally assisting the sacristan if required.

After Mass, the focus shifts to reception duties in the offices. Collette greets staff and visitors, responds to emails and phone calls, and helps with practical requests such as printing. She checks meeting rooms throughout the day, makes coffee for guests, and helps direct people to the right events or departments.

Behind the scenes, there are plenty of practical tasks too. Collette receives deliveries, manages incoming and outgoing post for different departments, and orders supplies such as stationery, catering items and cleaning materials for the building. She also keeps an eye on conference events as they unfold, sometimes helping with lunches for delegates.

Every day can bring something different. “Depending on bookings, each day can be very different,” she says. “Sometimes it can even come down to restarting the boilers.”

For Collette, the most rewarding part of the role is being a welcoming presence for everyone who visits the centre. She is well known among clergy as the welcoming "face of Lace" and takes pride in representing the archdiocese by helping and supporting those who come through the doors.

“I really enjoy the social interaction with all kinds of visitors – clergy, parishioners, volunteers, teachers and staff at the centre,” she explains. “The relationships that I have built over the years are extremely important. No two days are the same, but helping to keep everything running smoothly is what we are here for.”

Collette’s connection with the archdiocese goes back many years. In fact, her career has come full circle. She first worked for the archdiocese in the early 1980s with the Catholic Youth Service at Evesham House. After time working in hairdressing, administrative roles and spending 25 years in Early Years education, both in schools and the private sector, she returned to the archdiocese later in her career.

Hospitality, she says, is the most important skill for the job. Offering a warm welcome, listening carefully and helping people find what they need all play a big part in her day. Being able to handle enquiries efficiently, resolve problems quickly and deal with sensitive information with discretion are also essential.

And, she adds with a smile, it helps to know how to make a good cup of coffee!

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