Six Web Trends for Catholic Church Websites

Web Team • February 2, 2023
A cell phone is displaying a Catholic themed website on the screen.

 

Is one of your parish goals to update our parish’s website? If so, we've collected a list of some of the most important trends our web design team has identified — all of which can be applied using our church website builder WeConnect .

 

  1. Video Headers as the Hero Image
    The hero image is the very first thing that visitors to your church’s website see before they begin to scroll. More and more we are seeing churches use a short video clip that showcases their parish community as the hero image on their website. We’ve got to say, it’s a powerful way to make a great first impression! This is a built-in, super easy function of our web builder, WeConnect. With it, you can drop in your own video or even link to another video that is already being hosted on
    Youtube , Vimeo , or DailyMotion ."

  2. Real Customer Testimonials and Reviews
    Also known by designers as “social proof,” having positive reviews prominently featured on your website for visitors to easily view has become the norm for many organizations. Consider featuring a few parishioner reviews on your homepage to encourage people to visit your vibrant parish.

  3. Clean Layouts
    New year, new commitment to de-cluttering your homepage! Remember, keeping your layout clean and well-designed helps your community navigate your site and find what they need quickly. WeConnect has great custom options with sections that are pre-formatted for users to drag and drop into their pages. This can get you ahead of the game.
     
  4.  Embedded Instagram Feeds
    You already spent the time to populate your parish’s Instagram account with awesome pictures of your community, advertisements for events, and more! Now, be sure everyone sees it, even if they don’t have an Instagram account, by using our social media widget and embedding your Instagram feed into your website! It will automatically update your website’s image gallery in real time as you upload new content to your Instagram account! 

  5. Modern Branding 
    Don’t be left behind with a website that includes branding elements or a logo that looks like it was designed in the 90’s —or *gasp* before! Make sure your church’s branding and overall image is updated with modern colors and a modern design. Not sure where to start? Our team of designers loves working with parishes to update their brand!   

  6. Interactive Displays/Micro-Animations
    Lots of websites are incorporating interactive micro-animations. These are often small features found on a website that, when a visitor clicks, a little animation is triggered. These could also be described as interactive layouts where sections might have a transition animation when a visitor scrolls past them. Want to see an example? Check out an animation on our website by going to our main website and scrolling down to the bottom where we link to our most recent blogs. When you do this, you will notice that our blog sections “slide up” into the main page via micro-animation. These transitions are easy to apply to sections on your website in WeConnect. 

 


 

Now it’s your turn! Be a trendsetter and start implementing these features into your parish website for an updated look in 2023! Need help with a redesign? Learn more about our website design services for parishes or check out some before and after images of sites we've designed here

 


 

Dive deeper into world of parish websites by checking out the " Web and Social Media" section of our weekly blog.

 

Updated on 03-13-2024

 

