LPi Blog

The Ultimate Catholic Church Merger Checklist

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 18:53:08 GMT

If your diocese has decided that your parish will be merging with another parish, or even multiple parishes, in your region, you aren’t alone. This trend has been common across the United States, though the word “merge” isn’t always used. For example, in the Archdiocese of Seattle, parishes that have combined resources are called “Parish Families.” Other terms used in different regions are Parish Communities, Clusters, Pastorates, or Worship Sites. In some cases, merged churches decide to create a whole new Catholic identity and choose a new parish name altogether.

However your community chooses to approach a church merger, there will be challenges to navigate during the process. Follow this guide to ensure you’re aware of and prepared for your upcoming parish merger, so it can be the best experience it can possibly be!

Catholic Parish Staff: Culture, Roles, and HR Questions to Resolve When Merging Parishes

Your parish staff and ministry leaders will be the first to be affected by the news of a parish merger, so it’s common for staff to feel apprehensive and even experience grief during this period. The trick is to help everyone come together as one so they can guide their individual congregations toward becoming one united parish.

Here’s how:

Who is leading what after the merger? Clarify which priest, deacon, staff member, and ministry leaders will hold each role in the merged parish.
Which staff roles will be combined, retained, or phased out? Parish mergers are often pursued as a way to use staff and resources more efficiently. Consider duplicated positions, changed hours, revised reporting lines, and whether some roles become parish-wide rather than site-specific.
How will staff responsibilities change across multiple worship sites? In Catholic mergers, one church may become the main parish while others continue as secondary worship sites. This will often affect sacristy coverage, office hours, bulletin production (scroll down to the next section for tips on merging bulletins), facilities oversight, hospitality, and ministry scheduling.
How will the pastor and staff communicate decisions? In the USCCB document, “Best Practices for Shared Parishes,” the importance of transparent decision-making, strong listening, and clear communication through multiple channels is important. Consider your parish’s bulletin, website, social media, and pulpit announcements as all important avenues of communication.
How will you handle staff emotions, morale, and resistance to change? Change is difficult. Clergy, staff, and even lay ministry leaders often struggle to give up history, control, and their future expectations. It’s not uncommon to experience emotional swings between excitement, fear, hope, and even resentment during a merger. Often, a diocese will already have a plan to address these challenges.
How will you honor the legacy of each former parish while building one team? If the plan is to dissolve one or more church communities into a brand new one, the Diocese of Buffalo’s Guide for Parish Mergers and Closures outlines some great procedures. For example, it explicitly recommends communicating the legacy of the merging parish(s) while also building a partnership with the receiving parish.
Does the staff reflect the whole merged parish? USCCB guidance repeatedly emphasizes the importance of making sure that a merged parish’s staff, finance councils, and pastoral councils represent the merged community — especially when multiple cultural or linguistic communities are involved.
Do staff need intercultural or bilingual training? Ongoing formation and training for leaders of the newly merged parish are essential to ensure they can properly communicate and work across cultural boundaries. Be sure to set aside a dedicated budget to support trainings, workshops, and in-services.
How will pastoral and finance councils be rebuilt? A merged parish is not supposed to simply limp along with the original parish’s old structures in place. For example, the Diocese of Erie suggests in its document, “ Implementation Guide for Merged Parishes,” that a merged parish’s finance and pastoral councils should be reconstituted so they represent both the enlarged parish and the pre-merger communities.
Who will be on the transition team, and do they represent all former parishes? Each parish merger guide consulted for this article stressed cross-representation and transparent recommendation-making so that each community feels heard during the transition. Often, your diocese already has a plan in place for this, but it’s still worth considering at the local level.
What HR steps must happen for employees? Buffalo’s merger guide gets very practical here: health insurance continuation, final wage reporting, unemployment information, benefits communication, retirement-plan details, and maintaining a complete personnel list for the new pastor or bookkeeper must all be part of the HR plan. Don’t forget — personnel records that might need to be transferred, too!
How will ministry leaders evaluate which ministries will continue as-is, merge, or come to an end? Current ministries, especially liturgical ministries, should be evaluated and new ministries considered. As ministries are among the core heartbeat of a church community, don’t wait until the last minute to start considering these.
What happens if the parish also has a school? If a merger affects a parochial or regional school, most dioceses guide parishes toward separate school-closing or school-merger procedures. This would include transferring employee personnel files and coordinating with the offices of Catholic schools.
How will staff help parishioners move from ‘my old parish’ to joining in shared ownership of the new one? When it comes to parish staff, leadership, and even participation, the USCCB describes healthy integration as helping people move from being stuck in a “host/guest dynamic” to feeling like they have a real place at the table.

Tips for Nurturing Catholic Parish Members and Ministries During a Church Merger

Taking care to nurture and guide church members who are experiencing a merger is just as important as making sure that the leadership of the merged parishes is just as supported. Here are some key steps to consider to help congregations successfully navigate a parish merger.

Lead with prayer, listening, and visible pastoral care. Remember, parishioners need more than just the ability to understand the logistics of their parish merger. They also need to feel seen, welcomed, cared for, and accompanied spiritually as they process grief, uncertainty, and change.
Make hospitality intentional, not assumed. The USCCB emphasizes creating a sense of belonging for both longtime members of a parish going through a merger and new members. Train and encourage your parish greeters to be sensitive to both groups. Create shared gatherings, clear signage, and use language that helps everyone feel like they have a place in the new parish.
Preserve meaningful traditions while building one new community. A healthy merger should honor the history, devotions, charism, and memories of each former parish while also working to help members embrace a shared future.
Evaluate ministries carefully instead of automatically cutting or simply duplicating them. Catholic merger guides frequently recommend reviewing existing ministries, especially liturgical and parish-life ministries, to determine which should continue, combine, or be reimagined for the stronger merged parish. Invite ministry leaders and stakeholders into this discussion.
Invite broad representation in ministry leadership. Parishioners from all merging communities should see themselves reflected in the new parish’s councils, committees, and ministry teams so the merged parish feels shared, not dominated, by one former church culture over another.
Keep communicating the mission behind the merger. One way to successfully guide parish members into their new parish culture is to communicate honestly and repeatedly about why the merger is happening and how it can strengthen ministry, stewardship, and long-term parish life for everyone involved. To truly reinforce the new mission, consider weaving this type of communication into everything from your parish bulletin and website, to homilies and announcements at Mass and other parish events for a year or more.

How to Create a Weekly Bulletin for a Cluster or Merged Catholic Parish

Proper and intentional communication is one of the best tools to support a successful parish merger. Often, the new parish entity will need a brand-new communication structure and plan, complete with a new website, social media accounts, and a weekly church bulletin. As the bulletin will likely be the very first and most frequent type of communication that your merged community will receive, let’s talk about best practices for parish bulletins for a merged parish community:

Don’t wait until after the merge to create your community’s new, unified bulletin. The bulletin will be a pivotal platform to inform people about the ongoing process of your merger, and to help guide their responses to it. Waiting to implement a new, unified merged bulletin until after the merger is complete will cause you to miss out on a super valuable opportunity to keep parishioners informed about new initiatives and changes. It can explain what is changing, what is staying the same, and how the merged parish is moving forward together over time. It may be your most important transition tool!
Create one unified bulletin, not a split bulletin by church site. If the new reality is a single parish with multiple worship sites, the bulletin should reinforce that shared identity instead of visually dividing parish life into “this side” and “that side.” Catholic dioceses experiencing mergers repeatedly emphasize moving people from simple coexistence toward belonging and shared ownership, so a bulletin split in half can unintentionally keep the old parish boundaries alive. Merge the parish, merge the bulletin!
Standardize branding, contact information, and communication channels as early as possible. In merged parishes, diocesan communications offices often push toward one website, one main office, one email, and one set of official parish details. Your bulletin should mirror that same structure, so parishioners are not confused about where to call, register, give, or ask questions. Don’t rebrand alone! LPi has assisted parishes across the country in rebranding during parish mergers and knows how to guide the process so that branding is one less thing to worry about during these times of uncertainty!
Lead with parish-wide information first, then organize site-specific details clearly underneath. A merged bulletin works best when the front-end content reflects the whole parish: pastor’s message, mission, major announcements, sacramental information, contact details, and combined events. Then Mass times, confession times, or worship-site logistics can be broken out clearly by campus or church location. This approach reinforces that your merged parishes are now one enlarged parish, even if more than one worship site remains in use.
Use the bulletin to help parishioners feel welcome in the new parish, not just informed. The USCCB suggests that hospitality in shared parishes means helping people know “there is room for you” whenever they participate. For this reason, your bulletin should continually and actively reinforce messages of welcome to both communities into one shared life.
Highlight ministries and events in a way that invites cross-participation. A good, merged parish bulletin should avoid presenting ministries as tied only to one former parish identity and instead frame them as opportunities open to the whole parish, regardless of where the ministry is held or where its participants meet.

LPi works with over 5,000 Catholic churches nationwide to produce and print their weekly bulletins and is no stranger to working alongside parishes as they navigate mergers and other major transitions. Our bulletin service provides high-quality communication that shares timely parish information while helping cover their bulletin costs through local advertising support. For merged parishes that bring multiple communities together, it’s a practical way to support one clear, trusted message. Get started with LPi today!

Sources

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Best Practices for Shared Parishes
The Diocese of Buffalo, NY. Guide for Parish Mergers and Closures
The Diocese of Erie, PA. Implementation Guide for Merged Parishes

While It Is Still Dark

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 11:00:22 GMT

Reflection for April 5, 2026 – Easter Sunday

In today’s Gospel, we learn about the happenings after Mary of Magdala and the disciples found Jesus’ tombstone rolled away and the tomb empty. Find today’s reading here.

If you are a person who is religious in any way, chances are that at some point, someone has asked you to give a reason why.

I meet lots of people who identify as spiritual but not religious , lots of people who are more comfortable splashing in the shallow end of belief but hesitating to wade into the more uncertain depths of doctrine. So, when they ask the question “Why do you believe what you believe?” it usually comes out as “Why do you go to church?”

