Chances are in every diocese this year, at least one of each diocese’s parishes will suffer from a catastrophic data loss. I’m sure you’ve heard a similar story: a hard drive crash, spilled coffee or even theft and the all important PC or MAC with the parish’s Church Management System, QuickBooks files, census data, and/or [...]
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An Open Source Church Management Software?
I just ran across Church Info, which bills itself as an Open Source Church Management Software. This would be a huge development in the Church Management System world. I’d love to talk to a church or two that’s using this product, does anyone know of a church using this software? If so, please add a [...]
Facebook’s Guide to Non-Profits
Brad West uncovered this. Its a great how to guide for using Facebook. Its geared for all non-profits, but very applicable to Catholic Churches. Well worth the read. Help tell your story and build a lasting relationship with your parishioners.
Script Kiddies and the Complacency of Open Source
I love Open Source technologies as so do many church website administrators. Open Source Content Management Systems (CMS) such as WordPress, Joomla!, and Drupal can be used to build some very nice church websites and for very low cost. Besides the robustness and easy of use of these CMSs, one of their other key benefits [...]
Your Scrip Program Online
One of the most common fundraisers you see within a church, particularly if there’s a school associated with the church, is the Scrip table at the back church after Mass. Scrip is a simple concept that does indeed earn money for your church but can require a lot of volunteer effort. It also comes with [...]
Stop Telling People To “Visit our website”: Walk Them To The Content
One of the things that bothers me nowadays is when I hear an announcement, or read one, that says “Visit our website for more information.” That’s great, but where on the website? In fact, have you ever asked the person who says it or wrote it where to go on the website? In almost all [...]
Technology Adoption within the Church
If you’ve ever had anyone wonder if your parishioners are ready to adopt technology or technology is really needed within your church, show them these pictures below. Below are two pictures from St. Peter’s square, the first right before the election of Pope Benedict XVI and the second taken last week just prior to the [...]
Pope Alarm
“When the smoke goes up, you’ll know what’s going down.” If you want to be notified via email or text message as soon as the white smoke appears, sign up on Pope Alarm, a service provided by Focus. You can also follow Pope Alarm on Facebook and Twitter. Such a great idea!
Papal Resources and Media
I thought I’d share a few great resources I’ve come across relating to Pope Benedict XVI’s departure as pontiff. Please add any you’ve seen in the comments!
Catholic Video of the Week
New to Catholic Tech Talk, we’ll be featuring an educational, inspirational, or entertaining Catholic video each week!
Make These 40 Days Holy
The ashes we’ll wear tomorrow will be an outward sign of penance and contrition. As an outward sign during Lent online, I created a graphic to replace my Facebook and Google+ profile pictures with. I’d love to see other people use this as well—let’s create awareness online and remind ourselves and our Christian brothers and [...]
Your Annual Appeal Campaign Internet Style
I’m amazed at how little the annual appeal process has changed in the churches and dioceses I’m familiar with. Here’s how the typical process works… About this time of year parishioners (sometimes just past donors to save on mailing costs), receive a letter from their church and later a separate letter from their diocese. The [...]
Many Parts, One Body: 5 Ways To Make Bulletin And Web Work Together
The all-to-often mistake is to think of the print bulletin and the web things (i.e. website, Facebook, Twitter, etc.) as totally separate in your parish. The truth is that they both serve much of the same purposes for communication. They should compliment one another and always be “on the same page” (no pun intended – [...]
SEO: Making It Simple For Catholic Parishes
If you’ve ever talked to anyone about a website for your parish, you’ve probably heard the term ‘Search Engine Optimization’ or just SEO come up. You may have even had people call you to tell you they can “get you on the front page of Google” . . . for a fee. I am often [...]
2013 Catholic Parish Website of the Year Contest
Liturgical Publications Inc and Catholic Tech Talk are pleased to announce the second annual 2013 Catholic Parish Website of the Year contest.
Be Not Afraid
I’m sure you’ve all heard Bob Dufford’s hymn, “Be Not Afraid” This should be our theme song for church leaders looking to enter that Digital Continent of technology and social media that is the Internet. The church’s key challenge within moving to this Digital Continent is not a technology gap, but rather fear and not [...]
If Your Internet Was An Actual Place…
What kind of people would it be filled with? Would they be kind? In a previous blog post of mine, Dr. Caroline Cerveny, SSJ-TOSF, wrote a comment that resonated with me, “We are in a new day and age where we all need to be good Digital Citizens. We need to be clearer with one [...]
Is Your Website Ready for Lent?
Christmas and Easter may be your church’s busy days of the year, but Ash Wednesday is your church websites’s busiest day. It actually makes sense if you think about it. Most parishioners know (or should!) when Easter Sunday mass is and Christmas masses tend to follow the typical Saturday and Sunday mass schedule, but not [...]
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