Share

You might also like

LPi Blog

A priest holding a cell phon reading a negative comment.
July 29, 2025
Even the most heartfelt posts you write from your parish’s social media accounts can occasionally draw negativity online. When that happens, it’s important to focus on stewardship, not just damage control. How your parish responds publicly to negative comments on your social media posts and on forums (like Google reviews) reflects your parish’s values, leadership, and the welcoming spirit of your community. As your parish’s social media manager, having a plan for dealing with negative comments is a good start, but it’s also important to develop a staff-wide policy. A written policy can be agreed on by anyone who might interact as your parish online through social media or other apps and will ensure that your parish’s voice is consistent, charitable, and mission-driven, especially in moments of conflict. When expectations are clear and shared, it empowers staff to respond (or not respond) with confidence and unity, always rooted in your parish’s values. If you want to dive deeper into the full picture of how to approach parish social media management as a whole, we’ve put together a free guide that you can explore at your own pace. Ok, let’s discuss what to do when negative comments pop up. 1. Discern Before You React It’s easy to immediately feel defensive when someone criticizes the parish you love or a thoughtful post you crafted but taking a negative comment personally is rarely helpful. It can cloud your judgment and shift your focus from ministry to defense — which likely isn’t the space you want to lead from. Instead, try to be curious about the commenter and the circumstances by which they decided to post their comment. Pause. Breathe. Then ask: What’s really going on here? Is the comment a genuine concern or suggestion? Could it be a misunderstanding or question? Is it clearly inflammatory, disrespectful, or spam ? By identifying the tone and intent, you’re better equipped to decide what kind of response is needed. Remember, not responding is also a choice you can make! Occasionally, negative comments can lead to meaningful change so be sure to think and gather more information if needed before jumping to conclusions. 2. Respond with Clarity and Charity When comments come from a place of curiosity or concern, take a pastoral approach if you choose to respond to them. Acknowledge the person : Thank them for engaging, even if you disagree. Offer clarity or next steps : Provide information, a link to a resource, or offer to connect offline. Stay visible : Public replies show your parish is open, responsive, and kind — even when challenged. For example, “Thank you for sharing your thoughts. It’s clear you care about this topic, and we appreciate that. Here’s what we’re doing…” or “We’re sorry you had a bad experience! We’d love to connect with you offline to see if we can correct the issue and welcome you to our community in a more positive way. Please email us at...” 3. Know When (and What) to Moderate It’s okay and even necessary to set boundaries when it comes to how and if you choose to respond to negative comments. One of the worst things you can do as a parish is to get into a “comment fight” in a public forum with someone. To avoid this, make sure your policy has clear boundaries set in place regarding what kinds of comments will receive a response, who is responsible for replying, and when it’s best to take a conversation offline or not engage at all. It's ok to: Hide or delete comments that are profane, threatening, or off-topic. Block users who repeatedly disrupt or violate your community standards. Pin helpful comments or your own thoughtful replies to set a tone for engagement. Use Facebook and Instagram’s built-in tools to filter offensive words and moderate comments ahead of time. Your goal is to keep the space prayerful, safe, and welcoming. It’s often wise to prioritize pastoral care over public defense. Remember to always aim to reflect the mission and values of your parish, even if the conversation is tough. 4. Have a Clear Response Plan and Policy Don’t leave your social media manager or volunteer guessing. Your policy should include: Guidelines on when to respond to a comment, hide it, or escalate it to a staff member. Pre-approved language or tone examples. Who to loop in (pastor, staff, communications team) for sensitive, ministry-specific, or recurring issues. Document this plan within your parish’s official social media policy so all of your team members engaging online are on the same page. Don’t be afraid to update this plan as your experience grows and/or expectations change. 5. Let Silence Speak (Sometimes) Not every comment needs or deserves a reply. Some folks make it their hobby to provoke others online. Learn to recognize what an online troll is and make sure your policy has a plan for how to engage or disengage with them. Don’t engage trolls or baiting comments and behavior. Avoid drawn-out debates in the comments. Instead, invite the person to a private message or offline conversation instead. If you want, adjust your settings to disallow replies on certain posts. Block and “report” aggressive trolls. If a commenter escalates their behavior to threats or hate speech, use the report tools inside the platform you are using. If their comments are criminal, you can report to the police. Remember: you are curating your parish’s own online environment. Your silence can speak volumes when done intentionally. You don’t need to be a digital expert to foster a healthy online space for your parish. Simply starting with a clear plan and leaning on a little pastoral wisdom will set you up for success. With the right tools and tone, even uncomfortable online conversations can be opportunities to witness Christ’s love. For a full blueprint on how to approach parish social media management with confidence, check out our free resource: A Complete Guide to Catholic Church Social Media Management.
A person in a blue sweater is holding a cell phone creating a one star review.
July 24, 2025
This personal story from a seasoned Catholic parish staff member proves how valuable a bad review can turn out to be!
A person 's hand is knocking on a wooden door.
By Colleen Jurkiewicz Dorman July 24, 2025
Whatever is interrupting communication between your heart and the One who crafted it, it can be overcome. There is no door thick enough, no night dark enough, no sleep strong enough.
More Posts