They want to know why I come to this specific place at this specific time. What am I expecting to happen?

We read that Mary Magdalene went to the tomb “while it was still dark.” I imagine she could not sleep. She was traumatized. Grieving. Confused. Angry, perhaps. Doubting? Maybe. It’s possible. We cannot know what was in her heart.

We only know what she did. We only know where she went. And we know that it was dark, that the light of Easter’s dawn had not yet pierced the sky.

Often, I am grieving when I go to church, or angry, or confused, or all three. I have gone many times with a doubting and resentful heart.

Because, you see, it is still dark. The dawn of eternity, which will illuminate all understanding, has not yet even begun to creep across my horizon.

My answer to the question, when I am asked, is that I go to church — to Catholic Mass, specifically — for the same reason Mary Magdalene went to the tomb. I go because it is the last place I saw Christ, and I am desperate to see him again.

©LPi

The Humanity of Holy Week

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 11:00:26 GMT

Reflection for March 29, 2026 – Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion

In this Sunday’s Gospel, we hear the story of Jesus’ final days on earth – from his welcoming reception on a donkey to his crucifixion, which saved the world. Find today’s reading here.

We have all sold Jesus out, at one point or another. Some of us have done it more than once, and we’ve done it for a lot less than 30 pieces of silver.

We have all denied Christ, and we have done it more than three times and under much less pressure than Peter, who feared for his life when he shouted, “I do not know the man!”

We have all struck the face of God — out of anger? Fear? Confusion? All of the above? — screaming, in agony, “Prophesy for me!”

At one point or another, we have all looked at our Lord beaten and betrayed, and we have all said, as Pilate did: “What shall I do with Jesus called Christ?”

And we have all hung on the cross chosen for us, crying out in bewilderment: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

Holy Week is a week where we see humanity, in all its vulnerability and ignorance. We see it in the “villains” of the piece, like Judas, and in the morally neutral characters like Pilate and the Jews who have been misled about Jesus. We even see it in the “good guys” like Peter.

In this, the holiest week of the year, we see ourselves at our very worst. The chasm between man and his Creator is an ancient one, and it is driven deep and wide — by the pridefulness of Adam and Eve, yes, but also by every poor choice you and I have ever made.

Every “I don’t know the man!”

Every “Prophesy!”

Every “What shall I do with Jesus?”

These cries echo forth from the depths of this chasm.

But this week — this Holy Week — a bridge is built across the chasm. And God reaches out His hand.

©LPi

What Lazarus Wanted

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 10:15:02 GMT

Reflection for March 22, 2026 – Fifth Sunday of Lent

In this Sunday’s Gospel reading, we hear the story of Jesus performing the miracle of resurrecting his friend Lazarus from the dead. Find today’s reading here.

What Lazarus Wanted

“It must be so crazy, being God,” one of my friends said in high school. “Does it feel like playing The Sims all day? Just making people do stuff because you want to see what happens?”

I think we all sometimes fall into this warped manner of thinking about God’s omnipotence. It’s understandable, to a degree. The flimsiness of our own agency in this world, our real ability to impact or change anything … well, it all feels especially puny when you put it next to the power of the Creator. “Oh God, thy sea is so great,” goes the old fisherman’s prayer. “And my boat is so small.”

But today, in the raising of Lazarus from the dead, we are reminded that God is all about giving us agency.

Jesus could have raised any random person from the dead on this, the Fifth Sunday of Lent. His intention was clear: to foreshadow his own passion, death and resurrection, and to exhibit the closeness of God to those who mourn. “This illness is not to end in death,” he tells his companions. “But is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” (John 11:4)

So if it could have been anyone, why was it Lazarus?

I think the answer has to be that this was something Lazarus agreed to. Perhaps not in an explicit way, for he didn’t know the mind or the plans of God. But in his friendship with Jesus, in the strength of his faith and the depth of his devotion to God, in every prayer he ever uttered — “Lord, let your will be done” — he was agreeing to it. Over and over, in what he said and what he did, Lazarus, beloved friend of Christ, said, “Lord, I love you. Lord, use me.”

In this last full week of Lent, let us say it with him: “Lord, I love you. Lord, use me.”

©LPi

Where to Find Professional Virgin Mary Images for Church Bulletins and Social Media

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 19:20:23 GMT

Special Marian holy days are celebrated throughout the liturgical year, so it’s no surprise that parishes regularly need “Mother Mary images” and “Virgin Mary images” for their communications. The problem parish staff run into when sourcing religious images online, though, is that most images found are copyrighted and can’t be used. Copyright infringement is a big deal, and parishes should avoid the risk. So, how do parishes find graphics of Mary to use throughout the year in their communications?

If you’ve been searching for Virgin Mary images and pictures and want to be completely sure that the graphics you source are legal to use, we’ve got the answer! Inside this article, we’ll teach you where to source Marian images for feast days, religious education, and more, and even give you some practical application tips to use Virgin Mary pictures in your parish communications.

Find Blessed Mother Mary Images All in One Convenient Place

To avoid copyright infringement, the best approach is to use a Catholic content library , such as WeCreate , to search for Marian images. WeCreate is curated specifically for Catholic communications, featuring images for all the liturgical holy days, special church events, and more. WeCreate content includes cover images, social media graphics, scripture quote images and more, available in both English and Spanish!

Inside WeCreate, Marian graphics can be found for:

How Parishes Can Use Marian Graphics from WeCreate

Graphics of the Virgin Mary found in WeCreate can be used across parish communications without worrying about copyright infringements! With access to WeCreate, parishes are welcome to use any graphics or images from the Catholic content library for their:

Weekly Church Bulletins
Parish Websites
Social Media Feeds
Instagram/Facebook Stories
Emails and Ministry Newsletters
Ministry and Event Flyers
Educational Materials
Mass Presentations/Slides

WeCreate graphics come in a variety of size options that fit nicely into whatever design or publication you choose to use them for. There are graphics perfectly sized for bulletin covers, website banners, social media stories, and more. We even have Marian clip art for quick, little additions to bulletin articles!

How to Get Access to Marian Content in WeCreate

There are two ways to access Mary, Mother of God graphics in WeCreate for your parish communications.

1. Use the graphics available in our Free Catholic Art collection. Every month, the LPi team selects a small number of graphics to provide parishes for free. This collection of images is provided copyright-free. See what’s available: https://www.4lpi.com/free-catholic-art

2. Parishes who print their bulletin with LPi get access to the FULL WeCreate Catholic content library. WeCreate has over 22,000 copyright-free assets available, with more added every month, keeping parishes up to date with fresh images for every Catholic occasion. This extensive library includes seasonal artwork, liturgical images, social media graphics, bulletin fillers, and ready-to-use templates designed specifically for Catholic communication needs.

Not partnering with LPi yet? Get started here.

Sent

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 11:00:07 GMT

Reflection for March 15, 2026 – Fourth Sunday of Lent

In this Sunday’s Gospel reading, Jesus performs a miracle by allowing a blind man to see for the first time – just one of many of his miracles here on earth. Find today’s read here.

I don’t know about you. But if I was a blind person sitting by the side of the road, minding my own business, and a stranger came along and rubbed spit-mud in my eye, I’m just salty enough that I would ignore his words out of spite.

Even though he was, admittedly, super-nice about the whole thing.

Obviously I would wash the mud out, because … spit. But I wouldn’t go to the Pool of Siloam. I would go to a pool on the whole other side of town , just to be contrary. I would make frustrated, grossed-out noises while I splashed water on my eyes: “Ugh! I can’t believe this! People are the worst!” I would feel satisfied that I wasn’t tricked or conned or taken advantage of.

And I would stay blind the rest of my life.

When Jesus performs a miracle in the Gospel, we sometimes think of it like a fireworks show. Something people point at — “Ooh! Aah!” — and move on from. But a miracle of Jesus is not a party trick. It is a commissioning.

And each of us, in our own way, has the choice of accepting it or not.

Nowhere in the Gospel story does it say that Jesus promised the man sight if he washed in the pool. I wonder what it was that made the blind man feel he could trust Jesus. Was it something in his voice? Was it something in his touch? Was it the humanity with which he spoke of the blind man to his disciples — a gentleness missing from most other interactions of his life?

We’ll never know. But we do know this: the blind man’s sight wasn’t restored until he made a decision. A decision to be sent.

©LPi

How Successful Churches Use Canva for Parish Bulletins, Social Media, and More

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 21:45:20 GMT

Ever wonder how, in the last few years, many churches have leveled-up the design part of their communications? It might be thanks to Canva and the availability of a free version of their pro-tier option to nonprofit organizations like churches!

What is Canva, and why is it Useful for Catholic Churches?

Canva is a widely used online design platform that helps individuals and teams create professional designs without requiring any graphic design experience. Launched in 2013, Canva aims to “democratize design” through its user-friendly and intuitive interface.

Canva stands out from other design platforms for parish use because it offers its professional-tier option to nonprofit organizations for free! Registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations can apply for “Canva for Nonprofits,” which, if approved, provides church staff with all of the utility and design options that come with the paid Canva experience versus their free, abbreviated option. (Note: Some types of nonprofit organizations are exempt from this offer, but most churches qualify.)

For a quick guide on how to apply for Canva for Nonprofits, visit LPi’s Canva support page.

How to Boost Your Church Communications With Canva

When you encounter a parish with fantastic design in their communications, it often means one of three things: they have a graphic designer on staff, they use Canva, or both! Here’s how successful churches are using Canva to spread the Good News.

Using Canva for Your Weekly Church Bulletins

Increasingly, parish staff are adopting Canva to design and edit their church’s weekly bulletins. The migration of church bulletin editors to Canva has increased more and more, especially this year, following the announcement that Microsoft will discontinue Publisher in October 2026.

