All posts by Andrea Perry

The New Season is Almost Here

Administrators

The next several weeks are jammed packed with special activities in our church and family lives.

The myParish App has a built in EVENTS calendar that can help your parishioners (and visitors to your church community) stay up to date during this busy time of the year. There are two separate components to the calendar feature.

Google calendars are easily attached (using the public ical link found in your google settings) at the bottom of the page in the events tab, on the myParish App administration main page. Need help getting your google calendar to sync with the App? Don’t hesitate to call us at 800-997-8805. We are here 9am – 5pm EST to assist you.

You can draw special attention to specific events at your church by going to your admin page and using the “add event” feature. Just click on the “Add Event” box on the upper left hand side of the EVENTS tab (on the myParish App admin home page). Fill in the applicable information and click ‘save’ at the bottom of the page when you are done. It’s that easy.

All these aspects of Catholic life and more can be found in your myParish app. May it lead you to an experience of our faith, just a fingertip away. Catholic life every day.

Work Smarter Not Harder!

Administrators

Your App must be integrated in all aspects of your parish communications. Why?

The Rule of 7. The marketing rule of seven states that a person must see a message 7 times before they will take action. The myParish App was built for Catholic parishes, designed for YOUR parish to engage your parishioners in their Catholic life everyday!

Follow these simple guidelines to get great results!

On your Website:  Section off part of your site exclusively for the App, or, have pop-up page display whenever someone visits your site.

In your emails: Any email that is sent out, whether it be from the parish office, your newsletter or even a payment confirmation email, should include a footer with one line advertising your App. Include details such as what can be accomplished through the App and a link redirecting towards the download page. Emails not including App information is a missed opportunity.

Twitter or Facebook presence: Promote your App here as well. A simple banner with the name of your app and where to find it is all you need.

Want to encourage ongoing App downloads? Place promo cards in the vestibule or parish office, verbal pulpit announcements, or a bulletin article informing the parish that you have a mobile App. This may be new information or a reminder that the App is available to keep them connected with parish and catholic life everyday.

Rejuvenate Your Workspace With Prayer

Administrators

The busy days of fall are here. We need to take the time to make sure our offices are a sacred space. By doing so we can intentionally bless all those whose names and lives we touch (literally) through our workspace and fingertips: at the door, at our computer, over the phone, or through our writing.  It’s time to rededicate our work space to be an extension of prayer for each and every one with whom we come in contact, in every moment of every day.   

There are several great prayers available in the myParish app for those times you feel moved to offer a specific prayer for one of your parishioners or co-workers. The prayers also come in handy when praying in a large group, each person has access to the same wording and all can actively participate.

There is a nice little prayer service from Catholic News Agency with blessings for an office, shop or factory.

All these aspects of Catholic life and more can be found in your myParish app.
May it lead you to an experience of our faith, just a fingertip away. Catholic life every day.

Time for an App Refresh? 

Administrators

You’ve been using myParish app for a while now–and you’re accustomed to sending messages, setting up groups, and encouraging your parish to use the app. But, how well is your parish using the myParish app? 

The summer is a great time to set up an App Refresh. You can go to the myParish App Admin Resource Center (here’s the link: https://myparishapp.com/apptools/) and find a wealth of information from short, how-to videos to frequently asked questions for both app administrators and parishioners that can spark new ideas. 

Another option is to contact our team of App Experts for an App Refresh. They will review your app and give you constructive ideas to help enliven the use of the myParish app at your church. 

You can send an email to sign up for an AppRefresh or request other assistance at support.myparishapp.com.

Or hey, give us a call. Sometimes dialoguing with us will lead you to think of things you might not have considered before, or clarify an issue you weren’t quite sure of.  By calling 1-800-997-8805, you can speak directly with our Customer Care team (9am-5pm EDT). We are always happy to chat and to assist you with bringing an experience of Catholic life every day to your parishioners with myParish App. And remember, behind every phone is a person.

