#16. Promoting Vocations in Parishes via Social Media, Websites, and Bulletins

Summary

For many young people, the first places they would hear about the possibility of exploring priestly or religious life would likely be on a Church-related website, on social media, or in a parish bulletin.

Among the ‘best practices’ for communicating vocations-exploration opportunities to young people via websites, social media, and bulletins are 1) having, within a parish website, a page that’s specifically designated for vocations promotion, 2) establishing social media accounts dedicated to vocations, and 3) using tailored messages within parish bulletins.

Devoting a page within the parish website to the vocations committee or a similar parish-based group can aid greatly in the overall outreach effort.  Brief bulletin entries written with a young audience in mind are good ways to spark initial thoughts about potential vocations.  Leveraging social media (e.g., Facebook) as a vocations platform is a practice that’s on the rise with both dioceses and religious orders.  This method of outreach can be especially effective in connecting with increasingly tech-minded young people.

Program Outline

• In the case of many young people, social media, websites, and parish bulletins are likely to be the first places they hear about exploring the priestly or religious life
• Among the best practices in reaching out to young people via bulletins and the Internet:
  • Have a page within the parish website that’s specifically devoted to vocations promotion
  • Start a social media account that is dedicated to vocations
  • Use tailored messages within bulletins
• Vocations page on website…Can aid greatly in the overall outreach effort
  • Using a dedicated social media (e.g., Facebook) account for vocations…
• Good way to reach increasingly tech-minded young people
  • Tailored messages in bulletins…Written for young audience
  • Can inspire thoughts about potential vocations

Implementation

Using Serrans / Volunteers

• Organizing, executing, and maintaining social media presence
• Liaising with parish officials regarding vocations website and bulletin announcements
• Creating announcements for bulletin

Program History, Development, and Additional Resources

“Discernment is both an informed decision and a spiritual process. Ultimately, the best decision is one where you feel like ‘I’m home.’ This is a place where I am supported and loved for who I am, and where I can grow humanly, grow in love with God and serve others from this community of support. You will find yourself saying, ‘I cannot imagine not being here.’ And they will feel the same about you!”

-from the website of the Sisters of Bon Secours USA

The above quote aptly sums up what might be considered the ‘ideal’ vocation-discernment experience for a young man or woman.  One might say that the quote also encapsulates the type of experience promoters of vocations throughout the Church would wish for their young charges.  Every person on a vocations committee or group or prayer team would want the people they’re praying for to have that experience.

Perhaps the first concrete step toward connecting young people with that experience would be ensuring that the initial invitation to explore a potential vocation comes through loud and clear.  The first places many young people are likely to hear about the possibility of exploring priestly or religious life would be on the Internet or in a parish bulletin.

Among the ‘best practices’ for getting the word out about vocations-exploration opportunities for young people via bulletins and the Internet are 1) using tailored messages within bulletins; and 2) having a vocations-dedicated webpage within a parish website.

Communications experts speak of using the ‘ATM’ formula when beginning any major communications effort—determining the audience, the timing, and the message.  A short bulletin entry written specifically to young people who might be thinking about a vocation is a good message to employ in any vocations-group effort.  This entry would speak directly to the intended audience via a conversational tone.

Having a dedicated web page within the parish website can be a big boost to your group’s chances of successful outreach to young people.  U.S. Catholic has quoted the statistics of a research group—whose focus of work includes churches—which indicate that fully 56% of 18- to 30-year-olds (i.e., members of the so-called ‘Millennial’ generation) check out a parish’s website prior to visiting its church.   Indeed, the websites of many parishes around America have dedicated pages for their parish vocations committee; these sites are used to post everything from basic information about the committee and its mission to specific dates and times for special events, such as Focus 11 gatherings and seminary visits.

What’s more, the use of social media (e.g., Facebook) as a vocations platform is on the rise—as exemplified by the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), which uses multiple Facebook accounts and Twitter feeds as well as Instagram to promote vocations.  Dioceses—including Los Angeles and Dallas—have begun to utilize social media for vocations, too.  This method of outreach can be especially effective in connecting with increasingly tech-minded young people.

Other Resources