A prudent approach to parish communications during the extraordinary circumstances of Coronavirus (COVID-19)

 

During this health concern, many Archbishops, Bishops, and other clergy need to communicate important information with their parishioners, and with circumstances changing daily and weekly, many parishioners are looking for guidance regarding how these matters relate to their faith practices and community.

As has always been the case, at Diocesan, we recognize our responsibility to the meet needs of the Church, and when those needs change, we adjust to meet and exceed those needs. It is vital at this time to maintain good communication in your parish for the immediate and long term unity of your community and faith life of your parishioners. This will require a clear understanding of how your parishioners communicate well, what means of communication you currently have at your disposal, and what resources may be needed to be most effective.

Following are a series of steps we advise parishes and diocese to regularly review as circumstances change to address the current crisis in your faith community.

Step 1 – Recognition

Regardless of how we may feel about our circumstances, we have to keep the needs of those the Lord has put in our care in focus. To begin, it is important to recognize that you have built relationships in your community by connecting with people personally through various parish gatherings and events. When those means of connecting, evangelization, and faith formation are restricted those relationships still need to be maintained and outreach furthered through other means. So other forms of communication may need to be more greatly utilized to compensate.

Step 2 – Survey

How has your parish or diocese traditionally connected with people? How do you build community? How do you evangelize? How do you help form people in their faith? Not all of these things may change, but with the unpredictability of our situation, it may be prudent to be aware of them. For each of these (community, faith life/formation, and outreach) communication is vital. Each parish or diocese has certain established tools and methods for connecting with people. What tools do you utilize? Reflect on the list below and check those things that you know you have typically relied on.

Vocal

  • Pulpit announcements
  • 1-on-1 meetings
  • Committee/Group meetings
  • Announcements at regular weekly gatherings

Print

  • Bulletin/magazine
  • Outdoor signage
  • Banners
  • Posters
  • Parish mailings

Digital

  • Email
  • Texting
  • App
  • Social
  • Website
  • DiscoverMass.com

If any of your traditional means of communication are inhibited, how will you compensate by other means to still reach everyone? To answer this question you first need to know how your parishioners communicate. The case is that every parishioner communicates differently with a certain combination of the above-listed items. If you are not communicating with your parishioners in the ways they communicate you will struggle to connect with them as circumstances change. For example, if the number of Masses is suddenly limited, you will have to be more strategic in the use of pulpit or print communications. Or, if a parishioner becomes sick, they may not be able to attend Mass but may still desire to spiritually participate. Fortunately, there are solutions to these and any other communication challenges that may arise.

Step 3 – Recommendations

Now let’s have a look at each area of communications (vocal, print, and digital) with some specific examples and see how it can be used to best reach your parishioners. (NOTE: As previously mentioned, our desire is to help you successfully navigate any uncertainty so your parish life and parishioner faith life can thrive during these unusual circumstances. We are ready and available to walk with you step-by-step through using your communication tools well, whenever the need presents itself.)

Vocal Communications

While vocal communications tend to be very effective, they also tend to be the most restrained because of the limited windows of time to communicate with your audience. Whether from the pulpit, at a gathering, or 1-on-1, make the most of the time you have. Present information in a very engaged and concise manner. This may be the only chance you have to reach someone for a long while.

  • Tell your parishioners what communication channels are available for the most up to date information.
  • Remind people to how they can be spiritually fed during this time (sacrament times, specific reflections, etc.)
Print

This form of communication has withstood the test of time, but that doesn’t always mean it is as effective as it could be. This will also require some deliberate attention to do well. 

Bulletin

  • Not all information is equal in importance. Items of greater importance should be thoughtfully positioned and highlighted to show their significance. 
  • Make an effort to get the bulletin in the hands of every person present at Mass.
  • Encourage your parishioners to subscribe to receive the bulletin via email at DiscoverMass.com.
  • For a more in-depth strategy for your bulletin click here.
Digital

Communication technology is bound to be a great blessing at this time. While many authorities are encouraging physical separation to address health concerns. Digital communication can be a means of bringing people together. The truth is that we were created for community, while digital doesn’t completely satisfy that need, it can be a great asset to connect in between physical gatherings. Just like print communications, digital can be used effectively and well if thought through.