Another reason Canva is a fantastic design platform for bulletin editors is its ability to simplify design workflow while maintaining the high-quality results editors rely on to communicate with parishioners. With Canva for Nonprofits, bulletin editors can:

Create print-ready files that meet publication standards
Access user-friendly, cloud-based tools from anywhere
Collaborate easily with staff and volunteers
Maintain consistent branding across bulletins, social media, and event materials

As LPi bulletin print customers , parishes that use Canva or are beginning to make the switch can also expect excellent support. With LPi, bulletin editors receive:

Full access to our dedicated customer support team
Design support to help you recreate your bulletin in Canva easily
Canva-specific bulletin templates ready for your use
Continued access to WeCreate for all your Catholic art, graphics, and content needs
Training on how to use Canva’s tools for bulletin layouts, social media, and more

LPi partners with parishes to provide communication solutions that increase engagement — so they can spend more time on parish ministry and less time on administration tasks. For parishes using, or planning to use, Canva for Nonprofits, partnering with LPi is a no-brainer!

Designing Ministry Marketing Materials With Canva

Canva’s utility isn’t limited to your church's weekly bulletins. Parish teams are also using the platform to design cohesive, eye-catching materials to support ministries, events, and stewardship efforts all year long.

With Canva for Nonprofits, parish staff can easily create:

Ministry posters and flyers for Bible studies, Knights of Columbus events, women’s groups, parish missions, and more
Customized ministry sign-up forms for volunteer recruitment and service opportunities
Youth ministry or school program packets with branded covers, schedules, and permission slips included
Sacramental prep materials for First Communion, Confirmation, OCIA sessions, and more
Lent and Advent reflection booklets to distribute to parishioners, along with prayers and reflections, during these special seasons
Vacation Bible School promotional materials and registration packets for elementary youth
Stewardship commitment cards and annual appeal inserts for your bulletin or in the pews
Event banners and signage for parish festivals, fundraisers, missions, and church identity
Prayer cards for feast days, funerals, or parish-wide devotions
Greeting cards branded for your parish for any occasion

Truly, this is not an exhaustive list! Parishes can create just about anything they need using Canva. And, because Canva supports print-ready files, these materials can be professionally printed while still being created in-house by your staff and volunteers. Teams can also save templates inside your parish’s Canva for Nonprofits account to share for recurring events — like fish fries, parish picnics, or mission appeals — making future updates quick and simple for anyone on staff to create.

When design elements, fonts, and colors remain consistent, parish communications feel organized and trustworthy. Canva helps ministry leaders move from “last-minute flyer” to polished, mission-focused marketing that reflects the care and excellence of the parish community.

Parish Social Media Success Using Canva

Canva makes creating social media content and posting it across platforms simple and sustainable for Catholic churches.

In our comprehensive article on using Canva for parish social media , we walk through how churches can easily create consistent, branded graphics for use on their social media. Canva’s social media templates help parishes quickly design posts for upcoming events, Scripture reflections, feast days, volunteer spotlights, stewardship reminders, and more.

The key to success is consistency. When a parish uses the same fonts, colors, and logo placement across its posts, its audience instantly recognizes that parish's content in their feed and even looks for it! Canva’s ability to create saved brand kits and reusable social media templates makes it easy for busy parish staff and ministry volunteers who manage their church’s social media.

If a parish is designing and editing their bulletin and marketing materials on Canva, it’s also super easy to repurpose those publications into social media graphics inside the platform! Staff can create visual posts (with animations and video options, too!) and even connect their social media profiles to schedule posts right there in Canva to stay ahead of the week’s communication needs. No need to open each individual social media application and spend valuable time posting on each one — just do it all inside Canva!

Pair Canva’s accessible tools with a simple parish social media strategy , and a church’s social media efforts become less stressful and far more impactful. Using Canva can help reach parishioners where they spend most of their time — online!

Partner With LPi for Seamless Canva Integration

Church staff will likely be the first to admit that the right partner in ministry makes all the difference. With that in mind, LPi not only provides professional bulletin printing and advertising support to Catholic churches , but also the guidance, training, and design assistance needed to make Canva integration simple and seamless for parish staff.

Explore how partnering with LPi strengthens parish communications, both in print and on every digital platform.

When God asks for Water

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 12:00:34 GMT

Reflection for March 8, 2026 – Third Sunday of Lent

In today’s Gospel reading, we hear the story of Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman at the well, where he asks her for a drink of water. Find today’s reading here.

One of my earliest memories is of my mother weeping.

The last few months of her pregnancy with my little brother were tremendously painful for her, and more than once the pain brought her to tears. I have a hazy image of her in my mind, belly swollen with a 12-pound baby lying transverse in the womb, sitting on the edge of her bed, dabbing at her face with toilet paper.

I had brought her the toilet paper. I would do that when I saw her crying, to wipe away her tears. I have a hazy memory of that, too — of the way my heart was wrenched by the sight of her suffering, of my desperation to do something to help, and of my immense satisfaction when she would take the toilet paper, smile and say, “Oh, thank you, sweetheart!” as if I had just airlifted her out of a war zone.

What a powerful gift to give to a child still learning the meaning of compassion and selflessness — the gift of being able to feel that she has, even in some small way, “rescued” a person she worships. Her smile of gratitude lives, immortal, in my mind, along with the swell of satisfaction it produced in the deepest corner of my heart. This was when I learned that it feels good to help people, and this memory is a perpetually replenished well of living water for me. I draw from it daily, three decades later.

This is a gift that Christ gives, over and over again, in the Gospels. He allows us to encounter him tired, afraid, sad and hungry. Omnipotent power subjected to the utter vulnerability of human form.

Before the Incarnation, God looked down from Heaven and said, “You are thirsty. Here is something to drink.”

After the Incarnation, God sits down beside us and says, “I’m thirsty. Give me something to drink.”

©LPi

Three Tents

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 12:00:16 GMT

Reflection for March 1, 2026 – Second Sunday of Lent

In this Sunday’s Gospel reading, Jesus leads three of his disciples up a mountain, where they see him with Moses and Elijah. God speaks, saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” Find the daily reading here .

Three Tents

You guys, I was such a good Catholic at the National Eucharistic Congress.

Mass every day? Check. Rosary every day? Check (and check — we said a lot of rosaries). Deep thoughts and deep conversations about God with total strangers? Check. Hours in adoration reflecting on the state of my soul? Check.

When I went to Indianapolis in the summer of 2024 to cover the NEC for our archdiocesan newspaper, I knew it would be a fun and spiritually rich experience. But I didn’t expect that it would make me think differently about my whole life (and afterlife). And when people ask me why — “What happened in Indianapolis that changed you?” — I can only tell them this: I spent time with God.

Of course, I do all these things in my regular life at home, too. I try to be a good Catholic here. But good grief, it’s a lot harder. In Indianapolis, I didn’t have a calendar full of appointments and to-do lists that filled me with dread. I didn’t have the world crowding around me, grasping at my attention and my will.

Indianapolis was the mountain, and if I could have, I would have built three tents.

So I understand Peter’s feelings at the Transfiguration. He’s thrilled — he sees it all clearly now. Here is the fullness of Truth, revealed in all its glory, and he’s ready to start bringing groups of tourists up to see it. He’s ready to bring people to Christ. But in the blood-soaked, fear-filled days to come, Peter will realize that it’s not his job to bring the world to the Truth. His job is to bring the Truth into the world.

What a tragedy it would be, if Truth only lived on the mountaintop.

So build three tents, strong and durable shelters for the Truth to dwell. But build them in your heart. And then, the Transfiguration won’t be just an event, something that happened at a certain time and a certain place. It’ll be a reality that lives within us all. And we will bear it with us wherever we go.

©LPi

76 Church Event Ideas Your Parishioners Will Love

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 20:55:51 GMT

If you're on the hunt for new church events that spark connection and engage every age group, you've come to the right place! At LPi, we help thousands of parishes across the country with communication tools (like awesome parish bulletins !) to share the Good News, and, in doing this work, we’ve compiled a master list of church event options, just for you.

Whether you’re planning for Lent, Easter, Advent, Christmas, or simply looking to strengthen your parish’s year-round fellowship, this post is packed with fresh, doable church event ideas. From church fellowship activities to church activities for kids, you’ll find both tried and true as well as new, creative ways to bring your parish community together. Bonus: we’ve included standout Christmas church events, parish Easter ideas, and even Lent activities for kids that go beyond the usual.

Hoping to raise some money? Many of these events can also be easily turned into fundraisers! Let’s make your next gathering one people will remember.

Seasonal Church Events

The following is our master list of events to follow the liturgical calendar.

Lent, Holy Week, and Easter:

Mardi Gras Party — Traditionally celebrated by using up any treats and sweets in your house that are commonly given up during Lent.
Ash Wednesday Service — This is a day when many people who are curious about Catholicism come to church. Be mindful to set up a welcome table and include a welcome note in your pews and bulletin.
Stations of the Cross — Praying the Stations of the Cross brings people closer to Jesus’ passion and helps us journey through Lent.

o Different ministries can lead the Stations at different times.

o The youth group can act out the Stations.

o Consider a “shadow” Stations of the Cross .

Simple Soup Suppers — Can be hosted by different ministries (don’t forget to forgo meat if you host them on a Friday!).
Friday Fish Fry Dinners — A popular way to encourage people to fast from meat on Fridays, this can be hosted by different ministries.
Family Lent Event — Families come to learn about Lent through age-specific crafts, music, and teaching. Distribute family coin or rice boxes to collect change that can be donated on during Holy Week.
24 Hour Fasting Retreat — A retreat where everyone fasts for 24 hours (in solidarity with those who are food-insecure) and refocuses on prayer.
CRS Rice Bowls — Hold an event where families take home CRS Rice Bowls after an explanation about what the bowls are. Can double these up with a soup supper or a fish fry!
Communal Reconciliation/Penance service — Often held during Lent, these are a great way to encourage many people to receive the sacrament of reconciliation.
Seven Churches Visitation on Holy Thursday Night — Organize a group to visit seven different altars of repose at seven different churches while praying and reflecting on the passion of Christ.
40 Hours Devotion — The Eucharist is exposed on your altar in a monstrance available for adoration for 40 hours. Can also be observed during Advent.
Healing Mass — Invite your parish and anyone in need of healing to attend a Healing Mass where the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is administered to those in need.
Family Easter Egg Hunt — This can be a multi-generational, multi-week event that engages the entire church! Event one: invite parishioners to donate candy to stuff the eggs. Event two: invite the high school youth group to an egg-stuffing party. Event three: invite another parish ministry to help hide the eggs the morning of the egg hunt. Event four: family easter egg hunt!
Group Rosary — Invite parishioners to pray the Rosary out loud after Mass together.

