Nothing in ministry lasts forever. The best leaders move on, programs die or are neglected until they no longer serve their original purpose. Necessary funds dry up. Priorities change. I have assisted various parishes and communities to create mission-focused websites for at least 10 years. I have trained the in-house website managers on how to maintain the sites and in some cases, I have maintained them for a while myself. …
Category: website
120 Posts
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Live-Streaming Parish Ministry
Many of us are more than a month into our stay-at-home, public-Masses-cancelled, way of life. We’re learning to adjust. One way is taking ministry online. Some parishes are live-streaming or posting recordings of their daily and Sunday liturgies, other devotions and ministries. Holy Week was very busy online for these parishes. We do not know how long the need for these services will continue, but it is worthwhile to take…
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The New Ministry Normal: Online
Many of us find ourselves in a new ministry environment unable to attend Mass, go to meetings, engage in activities in person. However, we have not stopped ministering. Necessity has given many ministers who were not inclined to use technology for engagement the courage to jump in with both feet. The creativity and effort it has taken to do that testifies to our desire to be with our people in…
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Coronavirus Challenge for Online Ministries
We are in a new place today, facing a new challenge. The words pandemic, quarantine, self-isolation, social distancing, and shut down, containment zone, hot spot, drive-through testing, state of emergency, travel bans, are now part of everyday conversations. Concern for our own health and the health and well-being of our loved ones is uppermost in our minds. Worry about food for children who get their main nutrition from schools that…
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Effective Parish Website, Part IV: Homepage Design
The most effective parish website homepage designs address the needs of the intended audiences: visitors, seekers, and members. We recognize that active parishioners are the least likely to visit the parish website, because they get the information they are seeking through Church announcements, fliers, and the parish bulletin. So we place a high priority on content for visitors and seekers.
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Effective Parish Websites Part II: Intended Audiences
It is widely understood that a parish website is a basic utility. For most Internet users, if you do not have a website, you do not exist. This is especially true for younger generations who have grown up “googling.” And many in older generations are coming to the same conclusion. While many parishes have websites, they differ based on: Intended audiences Design choices Content and Content Management Skills and priorities…