How Parishes Can Deliver Christmas Bonuses
Christmas is coming!
We all know that on Christmas Eve and/or Christmas Day there is a huge resurgence of participation amongst Catholics going to mass. Those who do not go to mass over the course of the year always still seem to find time to go to church on one of these two days.
Recently, I had been distracted by an original idea. At root of this idea was the question: Is there a tangible approach to reach these non-committal Catholics, and help bring them back into the pews on a week to week basis? I think this approach has some merit.
What Priests Have to Do
Imagine, that during the homily the pastor makes mention of a fantastic resource, say, a series of prayers that will be very meaningful for the Christmas season. He reads one or two of them. He said he indicates that there are even more where that came from that they could use in their own circles.
Or, suppose in the context of this same homily the priest makes mention of a series of practical steps that his congregation can use to make the next year the very best year they can that can be. He quickly lists 10 items, in addition to referring to the meaning of the Christmas season, of course.
Or, he’s makes mention that, being near the end of the year, he has compiled the ten very best-—practical, memorable, orthodox–homilies that he thinks his congregants would get the most out of.
He then says that in order to get this, just go to the website at the church and he will be able to download it there.
(It goes without saying, that such this would also be prominently mentioned again during the announcements. And, if possible, prominently mentioned in the parish bulletin).
What Must Be on the Parish Website
On the parish website, in a prominent place, the pastor can set it up so that the user could merely enter in their email address and this document (prayers, articles, etc.), will be emailed to them directly, (in a PDF format).
This is used currently in many different websites to grow an email list. It is even being done on my own site, as I have a book on youth ministry that I think is very detailed and very helpful. (Note: this will be up until the first of next year).
Nonetheless, a congregant is free to type in their email address, and name; perhaps there can maybe be a short questionnaire involved (so the pastor can get an understanding of this person’s needs).
The person completes the form, and immediately he gets an email to confirm the information, letting them know that he or she will not only get this document but that he will also be signed up to the pastor’s email list. And that there is no pressure–anybody could unsubscribe at any moment, no questions asked. Furthermore, give assurance that only the pastor will have use for this information and nothing else. (Remember, a pastor keeps his promises).
Building A Quality Email List
Then his congregation–both his regular parishioners and those A&P Catholics–they will all be receiving a consistent message or updates from the pastor over the course of the year. Were not just talking about announcements (although that may be fine). But taking into account the needs of his congregation, as illuminated by the survey, he then gets to work and finds articles, anecdotes, blog posts, videos, songs or pictures that can best serve his congregation. The more original the content, the better.
It is here where he can go into greater detail so why the Catholic Church believes as it does (kind of hard to get into that detail in a 10 to 15 minute homily). It is here that he can point to pictures of beautiful artistry over the ages that can help one’s devotional walk. It is here, that he can’t provide a link to Pope Francis is latest comments on a particular issue. It is here that a YouTube clip, of a seasonal specific song that would be most appropriate. And it is here that the pastor can get a little personable, so that his congregation will gets to relate to him better.
I heartily endorse this new approach to touching members of his congregation both regular participants and those who are not.
Concluding Thoughts
We have been sent and commissioned to go and make disciples of all nations. And as of the last few years, we have all been encouraged to master new media approaches. As much of a struggle it is to learn how to use new media, the blessings of this approach far outweigh whatever introductory hassle will must go through so to do this.
A wayward Catholic can arrive at church for Christmas, and immediately be drawn to read what you have to share to them, on his own time, after he returns home. And by virtue of the fact that you will continually find new and exciting content to share, he will continually be kept in the loop. It would only be a matter of time, when enough of his reservations being chipped away at, and a continual sense of caring that comes from a pastor that is willing to listen.
Thank you for reading. May you and your loved ones have a tremendously glorious Christmas this year.
What are your thoughts to this approach? How is your parish going the extra mile to reach out to those Catholics who rarely attend mass?