Advent and Christmas:

Family Advent Event — Families come to learn about Advent through age-specific crafts, music, and teaching. Go home with Advent wreaths families built together.
Angel Breakfast — Children and parents eat angel-shaped pancakes and cookies for breakfast, and learn about Gabriel’s visit to Mary while making crafts. Also a great opportunity for a toy drive or giving tree gift drive.
St. Nicholas Day Celebration — Invite someone to dress up as St. Nicholas and teach families and children about the saint. Have everyone leave their shoes at the door to receive little treats in them, like oranges, nuts, and chocolate candy.
Christmas Shopping Double Feature Movie — Host a double feature movie night (or day) in your church hall for youth so that parents can get some hours to go Christmas shopping! Serve popcorn and hot chocolate. This can be a fantastic fundraiser!
Giving Tree — In the weeks leading up to Christmas, invite parishioners to donate gifts for those in need in your community.
Breakfast with Santa — For families, use this opportunity to teach who Santa Claus is, the history of secular Christmas celebrations, and how it all relates to Jesus. Bonus if people bring presents for the giving tree to donate!
Las Posadas Candlelight Pilgrimage — Transform your parish hall into a “small Bethlehem” and guide families on a candlelit walking story about the Holy Family’s search for shelter.
Nativity Play — Children act out the nativity and teach about Advent.

More Church Event Ideas for Year-Round Outreach

But wait, there’s more! We’d be remiss if we forgot all the incredible event opportunities during Ordinary Time. The best time for a parish event is now!

Spring Church Event Ideas:

Parish Open House — Invite neighbors, newcomers, those who advertise in your bulletin, and your surrounding community to visit your parish and learn about your mission!
Ministry Fair — Don’t forget to include people from each ministry and encourage them to serve in different ministries. Sign-up forms are a must!
Health Fair — Bonus if you can include services for seniors!
Graduation Mass & Celebration — Be sure to celebrate those graduating from many different programs, not just college!
St. Patrick’s Day Dinner — A great opportunity to build community and raise some money while also learning about Irish heritage.
Spring Cleaning Service Project — Students need service hours, families need an activity to do, and your parish buildings and grounds need a spring cleaning!
Parish Mission — Often includes multiple nights of talks, teachings, music, and even small group discussions.
Adoration & Worship Night — An event with praise and worship music and adoration of the Holy Eucharist.
May Crowning of Mary — Invite youth and families to participate in the May Crowning with prayers, songs, and crafts to make their own crowns for a Mary statue at home.
Blessing of the Motorcycles — As the weather warms up and people uncover their motorcycles for the year, make sure to bless them for safety on the roads. This can easily turn into a fun parish family event with a BBQ!
C are for Creation Cleanup — Highlight and celebrate all the ways your parish is caring for the Earth, teach about Laudato si’, and organize a parish grounds cleanup to prepare for summer. If you serve food, don’t forget to use washable plates, cups, and utensils instead of single-use plastic and paper ones!

Summer Church Event Ideas:

Church BBQ — Everyone loves a good BBQ! Consider holding a talent show, cook-off, or raffle to make it even more fun.
Ice Cream Social — Nothing brings families and kids together like an ice-cream social after Mass!
Family Field Day(s) — After Mass, have a field day with organized games for anyone who wants to play basketball, capture the flag, etc.
Mass on the Grass — Outdoor Mass on your church grounds or held in a local park.
Summer Concert Series — Invite musicians from your parish to perform their music or have your parish choir sing!
Outdoor Movie Nights — Invite parishioners to bring lawn chairs and blankets to watch a movie together on the lawn. Serve popcorn or ice cream!
Convalidation Day — For those who married outside the Church, it’s a day to come together as a group and have an official Catholic wedding, all at once.
Parish Yard Sale — A yard sale of items collected from parishioners is a great way to raise money for your ministries.
Youth Group “Moving Up” Party — Those moving out of one ministry age group and into the next are welcomed by the new group and celebrated. For example, elementary youth who have aged out and are entering the middle school youth group in the autumn, or recently graduated 8 ^th graders joining the high school youth ministry.

Autumn Church Event Ideas:

St. Francis Pet Blessing — In honor of St. Francis and his love for all of God’s creation, invite your members to bring their pets for a special blessing and social.
Family Trunk-or-Treat — Halloween trick-or-treating but spice it up and make it a contest where families decorate the trunks of their vehicles in the church parking lot. Families go trunk to trunk to get candy, visit, and award prizes for best decorations!
Vocations Fair — During Vocation Awareness Week, set up a ministry-type fair after each Mass, celebrating vocations with representatives of each available with resources.
Vocations Meal — Invite parishioners to meet and hear from local seminarians, priests, brothers, or religious sisters.
Fall Cleaning Service Project — Don’t save all the cleaning for the spring! Invite parishioners to help get your buildings and grounds ready for winter. Serve hot chocolate and donuts.
Thanksgiving Food Drive — Partner with local initiatives to donate food for those who are food insecure in your communities.
World Mission Sunday Fair — Invite missionaries and representatives from missions’ organizations to speak after Mass or during coffee and donuts.
Month of the Holy Souls Events (November) — There are many ways to remember those who have passed during November, including:

o Dedicate daily Masses for the deceased — Encourage parishioners to do this.

o Memorial Mass — A communal mourning for all those who have died in the past year.

o Novena for the Holy Souls — Advertise this ahead of time and send out daily emails to remind participants.

o Dia de Los Muertos Event — Partner with your parish members who celebrate Dia de Los Muertos to host a parish event celebrating those who have passed.

Grandparents’ Day — This is a great autumn festival idea. Celebrate Grandparents’ Day in September with cider and donuts, crafts, face painting, maybe even an autumn campfire with s’mores. A special invitation to grandparents and grandchildren is a must!

Winter Church Event Ideas:

Valentine’s Day Dance — Invite old and young to boogie the night away for Valentine’s!
Pancake Breakfast — Hold these after early morning Mass to battle the cold, dark winter mornings.
Craft Fair — A fantastic way to showcase parishioners’ talents and invite the community together.
International Food Festival — Invite members to register to participate by cooking and sharing their cultural favorites with the whole parish!
Winter Coat/Clothing Drive — Ask parishioners to donate new or gently used winter clothes for those in need this winter.
Cake Walk & Bake Sale — A tried and true way to raise money and have some fun!
“Bundle of Joy” Baby Shower for Unwed Mothers — Encourage your parish to donate newborn and early infant gifts for those in need in your community. Focus on the gift of life and practical support.
Newcomers’ Gathering — These can be held multiple times a year. Invite new parishioners to come and meet ministry leaders, staff, and your pastor to get integrated and learn about the parish.
Parish Priest AMA (Ask Me Anything) — A dinner with your pastor where people can write questions on a sheet of paper and he can choose which to answer. Fun and informal!
Engaged Couples Pizza Party — Gather everyone getting married in the church that year to get to know each other and share their experience of engagement and wedding planning.
Toddler Adoration — Invite your pastor to lead young families in Eucharistic Adoration. Let the toddlers be toddlers and learn, keep it short, and have snacks afterwards. A great way to check in with young families!
Parish Winter Talent Show — Approve talents ahead of time and have some fun!

Bonus: Church Event Ideas for Parishes With a School:

Does your parish have a school? If so, don’t forget these events:

Back-to-School Clothing Swap — parents get together for a back-to-school clothing swap.
Back to school Mass and Party — Hold a special Mass for school families and staff the weekend before the first day back and throw a special reception for them.
Parent Ministry Nights — Special talks or group gatherings to minister to parents with school-aged children.
Alternative Spring Break Service Event — Plan a service project or service trip as an alternative to the usual student spring break shenanigans. Often targeted toward high school and college students.
Graduation Mass & Celebration of Accomplishments — Hold a special Mass for those graduating from your parish’s connected school. Highlight the accomplishments of each graduate during Mass or in a poster you hang at church.
Teacher & Staff Appreciation Dinner — Don’t forget your staff and teachers! Encourage school families and parishioners to host dinner in their honor.
New Family Welcome Dinner — An opportunity for ministry leaders to welcome new school families to the church community as a whole and get them “plugged in.”
Catholic Book Read-a-Thon — Just like the read-a-thons of old, but this time, students come to church for an afternoon and read books from the parish library, or Catholic books they’ve brought on their own!

Into the Desert

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 11:00:03 GMT

Reflection for February 22, 2026 – First Sunday of Lent

In today’s Gospel reading, we hear the story of Jesus being tempted in the desert, where he goes to fast for 40 days and nights. Find today’s reading here.

When we first got married, I wanted to know everything my husband was thinking, exactly when he was thinking it.

Thirteen years later, I still want to know it all. But I want to know it after he’s had a snack.

I think he still wants to know what I’m thinking, too. But he wants to know it after I’ve had 10 minutes without hearing the word, “Mommy!”

Life has taught us, you see, that it’s hard to be a good person, a nice person, a gentle person, when your body doesn’t feel good or nice or gentle. When you’re hungry. When you’re exhausted. When you’re anxious.

It’s not impossible, of course. It’s just … hard .

We’re entering a penitential season, a time in which we purposefully deprive ourselves in certain ways. During Lent, we intentionally enter into the desert of physical hunger and weakness. Why, in preparation for Easter and in an effort to spiritually purify ourselves, do we go to this place where it’s so hard to be good? Why do we go to the desert?

Because Christ has shown us that the desert is where decisions are made.

There are many reasons why the Word became flesh to accomplish God’s plan for our salvation. But I think one of the most important reasons must have been that God wanted to show us that He knows, intimately, how easily the devil exploits our physical experience of this world. We see it in today’s Gospel: Jesus, hungry and weary. Jesus, taunted and tempted.