 

Relax, Refresh, and Renew

Administrators

June typically signals a time to slow down for the summer (unless you are involved in youth ministry and vacation bible school). It’s a time to relax, refresh and renew both personally and spiritually.

While you’re out at the beach, a lake, in the park or waiting for an appointment, your myParish app gives you quick access to many aspects of your Catholic life every day.

One touch takes you to the USCCB readings of the day. Another and you will find 49 prayers in the Prayer button. Catching up on the news is a snap by touching the News button. There are interesting articles from the Catholic News Agency. Looking for someone to share a rosary? Push the Rosary button and hear the soothing voice of Fr. John Riccardo.

Have a moment for a quick read? Click the Inspire Daily light bulb and find daily blogs from Catholic writers based on the day’s readings.

Trying to find a church while traveling this summer? Tap the 3 lines in the upper left hand corner while on the myParish app. Then type in the zip code of your destination where it says Find a Parish. In seconds you will see the closest 10 parishes to that location using the app. Don’t know the zip code? Touch the Discover Mass button and enter a city name and state.

All these aspects of Catholic life and more can be found in your myParish app.

May it allow you an experience of our faith, just a fingertip away. Catholic life every day.

Be more collaborative, productive, and efficient with G Suite

Administrators

Did you know using Google Calendars with myParish App can make you more productive?

  • It’s a one-stop shop! Arguably the greatest feature of this platform is found in the ability to manage a variety of calendars in one place. You can share specific calendars with individuals or groups and grant varying levels of access to the content based on the user or place posted.
  • You can share, just like momma said! Sharing your calendar with co-workers, utilizing a group calendar for specific ministries, or maintaining a public calendar for your congregation is a great way to stay connected and keep people informed.
  • Customize your privacy settings. When utilizing Google Calendars, you may not want the details of every calendar item visible to all. Google easily allows for making an event private, while still blocking out a chunk of time.
  • Paper still has its place. Edit and update as much as you’d like on your digital calendar and print a PDF of the most recent version to post on your bulletin board or keep on your desk.
  • Set notifications days, weeks, months, and even years ahead of time! How often do you make the comment “Let’s remember this when we’re planning for next year!?” Then the planning for next year comes and goes and you find you forgot to make that adjustment… Good news! You can create a calendar event and set a notification at the same time. Google Calendar will automatically send an email reminder to make that adjustment for future dates. ~Ways to Use Google Calendars, Katy Munson, JUL 26, 2016. https://bit.ly/2DZyYDE

Not using G-Suite for non-profits?

We can help you get started.

The Google Suite offers a whole host of tools that help you with your day to day communication and church office needs. Contact us to find out how.

Out with the old–Messages, that is!

Administrators

Do you wish your app messages would go away sometimes?
We encourage app administrators NOT to remove messages.

Messages are a great resource when looking at your analytics!

When reviewing your app user analytics, it may help to consider the following:

  • Temporal and liturgical seasons and how they affect parishioner engagement.
  • The frequency and quality of Messages sent to parishioners prompting app usage.
  • Timing of your communications. What time of day and week are you sending Messages? Are the Messages being sent best suited to those times?
  • How up-to-date is your app content? (e.g. Messages, Calendar, Homilies, Mass/Confession Times)
  • Sometimes parishioners want to refer back to Messages.  But, you can remove messages on just your phone. Just swipe on the message from right to left. You’ll see a delete button to tap and voila! the message is gone.

Check out the Analytics page below. The spikes on the graph are good indicators of trends of impactful messaging!

Resolution: Let the Lord’s face shine upon me

Administrators

January is coming to a close, and while 45 percent of us will make resolutions only 8 percent will be successful at achieving them, according to a survey by the Opinion Corporation.  Let us resolve to create new habits and refresh our spiritual life in this new year.

Our New Year’s Day Masses rang with Blessing’s from our Lord;

The Lord bless you and keep you! The Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!
 – Numbers 6:24-26a – A blessing for us to be enthusiastic, to be living in God.