Website

Though your website may not compare to delivered forms of communication, visitors often look to websites, and parishioners will visit if they know there is something of value.

  • Create a dedicated page or area on your website for details related to the Coronavirus.
  • Important information on your website should be clearly visible. 
  • Sacrament times should be updated regularly and easily accessible. 
  • For dedicated assistance with your website needs, please contact our web department at 1-800-994-9817.

Email

Most of your parishioners will have email though it may not be checked regularly. Email is valuable for important but not urgent matters.

  • Email isn’t only for weekly newsletters, but can also be used for spiritual encouragement. 
  • Be thoughtful about when you send emails. From our experience, emails sent between 9:00 and 10:00 am have the highest visibility.
  • Do your parishioners receive a digital version of your bulletin in their email? They can subscribe to receive the bulletin at DiscoverMass.com. 

myParish App

myParish App is a great faith-building resource as well as a communication tool. For example, the Archdiocese of Baltimore has chosen to use the app to keep all users in its parishes updated and encourage continued parishioner involvement in parish life. The app is better suited to, but not limited to, urgent messages than email because it is usually delivered to the phone screen with a notification.

  • Add features such as spiritual reflection for Lent, homilies, or sources of your choosing. 
  • The homebound appreciate the ease of access to Mass that is streamed through the app. The source of the Mass could be your diocese, parish, or CatholicTV. 
  • Your online parish calendar should be kept up to date.
  • Make sure your online giving is added to the app so it is easy for parishioners to continue giving if Mass attendance drops. 
  • Confirm that your parish bulletin is available in the app for easy access in the absence of Mass attendance.
  • The Groups feature can help smaller groups of people to connect and communicate remotely.
  • It is quick and easy to schedule or send messages with spiritual encouragement.

These are all important considerations to help foster community and faith life when people are away for a time.

Our app staff is ready to help you address any changes or modifications to your app to best serve your parishioners. Please contact us at 1-800-994-9817.

If you are currently not using myParish app, we can quickly get you started at no cost for the life of your Diocesan bulletin contract or for four months without a contract.

Step 4 – We are here to help

To assist your parish or diocese, we are available to work through effectively aligning your communications with the present need. We want to help you help your parishioners. We are happy to help you walk through how to build community and faith life during this time. Don’t assume everything will be the same as usual. Your parishioners are looking to you for guidance in the present uncertainty. We want our 60+ years of communication experience to help in any way possible.

In addition, we will be offering special online webinars discussing effectively communicating with your parishioners throughout this crisis. More information will be available soon.

Lastly, we all humbly acknowledge that we are all human. We do not know where this is going to go and we are not in control. All we can do is use our knowledge, experience, and gifts to prepare our best and help each other. While we do our best, we have to trust in God’s help and grace because he IS in control.

 

Please join us in praying for our world and all those affected by this virus. St. Rocco has stood the test of time as a faithful intercessor and the patron of plagues and contagious diseases. Please join us in offering the following Novena to St. Rocco. Novena (from Latin: novem, “nine”) is an ancient tradition of devotional praying in Christianity, consisting of private or public prayers repeated for nine successive days or weeks.

Novena Prayer to St. Rocco

O Great St. Rocco, deliver us, we beseech thee, from the scourges of God; through thy intercession, preserve our bodies from contagious diseases, and our souls from the contagion of sin. Obtain for us salubrious air; but, above all, purity of heart. Assist us to make good use of health, to bear suffering with patience; and, after thy example, to live in the practice of penance and charity, that we may one day enjoy the happiness which thou has merited by thy virtues.
St. Rocco, pray for us (say three times).

 

(NOTE: This prayer is also available for you to share with your parishioners in the Prayers feature of myParish App.)