We see him. We recognize him. We are him.

And we hear his voice, even though it trembles with fatigue: “Get away, Satan!”

Today, we enter the desert. Because the desert is where decisions are made.

©LPi

The Carpenter and the Law

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 11:00:42 GMT

Reflection for February 15, 2026 – Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

In this Sunday’s Gospel reading, Jesus reminds his disciples that he has not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. Find the daily reading here .

My husband and I couldn’t believe our luck: our new house had a deck. It was more than a couple of broke millennials had ever dared to dream. Lounging in our patio furniture drinking coffee and watching the cars drive past, we felt like Kennedys at Hyannis Port. We had arrived.

Well, until it started falling apart.

To be fair, my husband knew this was going to happen all along, because he’s a person who uses words like “joist” and “weight-bearing” correctly. He took one look at the deck at the open house and knew it wasn’t up to code. “We’re going to have to reinforce this at some point,” he told me. “Whatever!” I replied, daydreaming about twinkle lights and porch parties.

Sure enough, our second summer in the house, he had to rip the rotting surface boards off. The biggest issue was that the joists were too far apart; when we stepped on the boards, they bowed and almost cracked, lacking adequate support beneath. But we weren’t going to redo the whole deck — we’re not actually Kennedys . We (okay, he ) simply ripped the surface boards off, added the necessary joists, and replaced the decking with newer, better, stronger wood.

Simply put, my husband did not come to abolish the deck, but to fulfill it.

The law of Moses was like a good deck, admirably built. You could say “ Raqa ,” your heart filled with anger, and the law didn’t break. But that anger treads heavily on boards not adequately supported. Over time, the anger becomes too much to bear. And that board — that law, that heart — it’ll break. Just you wait.

And when it does, you’ll see why: there wasn’t anything beneath, holding it up.

So God sent a Carpenter to reinforce the law. The Carpenter crafted joists from prudence, fortitude, justice and temperance — strong virtues that can withstand a lifetime of battery, if properly maintained.

And the law still holds.

©LPi

What a Year! LPi’s Top Moments of 2025

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 18:29:38 GMT

At LPi, we’ve said goodbye to 2025 and stepped into 2026! This is the perfect moment to celebrate the progress, creativity, and collaboration that defined 2025 as such a remarkable year for us. Together, we grew, innovated, and supported our customers in meaningful ways that brought lasting impact. Here are just a few standout moments that reflect the passion and dedication of our teams — and what made 2025 a year to remember!

Growth in LPi Leadership

We welcomed a new CEO, Jill McDermott
JoAnn Breuchel joined us as CFO
Matt Inkman was promoted to VP of Ad Sales

Customer Wins

We began the Canva onboarding process for our customers as we prepared for the discontinuation of Publisher. Support includes webinars, video and written tutorials, personalized assistance, and more!
The new LPiDashboard officially launched. This exciting new tool helps streamline the process of submitting files for printing and allows us to provide each customer with easy access to all of LPi's products and services.

Sales Achievements

LPi is expanding services to new markets! We've hired Marketing Specialists to focus on three new verticals: recreational/campground, retirement communities, and golf and racket sport communities.
Our Sales teams have implemented new strategies nationwide to help our smaller accounts achieve success. Growth in digital sales continues to exceed expectations.

Marketing Announcements

We completely transformed Parishes Online and My Community Online. The new websites offer valuable ways for our customers to connect with their communities. From increased customization options and improved search functionality to expanded digital advertising opportunities, these websites are better than ever!
We launched Parker, our new AI Assistant, on the website. It has been helping us make new connections with prospects after hours when our sales teams are no longer on the clock. Try it out by heading over to 4lpi.com to ask a question!

Technology Updates

We made company-wide server upgrades to keep up with growing demand for fast technology and services.
LPi is implementing strategies to ensure AI adoption is being used responsibly by defining a clear strategy and plan.

Press Upgrades

We successfully upgraded the presses that print for over 6,000 customers nationwide. This includes a full server upgrade for our Cleveland, OH, and Hartford, CO plants, a press and server upgrade for our Milwaukee, WI plant, a server upgrade for our Florida plant, and a software upgrade for our Dallas, TX plant!

As we look back on a year of incredible progress, we’re filled with gratitude for every team member, partner, and customer who helped make 2025 unforgettable. What began as a small mission in the Midwest has grown into a nationwide effort to equip parishes and organizations with the tools they need to thrive.

With 2026 already picking up speed, we’re more inspired than ever to keep crushing our goals! Here’s to the next chapter of growth, connection, and mission-driven work!

Interested in a career with LPi? We’d love to meet you: https://www.4lpi.com/careers

Be Salty

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 11:00:29 GMT

Reflection for February 8, 2026 – The Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

In this Sunday’s Gospel reading, we will hear many of Jesus’ well-known parables: “salt of the earth,” “lamp under a bushel basket,” and “city set on a mountain.” Find the daily reading here .

I want you to close your eyes. Are they closed? (I’m serious.) Okay. Now think of the greatest saint in history.

I don’t care who you’re thinking of. It’s going to be different for everyone. Just think of that person. Think of his or her life. And answer the question: Why is he or she a great saint?

You’re all thinking of different people, but the answer is the same for everyone. And it’s not “Because he did great things for God” or “Because she sacrificed everything she had for the poor.” Those answers show evidence of the reason. But the reason is something more.

The greatest saints in history were not great at holiness. God brought holiness about within them because (ding ding ding! Here’s the answer!) the greatest saints in history were great at being who they were meant to be.

Not who they wanted to be. Not who they thought they should be. Who they were meant to be.

Simply put, they gave themselves to God. All of themselves. Flaws and all. And God took them, in their totality, and said: “Now watch this.”

Just imagine if salt was ashamed of being salty. Imagine if it looked at the sodium content on its nutrition label and thought, “That’s embarrassing,” and decided it was going to stop being salt. Well, great. Now it’s just a box of tiny rocks.

Wouldn’t it have been better for the salt to trust the baker using it?

There is a plan for each of us. There is a path to holiness for each of us. This path doesn’t bypass our flaws or our weaknesses; it incorporates them. It transforms them. It fulfills them.

So be salty. Be who you were meant to be.

©LPi

What Stays the Same

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 11:00:41 GMT

Reflection for February 1, 2026 — The Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

In this Sunday’s Gospel reading, Jesus goes up the mountain to teach his disciples the beatitudes, which mark the opening of the Sermon on the Mount. Find the daily reading here .

Somewhere, there is a monk whose life is very quiet and who devotes long hours to prayer. And somewhere there is a nun, cloistered in a life of contemplation, who speaks very little except to God.

Somewhere, there is a father whose days are filled with noise, who hasn’t finished a Rosary in years because he keeps falling asleep. Somewhere there is a mother whose voice is weak with giving direction and offering counsel.

Somewhere, there is a teenage girl with much to say, but few people to listen — fewer, at least, than she would like.

Somewhere there is a woman who holds a positive pregnancy test in one hand and a phone in the other, and somewhere there is a man on the other end of that phone who waits for her to speak.

In the Beatitudes, Jesus utilizes a literary device called anaphora . Both as a reader and a writer, I love anaphora. It’s a clean, unfussy way to communicate a point. By repeating the same word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses, you’re basically saying the same thing over and over again, just a little bit differently each time. Those small differences tease at your audience’s brain, gently highlighting the consistencies.

Discipleship is a lot like anaphora. It’s the differences — those little aberrations from person to person, life to life — that so beautifully illustrate what remains the same across the broad spectrum of what it means to live out the Beatitudes.

Me. You. The monk. The nun. The father. The mother. The lonely girl. The man and woman who decided their own future without realizing it. How similar we all are in sin. How similar we all are in potential. How different we look to the world.

And yet, how wondrous it is that we are all offered the same hope: “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in Heaven.”

©LPi

How to Get the Best Church Website Builder for Your Catholic Parish

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 21:48:23 GMT

Your parish website is often the first “hello” someone receives from your church community. Long before they ever step through your doors, visitors typically check out your church’s website first, which is why it’s incredibly important that it looks as professional as possible. However, designing and keeping your parish website organized can be a real challenge for the average parish staff member, so it’s not uncommon for parishes to seek outside help. If this is you, we have great news!

If you’re searching for th e best church website builder for your Catholic parish, WeConnect is the answer! In this article, we’ll walk you through how your parish can receive a sponsor-funded WeConnect website at no cost to your parish, with a beautiful, customizable design that’s easy to maintain. Your community deserves the best, and WeConnect delivers just that!

How Much Does it Typically Cost to Build a Church Website?

Many parishes that hire a web design team to build and maintain their websites end up paying a significant amount of money, year after year.

Most web solutions charge for:

Website design
Website hosting
Domain name
Website upkeep/updates

These costs can truly add up over time. A fully custom website can be as much as $4,000 for the first year — not to mention the recurring monthly fees for as long as you use it!

Another challenge with hiring an outside person or team to build and maintain your church website is that you have to rely on people outside your parish staff to make the necessary updates. This can take way more time than is helpful and often leads to a lot of frustration when the website expert isn’t available for changes and edits. Fortunately, WeConnect solves this!

How to Get Your Website for Free Through LPi’s Church Website Builder: WeConnect

Parishes that partner with LPi receive their church website design and hosting at no cost through a local sponsor. We also provide compli mentary training for parish staff, empowering them to confidently use our powerful yet easy-to-use website builder, WeConnect. The result? A beautifully designed website that creates a strong and intentional first impression, paired with the skills parish staff need to manage updates independently and with ease.

With a sponsored WeConnect site, parishes get:

A modern, fully custom, professional website designed by our in-house team
Website hosting year-round
Content transfer from your old site
A desktop and mobile-friendly design for easy navigation on phones and tablets
Training for parish staff to master the WeConnect platform
Access to LPi’s technical support team for ongoing assistance
A dedicated spot on their website that automatically updates with a digital version of their latest bulletin each week
Access to a library of premade and regularly updated drag-and-drop sections to keep your site up-to-date and following the liturgical calendar
Multilingual solutions
Unlimited web pages and unlimited storage

How Do I Sign up for a Sponsored WeConnect Website?

