4Real Forums: Church Website

Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.

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Paula in MN
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Posted: Dec 21 2006 at 6:47am \| IP Logged

I have been approached by my parish to design a website for them. The new Pastor is really pushing them into the 21st century -- they just got email last week! They don't have any ideas on how they want the website to look.

Do any of you have a church website that you really like that I can show them -- as a *how to do it right* example? I would appreciate any help you can give. Thanks!

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Paula
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marihalojen
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Posted: Dec 21 2006 at 8:21am \| IP Logged

I think a good example of a parish website is Saint Mary, Star of the Sea. (I know, I know, I'm obsessed!

) Particularly the various organizations and ministries available. I personally adore reading the very interesting History. I think a lot can be learned about a parish through the obligatory Links and Photos as well. (scroll down to select and view photos) What sort of websites do they link themselves to?

Okay, I just deleted my example of a bad website, way too negative. Some of the points: email links that work, updated phone numbers (and phone messages when you finally get through that are appropriate to the season), schedules for the current year, photos that show an active parish that might engage in fellowship of a somewhat religious nature (versus guys' poker night, for example) also the order of the sidebar is important, I think. Having the Bequest/Giving guidelines listed first and the Mass Times buried at the bottom seems to indicate an imbalance to me. If the school has been closed take them off the website or indicate that it is no longer in existence.

I think it would be nice to indicate when the church itself might be unlocked so if you'd like to visit at a time other than during Mass you can do more than wander around looking at trees outside. Actually listing Confession times rather than just saying Confessions Heard Before Weekend Masses is very helpful especially for travelers. Think of Lissa crossing Missouri and not even able to find a Catholic Church until hitting Kansas City, good directions and times are important.

Hope that helps a little, Paula!

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Paula in MN
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Posted: Dec 21 2006 at 12:14pm \| IP Logged

Thanks Jennifer. Your last comment about Lissa not finding a Catholic Church is how this webiste idea got started. People moving into our small town didn't know there was a Catholic Church and they have been driving over an hour to get to another one. Somehow Father found out -- divine intervention?

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Paula
A Catholic Harvest

JennGM
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Posted: Dec 21 2006 at 12:29pm \| IP Logged

I'm fond of this website of Our Lady of Hope in Potomac Falls, VA.

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Paula in MN
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Posted: Dec 21 2006 at 1:05pm \| IP Logged

Jennifer and Jenn:

Thanks both for the suggestions. Both websites are awesome. I'll be meeting with them next week and now I have some great sites to show them.

Thanks again and Merry Christmas!

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Paula
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mrsgranola
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Posted: Dec 21 2006 at 1:49pm \| IP Logged

I do our parish's website. It's not very fancy but it's a starting point for us. We haven't really *needed* it to have all the bells and whistles that many larger parishes' websites have yet but I know it'll need something more professional before long.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church

If I had more time and high-speed internet, I'd like to put more up there. Maybe within the next year...

HTH,
JoAnna

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amiefriedl
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Posted: Dec 21 2006 at 4:06pm \| IP Logged

Our site is quite professional looking...I don't know who does it.

Old St. Patrick's Oratory

Once you go past the "enter" page then on the left hand side are all the extras. Pretty neat story about the how the Oratory came to be. Also we have a fabulous Bishop to be grateful for.

For history buffs...be sure to check out the History of the church, it is very interesting and then also the Renovations page is also a neat read.

At the bottom of those pages is a link to the previous photo/archives of the restoration - pretty cool.

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