St. Augustine gave us advice on how to let the Lord’s face shine upon us. He proposed giving alms, opening our hearts to the word of God, fasting, and rushing to Church. Think about it, at Church, the Lord’s face truly shines upon us from the tabernacle, from the proclamation of Scripture, from those around us, and especially at the elevation of the Sacred Host, and Precious Blood.

At the beginning of this New Year let us take the advice of St. Augustine, letting the face of our Lord shine upon us daily, living more and more in God, living En Theos, living life enthusiastically. Fight the temptation to be lukewarm, do something more this year; going to an extra Mass during the week, pray the rosary every day, a holy hour with the Eucharist every week, more time with Scripture, more spiritual reading. (Fr. Ankley, New Year’s Day homily, January 1, 2019)

Five great Ideas!

Add one of these simple, practical faith builders to improve your spiritual life in the new year and beyond.

  1. Go an extra day to Mass – The Sacrifice of the Mass is the source and summit of our faith and our very lives! Find a daily Mass that fits your schedule, or attend daily Mass on your day off. Just 30 minutes of your day! https://discovermass.com/
  2. Pray the rosary – As Catholics, we know -we do not merely believe, we know, that the rosary is the most powerful recitation we can make when we desire a miracle or some other grace from God. By reflecting on Our Most Holy Mother’s experiences and the life of Jesus, we become more like the woman who bore all things for the sake of obedience to God’s will.
    Find a new rosary for a new life of devotion to Our Holy Mother.
  3. Spend a holy hour with the Eucharist – You Affect The Lives Of Every Person
    In The World During Your Holy Hour
    From the quotes of our Popes and Saints concerning Holy Hours of adoration, we can see how much importance they placed on adoration for a healthy spiritual life. The power of each Holy Hour that we make can be gleaned from these writings. These writings tell us that our Holy Hour is more powerful than anything in this world outside of Mass. Check out Our Catholic Prayer website to learn more about the value of a holy hour.
  4. Read Scripture – Many people resolve to read the entire Bible each new year. Too few Christians have actually followed through with this though. What kind of reading plan is best? The one you’re going to finish. If you get behind, it’s okay, just pick up where you left off. Or just do five minutes for the first month of the year and pray, “Lord, make this a delight to me.” Does sticking to a plan sound intimidating? Have you tried it before and failed? People can make an impossible plan possible. Grab a couple friends and commit to a plan together. Read the daily readings on myParish App or at usccb.org.
  5. Journey with a Saint – Use this fun Saint name generator to learn about a new Saint and include them in your journey of faith throughout the year. http://saintsnamegenerator.com/

As this new year gets underway, let’s begin it in the faith and confidence that belongs to those who believe in Jesus Christ, as you receive God’s special blessing for you:

In this new year may The Lord bless you and keep you! The Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace! Within our heart let us hear these words every day.

Embracing Technology for the Glory of God

Administrators

Pew research reports that 95% of all Americans own a cell phone of some kind. The share of Americans that own smartphones are now 77%, up from just 35% in Pew Research Center’s first survey of smartphone ownership conducted in 2011. Half of all Americans own a tablet. One-in-five Americans are now ‘smartphone only’ internet users at home. There is a growing need to meet people where they are at 24/7.

As Catholic evangelists, it is necessary to use all forms of social media. If you have yet to delve into Catholic communications via technology here is a little breakdown to get you started

If this is a bit overwhelming, don’t despair— we are here to help!

myParish App can help you share the beauty of our Catholic faith in 3 simple ways.

  • MESSAGE button – Share the message of the Sunday homily during the week.
  • POPE’s MSG button – Share a parish-wide message directing parishioners to the Pope’s Message of the Day.
  • INSPIRE DAILY button – Provides your parishioners with short daily reflections on the readings of the day.
For more great ideas check out this great article written by Sherry Hayes-Pierce:
 “Five things every parish should post on social media.”

The social media landscape is parched for the joy of the Good News–the living water of God’s love and mercy! Come join us!