See what's possible with WeConnect by attending a free online demo. We'll show you the powerful features that make it easy to have a custom website that invites, supports, and spreads the Good News of Jesus Christ to the world.

Once you sign up for our church website builder, WeConnect, our team will contact you to get the process started. We work closely with your church staff to shape the look and functionality of your parish website, involving them at every step to ensure the final result reflects your vision and needs.

Our designers will also seamlessly incorporate your parish brand into your website so that everything is recognizable as your unique parish at a glance! (Don’t have a parish brand yet? This guide can help!)

Once you’ve approved the design, we walk you through how to use the WeConnect website builder so you can easily keep your site up to date. If you ever hit a roadblock, our friendly support team — made up of real people, not automation — is always here to help.

LPi will connect your parish with a local sponsor who cares about your parish and your mission. This covers all costs, making your parish website free to you!

Like sponsoring a bulletin, your website sponsor will have a beautiful callout placed at the bottom of your homepage, highlighting their support. Unlike banner ads, the sponsorship fits seamlessly into your website design, allowing recognition in the parish community.

Here are two sponsor ad examples from recent church websites we’ve designed:

Let’s build your new website together. Visit: www.4lpi.com/websites to get started today. View these examples of WeConnect websites and join the hundreds of parishes nationwide who use WeConnect as their church website builder!

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Looking for more parish website inspiration? Check out the “Web & Social Media” section of our blog , where we publish articles that connect Catholic churches with everything from church website trends to brand new tools to help your parish thrive online!

Or dive into our free, comprehensive guide for church websites.

Sea of Galilee Moments

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 14:10:04 GMT

Reflection for January 25, 2026 — The Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

In this Sunday’s Gospel reading, Jesus comes across two fishermen, Simon, who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew. He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Find the daily reading here .

Young or old, believer or non-believer, rich or poor, healthy or sick: it doesn’t matter who we are. It doesn’t matter what our life looks like. If we are a human being, if we have a soul, we stand on the shore of a great and powerful sea, a net in our hands and a hunger in our soul.

So what’s in the sea? I don’t know about yours, but mine is filled with feelings of inadequacy. It’s filled with fear and resentment and confusion. It’s filled with misplaced pride. It’s deep. It’s dark. It’s well-stocked.

I cast my net, over and over again. What else is there to do? If I draw back a harvest, it can sustain me for days, weeks, maybe even years. The nourishment of the sea can keep away the hunger pangs — for a time. You can survive on fear and resentment and pride if it’s all you have. You’ll never feel full, and you’ll never be strong, but you’ll survive on what the world can offer you — so long as you keep coming back to the shore.

This is where Jesus finds us.

If I close my eyes, I can picture the moments exactly, all of them: my Sea of Galilee moments. I could describe them to you — the day, the year, what was happening in my life, what I wanted and what I needed and what gnawing hunger had brought me, once again, limping, crawling back to the shore.

But you wouldn’t understand my Sea of Galilee moments, just like I wouldn’t understand yours. There is only one who understands, and his is the voice we heard, clear and strong: “Put down the net, and come with me.”

©LPi

The Easiest Church Website SEO Tips You Wish You Knew Earlier

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 21:33:17 GMT

Have you ever been left scratching your head after hearing the term “SEO” when people talk about the websites they’ve built or the blogs they’ve written? You’re not alone! In this article, we’ll cover what SEO is, why it’s important to consider SEO in your online parish communications (like your website), and some easy steps you can take right away to improve your SEO. Let’s dive in!

What is SEO

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the process of improving how easily your website appears in search engines like Google. Incorporating SEO best practices into your parish communications workflow means your parish’s website will be easier for people to find when they search relevant topics online. Whether someone is searching for Mass times, looking to join a new parish, seeking a place to learn about Catholicism, or just trying to remember when your youth group is meeting, following a few SEO best practices ensures your parish is visible to those looking.

How to Improve SEO for Churches

The good news is that SEO improvements don’t have to be complicated! Small updates on your website and elsewhere can make a big difference in how people find your parish online. The following four steps are a great way to start your SEO updates and improve your church’s online visibility when people search for it.

Looking for a more comprehensive guide to building parish websites before diving into SEO improvements? You can find that here. Otherwise, let’s get your SEO improvements underway!

1. Make Sure Your Google Business Profile is Updated and Accurate

Your Google Business Profile is often going to be the first thing people see when searching for your church online, so it’s pivotal to your SEO efforts to keep it up to date. This means you should ensure that your parish’s name, address, and Mass times are accurate and consistent across your Google Business Profile and your website. Making sure your Google Business Profile is properly filled out and current will make it possible for Google to accurately read this information and make it more likely for your parish to appear on Google Maps.

2. Write the Way Real People Search for Churches Online

When someone is looking for a parish online through Google or another search engine, they probably aren’t typing in your parish’s mission statement or exact ministry names. They’re more likely searching for something simple and direct, like “Best parish for young families in (Hometown)” or “Where can I go to Sunday Mass near me?” This is where understanding SEO will significantly help your parish website become discoverable to these types of searches.

To leverage best SEO practices and make sure your parish is discoverable to people searching for you in these ways, use search-friendly phrases in your website content. This way, Google connects your website with people actively using search terms (like the examples above) to find your parish.

For example, include phrases in your parish website copy like:

"Catholic Church in [City Name]" — Make sure to use this in your copy alongside the name of your parish. These words better match common local searches. So, instead of just saying “Welcome to St. John,” on your website, write “Welcome to St. John, a Catholic church in Toledo, Ohio.”
"Mass times near me" — This is a top search query for people traveling or exploring new parishes. Consider adding this phrase to your website: “If you’ve been searching for ‘Mass times near me’ and you live in Toledo, we’ve got what you’re looking for!” This sentence includes the search term above, but weaves it into your story. Don’t forget to actually share your Mass times!
"Daily Mass in [City]" — This sentence is great for visibility among weekday attendees and is also a common Google search term. Somewhere on your home page, you could say, “St. John is a great place to go to daily Mass in Toledo!”
"Confession schedule, [City]" — Make sure seekers and returning Catholics can find you fast by including this phrase somewhere near where your schedule is.

Try to avoid “insider language” or acronyms that might not be known by the general Sunday crowd. Instead, think like the person sitting behind their computer searching for your parish online — someone who may be just starting their journey back to church or visiting.

What might someone like that type into that search bar to land on your homepage? Visualize that search and incorporate those exact words into the text on your homepage. This is one of the foundational aspects of SEO!

(H3) 3. Invite Parishioners to Leave Good Google Reviews

Think Google reviews are just for restaurants? Think again! Reviews are one of the LARGEST factors in how high your parish shows up in local search results. “How high?” The answer may surprise you.

When someone searches for “parishes in Toledo, OH,” Google will show many results. So many, in fact, that some parishes won’t even make it onto the first page and may even get buried under many other results that Google deems more important or relevant to the search. One way to help your parish be more likely to be featured on the first page or results and “ranked higher” than other results for the search is to have more reviews than other places. Best of all, if those reviews are positive!

Don’t think of this as competing with your neighboring churches, but instead as doing your due diligence to make sure your parish is as visible as possible online. Having many positive reviews also helps newcomers feel confident and even excited about visiting for the first time.

Remember, most people won’t think to leave a review of your parish unless you ask, so don’t be shy about inviting parishioners to share their experiences. Let’s be honest — some businesses will practically roll out the red carpet if you so much as mention a good Google review. Imagine the power of that kind of praise for your parish!

Here’s why it matters:

Google reviews directly influence how your parish ranks in local searches.
Reading reviews helps potential visitors feel welcomed before they even step inside.
When your parish responds to reviews — especially the kind ones — it shows you're present, caring, engaged, and able to navigate this now very normal part of online communication.

Before we move on, if your parish receives a negative review, we have two articles that might help:

4. Pay Attention to Your Website’s Headings!!!

Yes, we used three exclamation points, but only because the way you use headings in your website and blog REALLY matters! Your website’s titles and subheadings are pivotal in helping Google understand what your site is about and read it correctly. You want Google to understand your website as much as possible so it ranks it highly enough to show up when people search for you! Think of headings like road signs: if they’re clear, people know exactly where they’re going. If they’re vague or missing, folks (and search engines) get lost fast!

Here’s how to make your headings work for your SEO:

Use descriptive titles for your pages, like “Mass Times” or “Upcoming Events” instead of generic ones like “Welcome” or “Page 1.”
Choose words people actually search for, not just internal parish lingo. We talked about this in step 2 above if you need a refresher. Clear headings improve readability for visitors and boost how well Google indexes your content.
Don’t just bold text to create a heading. Actually use your website builder’s “H1, H2, and H3” settings. These are specifically designed to help guide search engines like Google to understand what your website is about.
Only use ONE “H1” title per page. This will be that page’s title or, if you are working on a blog, your blog post’s title. Every other headline on that same page should be either an H2 or an H3, depending on whether or not you need subheadings. Often, H2s and H3s will be different sizes but still clearly headlines based on how they differ from the paragraph text on your website. Take this article as an example: in the title, we used the “H1” setting. For the larger headlines within the article, we used the “H2” setting. In this numbered list, each number uses the “H3” setting.

WeConnect Helps You Build Your Website with SEO in Mind

Great SEO for your Catholic church starts, first and foremost, with a great website. Great parish websites are what LPi’s parish website builder WeConnect delivers! Designed specifically for Catholic parishes, WeConnect sites are clean, mobile-friendly, and built to support all the SEO best practices we’ve covered here.

Even better? LPi helps cover the cost of your church’s website by finding a local business sponsor for your site. That means your parish gets a beautiful, high-performing website without straining your budget. If you're ready to improve your online presence and welcome more people into your community, WeConnect is the perfect place to start!

To see some beautiful examples of parish websites that use SEO strategy well, check out our article, Church Websites Our Design Team Loves.

