Category Archives: Message Ideas

Add Prayer to Your Workspace

Administrators, Ideas & Tips, Message Ideas, Prayer

The busy days of fall are upon us. This is a good time to remind ourselves as an app admin, as well as our parishioners 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. Maybe there’s a place for a prayer board in your office, or keep your own individual one to be sure to pray for those in need each day.  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.   

Remind parishioners through messaging that 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 that can also be shared with your parishioners.

Again, remind parishioners that all of these aspects of Catholic life and more can be found in your myParish app. May it lead to an experience of our faith, just a fingertip away.

Catholic Life Every Day

Messages Help Parishioners Engage

Administrators, Ideas & Tips, Message Ideas

As an App Admin, we encourage you to use messaging for your parishioners. Messages are one of the most valuable assets of using the app. And there’s not a better time to start it, or restart it, than summer – and those sunny long days are right around the corner. Here are a few simple examples that you can consider using:

  • When reviewing your bulletin each week, identify several highlights that were mentionioned for the week and send a message. These messages might encourage parishers to spend a little time with their weekly bulletin, daily readings, or Catholic prayers.
  • Add a daily or weekly prayer, so that parishioners are seeing something fresh each day. A simple prayer is something most parishioners would appreciate. We often hear, “I don’t know how to pray, or, I’m not sure what to say when speaking to God.” Short, daily prayers may help struggling parishioners turn their prayer life around.
  • Have Father write a reflection to share in messages as often as he is able. A friendly word from him would be welcome. Two or three each month would be a good goal.
  • As an admin, we know how difficult it is to organize these things with all the other daily tasks. Maybe you’ve had offers from parishioners to volunteer for something. This could be an easy volunteer project for someone. Not being interupted by others, as staff often is, this would be the perfect project for them. The same for students, high school and college, if they have a little free time and want to work on something worthwhile for their church this should still allow them time for a summer job.

If you have any questions, simply reach out to Marc or Dana at Diocesan.

Catholic life every day

successful

How Can We Make The App Successful In Our Parish? Two Easy Ways

Administrators, Ideas & Tips, Message Ideas, tips for success

Maybe you’ve just launched myParish App. Maybe your parish launched awhile ago. If your parish chose to use this tool, you want it to be successful. You want people to use it again and again. You know it’s a great tool, but …

How do we make myParish App a successful communication tool for our church?

Two easy ways:

  1. Send out a message early in the week.
  2. Send out another message later in the week.

We know: that sounds ridiculously easy but it works! Parishes that have folks engaged and using the app are ones that send out two messages a week. (There are some other things too, but this is a good place to start!)

For instance, the admin at your parish might send out a Tuesday message with a push notification: “Don’t forget to purchase your tickets for the Knights of Columbus’ Polish Dinner on April 22. Tickets are available after all Masses this weekend.”

On Friday, the admin’s message might be: “We look forward to seeing you at Mass this weekend.  With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption. Mass times are Saturday at 5 p.m. and Sunday at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.”

This way to keep people engaged and looking at the app on a regular basis is not only easy, it takes almost no time! Commit to sending out two messages a week, and see what happens with activity on your parish’s app.

message

Message Me!

Administrators, Ideas & Tips, Message Ideas, , , ,

Craft great messages for the best results.

Sending messages via myParish App is a terrific way to keep your parishioners informed. However, there are a few tips to create great messages, making them more effective.

  • Include most relevant at beginning of message because that’s what shows in a push notification.
  • Send your message now, and then add as an event to remain on calendar.
  • Use messaging and events together to keep information available on the calendar.

Here is an example of a “weak” message:

“We need volunteers! There are many volunteer opportunities here at St. Ann’s. This week, we are cleaning the church. Call the church office if interested. “

This message is really unclear. It doesn’t tell parishioners when they would be needed, and there is no phone or email included so that they can easily contact the office if interested. They would have to hunt around to find the contact information.

Here is an example of a “stronger” message:

“Help clean the church for Christmas! Wednesday, December 21 at noon, volunteers are needed to clean and decorate the church for Christmas. Snacks and drinks provided and all ages welcome. Please call Patty in the church office at 616-555-5555 for more information or to volunteer.”

Then, make sure you put this event on the app calendar.

A few simple tweaks to a message can make a big difference!

mission

Where Are We Going? How Are We Getting There?

Administrators, Ideas & Tips, Message Ideas, , , ,

And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Mt. 2:9-12

Imagine traveling to an unknown land, no map, no GPS. Just a star and a whole lot of faith. And it worked!

Our faith communities are a lot like these wise men. We have faith, but often are a little fuzzy on where we are going and how to get there. That’s where a Parish Mission Statement comes in.

Most parishes have their mission statement on their website and their bulletin. But people get so used to seeing it there, they never really SEE it. And that mission statement is important! It tells your parish family where they are going and how to get there.

One way to draw attention to your parish mission statement is to send it out as a Message in myParish App. Maybe you can send it out once a month, or once a quarter. It’s a good way to remind your faith community: This is where we are going. This is how we are going to get there.

Did You Get The Message?

Administrators, Ideas & Tips, Message Ideas, ,

With an upgrade to myParish App, sending messages is even easier. Before, you had to have computer access to send a message. Now, you can create and send a message within the app.

Here’s how:

  • Make sure you are logged in to the app, and you have administrator privileges.
  • In the top right-hand corner, next to your parish name, click on the four square icon.
  • Now, click on the message icon:      speech-bubble

 

  • On the lower right corner, you’ll see the message icon inside a circle. Click on that.
  • You should now have a “New Message” field. Write your message, choose a category, the publish date, and whether or not you’d like to send the message as a “push” notification. When you’re ready, hit “send.”

That’s it! We hope this makes messaging easier for you as an app administrator. As always, if you need help or have questions, please go to our support page for information.