Who’s Reading Your Bulletin? 10 Parishioners Every Church Should Reach

When creating your parish bulletin, it's essential to consider the diverse needs and interests of your congregation and greater community. Different demographics look for unique elements, and tailoring your content ensures everyone is included and informed. 

A well-crafted bulletin helps strengthen community, makes parish life more accessible, and ensures no group feels left out of important messages. 

Meet the 10 Types of Parishioners in Your Pews

Your parish is filled with people at different stages of life and faith. Each comes to the bulletin with unique needs, expectations, and ways of engaging. Here’s a breakdown of some common parishioner (and non-parishioner) profiles and what these people might be seeking in your parish’s bulletin.

1. Seniors and Longtime Parishioners

Senior Susan has been a faithful parishioner for 40+ years. She values tradition and connection, never misses Sunday Mass, and often volunteers for various church activities year-round. Senior Susan is one of the 58% of U.S. Catholic adults who are ages 50 and older, one of the largest groups today.

What Senior Susan is Looking For:

• Announcements about parish events like potlucks, prayer groups, and retreats
• Updates on church maintenance projects or improvements
• Easy-to-read layouts with larger fonts
• Information on how to support parish ministries and donate to the church

2. Church Newcomers and Visitors

Visitor Victor is new to the area and exploring local churches to find a spiritual home. He reflects the 49% of U.S. adults who have looked for a new congregation, most often after moving. Visitor Victor might attend an event or a couple of Masses before deciding if this parish fits his needs.

What Visitor Victor is Looking For:

• A clear schedule of Mass times and office hours
• Invitations to newcomer events and other types of socials
• Contact details for the parish office and pastoral staff, and social media handles
• Brief descriptions of the church’s mission, values, and different ministries

3. Church Teens

High School Hannah is a teenager juggling school, sports, and social life. She attends Mass with her family or youth group. She is part of a generation at a crossroads — 74% of former Catholics report leaving the Church between the ages of 10 and 20, making the teen years the most decisive time for faith retention.

What High School Hannah is Looking For:

• Youth ministry event announcements like retreats, game nights, or service projects
• Social media handles for youth group pages
• Recognition of young people’s contributions to the parish (e.g., altar servers, choir members)
• Opportunities for community service hours
• Resources and ministry opportunities specifically designed for teens

4. Spiritual Seekers

Curious Curtis is not Catholic but intrigued by the faith. He might be attending with a friend or exploring spirituality on his own. Including spiritual seekers like Curtis in bulletin planning ensures that invitations, welcoming language, and community events are clearly highlighted — helping him take his first step into parish life.

What Curious Curtis is Looking For:

• Explanations of Catholic traditions or practices
• Invitations to introductory opportunities and courses like OCIA (Office of Christian Initiation of Adults)
• Stories of personal faith journeys or conversions
• Upcoming newcomer or other community events 

5. Faithful Families

Grace and Greg are a young couple with two kids in grade school. They want opportunities for their family to grow in faith together. Many parents who return to church do so because they want their children to have meaningful religious experiences.

• What Greg and Grace Are Looking For:
• Information about children’s faith formation opportunities like youth group and Vacation Bible School (VBS)
• Family-friendly events like pancake breakfasts or holiday celebrations
• Tips for faith-building activities at home and parent-support opportunities
• Details about sacramental preparation for youth

6. Young Adults

Young Adult Alex is in his 20s or 30s, seeking deeper formation and a strong sense of community with other young adults. Barna reports that the share of Millennials attending church weekly has nearly doubled in recent years — from 21% in 2019 to 39% in 2022. These numbers remind us that parish bulletins should serve as an open door, helping young adults discover connection and opportunities for growth.

What Young Adult Alex is Looking For:

• Small groups or Bible studies for young adults
• Volunteer opportunities to give back to the community
• Notices about social gatherings like retreats and ministry opportunities
• Resources for spiritual growth, such as book recommendations, podcasts, and in-person events

7. Busy Parishioners

Busy Brenda is a working parent or professional with limited free time. She skims the bulletin for essentials. She is one of the many churchgoers who admit that being too busy often gets in the way.

What Buys Brenda is Looking For:

• A concise “Top 5 Things to Know This Week” section
• Highlights of upcoming events or registration deadlines
• Online options for donations or event sign-ups
• How to access live-streamed Mass or other online ways to connect with the parish

8. Digital Bulletin Readers

Online Oliver prefers digital formats and engages with the church bulletin via email or the parish website. Nearly 1 in 4 U.S. adults now watch religious services online or on TV, showing how important it is to highlight digital options.

What Online Oliver is Looking For:

• IInteractive elements like links to sign-up forms or event RSVPs
• A well-designed PDF or mobile-friendly bulletin layout
• Quick access to livestreamed Masses or recorded elements
• Parish updates through embedded videos or links to social media pages 

9. Multilingual Parishioners

Bilingual Betty speaks English as her second language. She is an active participant in parish activities, especially those catered to her cultural group. She’s not alone — more than a third of U.S. Catholic adults (36%) are Hispanic, up from 29% in 2007. As this group continues to grow, offering bilingual content helps ensure these parishioners feel fully seen and included.

What Bilingual Betty is Looking For:

• Articles and announcements in her native language
• Opportunities to engage with both people who speak her primary language and the greater community
• Ministry experiences to aid in English fluency
• Information about Mass and Confession times in her native language

10. Parish Youth

Elementary Emerson is the first one in the family to dive into the bulletin looking for… you guessed it! The kid’s stuff! Emerson often can be found paging though the bulletin during Mass with a handful of crayons. And that’s a good thing — research shows only about 15% of children raised in Catholic households grow up to be faithful Catholic adults. Every coloring page, puzzle, or comic is a chance to help kids feel excited about being part of their parish family, planting seeds for faith that can grow with them.

What Elementary Emerson Is Looking For:

• Kid’s coloring pages and puzzles
• Comics and cartoons

Our Best Tip to Craft a Bulletin For Everyone

When planning your parish bulletin, consider organizing content into separate sections tailored to different audience types. A clear table of contents at the beginning can make it easy for readers to find what interests them most. For example: 

• Group items that are perfect for visitors and newcomers more toward the front of your publication.
• Assemble pieces that families are looking for into a “family and child” section.
• A faith formation section is also useful for your young adults, teens, and those seeking.
• Do you have a multilingual community? Be sure to announce where readers can find content in different languages right away to make it easy for them to navigate.

Bulletin Resources to Engage Your Entire Parish 

Your church bulletin is a powerful tool to connect with every member of your community. By addressing the specific needs of your audience, you create a welcoming and engaging experience that fosters connection and participation in your Catholic community.

With thoughtful design, engaging content, and reliable customer support, your parish bulletin will become that resource parishioners look forward to each week. Thanks to LPi’s ad-supported model, churches receive their weekly bulletins at no cost, allowing them to invest more in ministry while still offering a beautifully designed publication. 

For creative content to fill your bulletin, explore our WeCreate art and content library — updated monthly with Catholic covers, graphics, reflections, puzzles, and more to support your mission.

Interested in finding more church bulletin inspiration for your parish staff? Head on over to the “Church Bulletins” section of our weekly blog. Happy publishing!

Updated: 10-01-2025