Ready to learn more about WeConnect? We frequently provide free online demos for anyone interested!

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For more parish website inspiration, we’ve got you covered over on the “Web and Social Media” section of our blog.

Behold the Lamb

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 12:00:08 GMT

Reflection for January 18, 2026 — The Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

In this Sunday’s Gospel reading, John the Baptist sees Jesus approaching and proclaims, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” Find the daily reading here.

Behold the Lamb

“Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”

Be honest. When the priest or deacon read this line from the Gospel today, did your brain finish it with: “Blessed are those who are called to the supper of the Lamb”? (Mine did. And then I almost blurted out: “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul will be healed.” Because it’s Sunday morning, and I’m tired.)

We hear the words of John the Baptist every Sunday in the Agnus Dei . If you have been Catholic since childhood, the words of this rite are probably ingrained in your memory, like a groove worn across a wooden floor by the scratching of an often-used chair. That’s the beautiful thing about our liturgy: it gets inside of you, and it doesn’t leave. I’ve never met a Catholic, however long-fallen-away, who did not recall the responses of the Mass.

When the priest says or chants the Agnus Dei , he is showing us the Host — the most ordinary-looking thing you ever did see. Nothing interesting about it whatsoever. Nothing that would make a person give it a second glance.

John the Baptist recognizes Jesus when he sees him, though there is nothing extraordinary-looking about him. There is nothing that would make a person give Jesus a second glance, if that person expected redemption to come in a loud, aggressive show of power.

And this is how Jesus comes to us today: veiled in the ordinary. He is in the people who are easiest to miss, the easiest to ignore, the easiest from whom it is to turn away.

Consider what the world could look like, if an instinct to love and reverence those people were as deeply ingrained in us as the beautiful words so easily on our lips: “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul will be healed.”

©LPi

How to Create a Facebook Event Page for Your Parish

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 20:01:57 GMT

Facebook remains one of the easiest and most effective ways for churches to promote events and reach their parishioners. Using your church’s Facebook page can help increase attendance and provide an additional space for your members to interact and build community online! Read on to learn how to create an event on Facebook.

Why Facebook Events Work Well for Catholic Church Events

Facebook Events give your parish a central place to share event details, updates, and reminders while also building your online community. For example, when someone marks themselves as “Interested” or “Going,” the parish event also pops up in their friends’ feeds — whether or not they are involved with your parish. This is a great way to give your church events organic visibility beyond your regular online followers!

For Catholic churches, Facebook Events work especially well for:

Parish festivals
Fundraisers
Advent and Lenten events
Vacation Bible School registration
Parish missions or guest speakers
Special liturgies or holy day celebrations (like Easter Vigil)
Ministry retreats
Community celebrations of sacraments
Concerts
Special participation projects (like a Giving Tree or mission support)
Service projects
Parish yard sales

Unlike a regular post, a Facebook Event keeps all event information — time, location, description, and updates — in one place. It also lets you post reminders, share schedule changes, and answer questions directly in the event discussion. This central space also allows participants to post in the event to express excitement about their participation or ask questions. It’s also a great place to post event photos after the event. Posts on the event page remain available to participants long after the event takes place, so it’s a great place to share links to photo albums or an event write-up in your bulletin or on your website !

Preparing Your Church Facebook Page Before Creating an Event

Before learning how to create an event on Facebook, it’s essential to make sure your church's Facebook Page is set up correctly.

Make Sure You’re Using a Facebook Page (Not a Personal Profile) for Your Church

Church events must be created from your church’s professional Facebook Page, not through one of your staff members’ personal accounts. If your parish already has a page, ensure whoever is creating the event is listed as an admin or editor so they have permission to create events. If your parish has been using a personal Facebook account instead of a Facebook Page, follow these steps to learn how to create a Facebook Page for your church.

Check Your Church’s Facebook Page Details

Before you move on to make your event, make sure to confirm that your church’s Facebook Page includes:

Your church’s correct name
A clear profile photo (best practice is to use your parish logo )
An updated cover image
Accurate address and contact information
A description of your parish ( include your mission statement )

This helps build trust and ensures people know that any event organized for your parish is officially affiliated with it.

How to Create an Event on Facebook Using Your Church Page

Once your Page is ready, you can follow these simple steps.

Step 1: Go to Your Church Facebook Page

Step 2: Click “Events”

On the Page menu, look for the “Events” tab. If you don’t see it right away, click “More” to find it.

Step 3: Select “Create Event”

Click the “Create Event” button and choose “Public Event.” Public events allow anyone on Facebook to view and share them. If the event is meant to be private, like, for example, if the event is only for members of a certain ministry, go ahead and make it a private event. The caveat there, though, is that this option should only be chosen if the ministry members (or whoever the private event is specifically for) are all on Facebook. The person creating the event can specifically invite the private event members through Facebook. Otherwise, if your event is open to the public, use the “Public Event” option.

Step 4: Add Event Details

Fill out the basic information prompts for the event carefully:

Event name — Keep it clear and simple, like “Easter Vigil Mass at St. Joseph Church”
Date and time — Include start and end times if possible
Location — Add your church address or select “Online Event” if applicable
Description — Explain what the event is, who it’s for, and what to expect. Link to any event landing page you might have on your parish website, or if there is a registration link or a fee attached to the event, make sure to include it in the description. (Get more digital marketing tips for your events here.) Don’t forget to also include parking info, childcare notes, and accessibility details.

No matter what your message, be sure to use friendly, clear, and welcoming language throughout. If your social media policy includes an agreed-upon voice for how you communicate online, be sure to use it!

Step 5: Add an Event Cover Image

Upload an image that reflects your parish and the event. This image will be one of the first things people notice, so make sure it makes sense for whatever event you are advertising! For Facebook event cover images, the recommended size is 1920 x 1005 pixels with a 16:9 aspect ratio. For help with this, Facebook provides these in-depth instructions.

Step 6: Publish Your Event

Once everything looks correct, click “Publish.” Once published, your event is now live and can be shared.

Promoting Your Event with Church Facebook Advertising

Congratulations! Your event is created. Unfortunately, though, that doesn’t mean Facebook will automatically promote your event to all your followers and the greater community. To increase your event’s visibility, it needs engagement such as shares, comments, and RSVPs (like “Interested” and “Going”). This is where Facebook advertising, referred to in Facebook as “boosting” your event, can help!

Boosting your event on Facebook creates a quick, easy advertisement that is more likely to reach people in your local community. The best part? You don’t have to spend a lot of money for it to be effective! In fact, you can choose any budget you want when you boost an event. Even a modest budget can help ensure your boosted Facebook Event appears in the feeds of parishioners and other demographics you target with your event ad.

Final Church Facebook Event Tip: Keep the Event Updated

As the event approaches, be sure to post reminders, schedule updates, or helpful notes directly in the event discussion. This keeps the event active, encouraging Facebook to make the event more visible in your followers’ feeds and suggestions. This also helps parishioners feel comfortable attending the event, as your thorough updates and hype posts keep people informed and welcomed.

Learnin g how to create an event on Facebook is a simple step that can make a big difference in your church’s communication strategy. With a little bit of setup and consisten cy, Facebook Events is a reliable tool for connecting your parish with the community you serve. Choose one upcoming parish event this month and try creating a Facebook Event for it. We hope your efforts will create a grand reception!

For more fantastic tips and tricks of the trade to use your church's social media to the best of your ability, head on over to the Complete Guide to Catholic Church Social Media Management ! It’s free and gives an excellent in-depth look at how Catholic churches can effectively reach their communities with the Good News through social media.

When Jesus Wades In

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 12:00:06 GMT

Reflection for January 11, 2026 — The Baptism of the Lord

In this Sunday’s Gospel reading, Jesus is baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. A voice came from the heavens, saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Find the daily reading here.

Usually, when God comes to us, we aren’t ready.

We think we are. Like John the Baptist, we stand in our waters of baptism, certain of our mission. We know how it’s going to go. We know what’s going to be asked of us. We’re sure of it.

Christ wades into the waters. And he screws up all our plans.

To be clear, I don’t think John the Baptist lacks faith when he balks at the idea of baptizing Jesus. I think it is, in fact, a testament to his humility. But whatever motivated John’s actions, he is — if even for a brief moment — hesitating to do the will of God. Just a few chapters after this in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus will acknowledge that John is the greatest person “born of women” — with the caveat that even he is not perfect enough for the Kingdom of Heaven.

Not yet.

Jesus didn’t give John an explanation as the two stood in the River Jordan. He merely said, “Allow it for now.” John could have resisted further, demanding to understand why. He could have grown suspicious at the simplicity of Jesus’ answer, at the strangeness of this request. He could have clung desperately to his version of How Things Are Supposed To Be, and in doing so, fostered doubt in his heart. He could have even stormed off, confused and angry.

He did none of these things, because John is, as Jesus says, the greatest born of women.

When the Holy Spirit descends and the voice of God declares, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” he is referring, of course, to Jesus. But I think He would say the same of John the Baptist — and of all those who welcome Jesus into the waters, ready to do as he bids.

©LPi

The Stars We Follow

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 12:00:06 GMT

Reflection for January 4, 2026 — The Epiphany of the Lord

In this Sunday’s Gospel reading, Magi from the east arrive in Jerusalem to pay homage to the newborn King of the Jews, offering him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Find the daily reading here.

Everyone follows a star.

It is human nature to seek. If we are rich, we want to be richer. If we are smart, we want to be smarter. If we are powerful, we want to be more powerful.

We cannot stay in one place, so to speak — to say, “I am what I am, I have what I have, and it is enough.” Even the very act of maintaining a status quo, be it health or wealth or spiritual goodness, requires action. It requires effort. It requires movement. This is human nature. There is nothing wrong with it. When we stop seeking, we die.

But what are we looking for? Where are we going?

I often wonder if the Magi knew what they were seeking — really, truly knew. They were seeking “the newborn king of the Jews,” yes, but did they understand who he was? What he was? I don’t see how they could have. They were wise men, but they were not prophets. They simply knew this was an endeavor they had to undertake. They knew it in their souls.

