Recently many priests have been telling me that very few parishioners are reading the parish bulletin. While some bring home the bulletin as a weekly proof of Sunday Mass attendance, a large portion of the parish, in particular the younger generations, never bother to pick it up. Why is that?
[featured-image single_newwindow=”false”]
This appears to be a growing trend, very much connected to the recent decline in physical newspaper subscriptions. Simply put, traditional means of communication are not having the same effect on people that they once had. This has left pastors with the reality that entire sections of their parish are no longer connected.
They attend Mass on Sunday, walk out the door, and quickly forget the paragraph long announcements they just heard. What is a parish to do to remain connected and relevant throughout the remainder of the week?
That is a question I have been working hard to remedy for the past 10 years. I have been involved in parish ministry in a variety of ways during that time and have tested and tried numerous strategies. The goal for me has not been just to remain “connected” to parishioners, but to encounter them where they are. Pope Francis sums-up this goal perfectly,
“It is not enough to be [a] passersby on the digital highways, simply ‘connected’; connections need to grow into true encounters.”
What I have found is that people are increasingly living in a digital world. This means they want to receive content and communication in a digital format. This provides them with the added ability to access content whenever and wherever they are. As a result, the average parish is at a disadvantage because they do not have the time or resources to spend on encountering their flock in the online world.
In my experience, it is even a struggle for parishes that have the time and resources because they simply do not know where to start. The pastor has no idea what Facebook is and doesn’t know if he should even bother. They need a strategy.
A Proven Strategy
What I have found is that a parish should not restrain itself to one particular mode of communication. The parish bulletin will continue to reach sections of the parish, but it will continue to have its limitation. A parish website is a great tool to have, but parishioners will not go unless it is attractive, simple and updated. Additionally, the next generations often don’t even go to websites, except through shared links on Facebook or Twitter. And not everyone frequents social media, but a large amount of people have access to e-mail or a smart phone.
For a country parish this can be overwhelming and intimidating. It can be quite difficult to manage and can take a toll on the parish staff. However, it doesn’t have to be overwhelming and I have found a way that cuts through the fog and makes everything simple and easy to manage.
What I have developed is the “Renew Parish Media Strategy” and it has proven itself time and time again. It organizes all of these digital platforms, sifts through what is necessary and what is not, and makes it easy to manage. This strategy also focuses on content and encounter as it is not enough to simply post the parish bulletin online and share it on Facebook. What people want are bite-sized pieces of information and formation that are quick and easy to read. Blogs, for example, are an increasingly popular way to connect with people and the parish would do well to have one.
One of the features of this strategy is that it pivots on a series of weekly Faith Formation articles that catechize individuals who would never attend a parish event. Combine that with social media and parishioners can share these articles to friends and family members who do not frequent Mass. It then serves a dual-purpose of enriching the faith of those in the pew and reaching out to those on the outside. The average parishioner will not seek-out faith formation articles on major Catholic websites, but they will read the parish website because it is something they trust and are familiar with.
Most recently, I have bee sharing this strategy with parishes and organizations who want to increase their impact and make connections online and it has had great success
We live in a world where traditional means of communication are failing the next generations and I see it as an obligation of the parish to be present and bring Christ into this digital world.
Read the Entire Series
- Is Your Parish Connecting With The Lost Sheep? My New Series Will Show You How
- 3 Essential Qualities of an Evangelizing Parish Website