There really is very little that we know for certain about the Magi. We don’t know how many of them there were. We don’t know their religion. We don’t know where they came from. All we know for certain is that they listened to a voice they heard deep within themselves. And, heeding that voice, they went forth.

And what did they find? They found what we all seek, even if, foolishly, we seek it in riches or power.

They found the face of the Child.

So tell me this. Of all the stars you could follow, which one does the voice — that one deep within you— tell you to chase?

Point to it. And go forth.

©LPi

Sample Church Social Media Plans to Get Your Parish Thriving Online

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 17:27:28 GMT

One of the great things about social media and the church is that even the smallest church communities can make a huge impact online! Whether your parish is large, medium, or on the smaller side, your success on social media depends entirely on how much time and effort your parish social media manager (or team) puts into it. Digital marketing for churches, especially through social media, doesn’t have to be a mystery to parish staff. We cover the essentials inside our free, complete guide to Catholic church social media management. Once you’ve caught up on the basics, you’ll be ready to develop a solid social media strategy for your parish!

To give you a head start, we’ve outlined three sample church social media strategies fo r churches to help you maximize the time and energy you are able to allot to your online communications. Do you have a full-time social media manager for your parish? Great! A sample outline for parishes with lots of time to spend on social media is at the bottom of this article. Is the person running your parish's social media also wearing many ministry hats, leaving them with only a few hours a week to dedicate to the task? That’s fine, too. Read on to find the right strategy for you.

Church Social Media Strategy: 10 Minutes a Day

If your parish has minimal time to spend making church social media posts, follow this stra tegy:

Use a tool like the LPi’s Social Media Content Calendar . This resource provides daily church social media posts (including images and captions) for parishes to copy and paste into their own social media feeds. Parish staff can use these sample posts as scaffolding to add their own content, or use them as-is!
Share holiday Mass times and special event information. Be sure to share information about holy day Mass times, as well as special events. Include important information like dates, times, and whether an event requires registration or a cost.
Share ministry information. Once a month, make a post about a different ministry at your church. Include an image, information about the person/people who lead the ministry, what role the ministry plays in your parish, and how others can get involved!

Church Social Media Strategy: One Hour a Day

If your parish staff can set aside one hour a day to intentionally use social media, here’s the strategy for you:

All of the steps in the “10 Minutes a Day” strategy, plus:
Like and comment on 10 followers’ posts a day. Social media is a two-way conversation. If your parish is only broadcasting information and never engaging with your followers, you’re missing out! Consider even reposting occasional posts made by parishioners and other ministries.
Post a weekly letter from the pastor. Having a weekly note of encouragement from Father is a great way to provide beneficial social media content to your parishioners.
Incorporate three story posts a week. In some cases, more people interact with Facebook and Instagram story posts than with posts in users’ basic Facebook and Instagram feeds. If you need help with ideas for great Catholic content for your story posts, WeCreate has a robust collection of social media content formatted specifically for story posts! Learn more about how to use WeCreate’s social media story content for your parish inside our article, Using the Facebook and Instagram STORIES Tool for Catholic Parish Engagement .

Church Social Media Strategy: 2+ Hours a Day

Does your parish have more time to really dive deep into a church social media strategy? If so, this plan is for you!

All the steps in the “10 Minutes a Day” and “One Hour a Day” strategies, plus:
Create Facebook events for the major events at your parish. Be sure to invite all your active parishioners on Facebook to each event, and share updates and event recaps in the groups with people!
Livestream your Mass times on Facebook and Instagram. Don’t forget to remind people about the livestreams before they happen! This is a great way to make your community more accessible!
Curate special Facebook groups for different ministries at your parish. Facebook groups are a fantastic way to encourage members to engage with one another and to increase participation at your parish. Just be sure to train your moderators and ensure everyone involved agrees to you r parish’s social media policy.
Post event recaps with images and testimonials. It’s one thing to post about an upcoming event, but it’s just as important to share stories after they happen! Post pictures, quotes from attendees, and information about the impact of each event. Encourage your followers to share and contribute their own photos and thoughts in the comments. If you’re a little rusty on the best ways to digitally market your church events, we’ve compiled a checklist to keep you dialed in!
Engage with your followers frequently. Make sure to like, comment, and repost content from your followers (when applicable) as often as possible! This draws engagement, reminds people that your parish social media is run by humans who care, and builds trust and excitement for your parish community. For example, did a proud parent just post pictures of their child’s First Communion from your church’s First Communion Mass? Repost it to celebrate!

Are Catholics Really Using Social Media?

Yes! Catholics are using social media now more than ever. In fact, over 80% of adults in the USA use social media like Facebook daily . This means that even a small amount of effort invested in your parish's social media presence can have a positive impact — especially with Catholics online. Social media and the church are a match made in heaven!

In the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) study, “Catholic Media Usage 2023,” they found that Catholic adults were most likely to have Facebook profiles (77 percent) followed by profiles on Instagram (44 percent), Twitter (32 percent), TikTok (27 percent), Pinterest (23 percent), LinkedIn (21 percent), and Snapchat (20 percent). All the more reason to focus some of your parish ministry efforts toward social media ministry.

For more ideas, tips, and tricks to master social media at your Catholic church, visit the “Web and Social Media” section of our blog. See you online!

Other Plans

Thu, 25 Dec 2025 06:00:00 GMT

Reflection for December 28, 2025 — Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph
In this Sunday’s Gospel reading, an angel appears to Joseph in a dream, urging him to take Mary and the child Jesus and flee to Egypt so King Herod cannot harm them. Find the daily reading here.

I don’t know exactly what kind of life Mary and Joseph envisioned when they were first betrothed — back in those simple times when they were just like any other couple who had hopes, dreams and no angels telling them what to do.

Whatever their plans were, I think it’s safe to say that the future God had in store for Mary and Joseph was not one either of them expected. I would imagine they both anticipated something a little quieter. A little more stable (no pun intended). A little less tumultuous.

It exhausts me simply to read through the chaos of their movements in today’s Gospel. Flee to Egypt, return to Israel (but not Judea! Herod’s son is there! Divert to Galilee! Divert!). Settle in Nazareth (let me remind you, this is all happening with a baby in tow, and without the aid of a minivan). Take a deep breath, but don’t get too comfortable — now it’s almost time to lose your kid in Jerusalem. Then you’ll have about 20 years off before he starts raising people from the dead, and that’s when things start to get really crazy.

The story of the Holy Family is the ultimate example of the phrase “God had other plans.” If any four-word sentence encapsulates what we can expect from the Christian life, it is this.

I thought I was meant for that job, but God had other plans. I thought I would live in this place, but God had other plans. I thought I was supposed to become this person, but God had other plans.

We can do all the right things. We can make all the right choices. We can say, over and over again until our voice wears out, “Thy will be done.” But all we can know for sure is that God has other plans.

©LPi

Everything You Need to Know to Promote Your Business Locally

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 16:32:43 GMT

If you’ve found this guide, chances are you’re promoting a new service, growing a neighborhood shop, or looking for cost-effective local advertising for your business. Well, you’re in the right place! Understanding how to market your small business locally is one of the most powerful steps you can take, and this guide is your golden ticket for doing it effectively.

Consumers want to support businesses in their own communities that they feel they can trust. They prefer those they see in places they value, like parish bulletins, community newsletters, and other hyper-local advertising channels. Our local marketing guide will walk you through the best ways to reach customers just like that in your area. Inside, you’ll find information about choosing the right small business marketing strategies, tips for building a smart marketing budget for small businesses, how to design effective ads, and the facts about combining print and digital outreach. If you’re searching for practical, proven community advertising ideas or a straightforward small business advertising guide, this is the article for you!

In This Guide:

Why Local Marketing Still Matters for Small & Medium-Sized Businesses

When you’re exploring how to promote your business, the most effective place to begin is often right in your own neighborhood. Local marketing matters because community awareness is still one of the strongest drivers of trust, referrals, and long-term customer loyalty. People naturally gravitate toward businesses that support the places where they live, worship, and enjoy leisure activities. This type of visibility builds the familiarity and trust that larger, more far-reaching strategies can’t always replicate.

How Consumer Behavior Has Shifted to Local Purchases

If you’ve noticed that the average consumer is becoming more and more intentional about supporting local businesses, you’re right! Folks want to put their dollars toward organizations that share their values and enrich their communities. That’s why understanding what local marketing is matters for businesses. Your marketing plan should be more than just ads. To foster that trust and connection in your brand, you should place your advertising where your community is already invested. Consistent visibility in local publications like church bulletins and community newsletters makes it easier for nearby customers to remember you when they need your services. This is a key advantage when exploring how to market your business locally.

Why Advertising Should Never Be the First Budget Cut in Tough Economic Times

Economic uncertainty often prompts small businesses to consider trimming expenses, and advertising can feel like an easy area to make cuts. Don’t give into that temptation! Maintaining even modest, consistent local advertising helps sustain visibility and signals stability to customers. For example, local businesses frequently use advertising inside church bulletins, even during tough economic times, because it offers reliable, repeated exposure in high-trust environments. This creates a sense of steady support and visibility when your neighbors need it the most.

For business owners wondering how to advertise a business locally without overspending, community-based placements — like ads in parish bulletins , as we mentioned above — provide an affordable and predictable path that reaches the exact people most likely to become loyal customers.

How to Build a Smart Marketing Budget for Your Business

Many small business owners wonder whether they really need a marketing budget, especially when day-to-day operations feel so much more urgent. The answer? Consistent outreach is one of the biggest drivers of long-term growth — especially when you’re first starting to promote your business. Visibility builds trust, trust builds referrals, and referrals build revenue!

Should Small Businesses Have a Marketing Budget? (Yes — and here’s why.)

This is why even a small marketing budget helps keep your business in front of the community you serve. Local advertising outlets offer predictable, repeated exposure in trusted spaces your customers engage with frequently. When your business shows up consistently in those places, you remain top-of-mind at the exact moment someone needs your service.

Imagine, for example, that you own a pizza restaurant. The likelihood of a member of the church whose bulletin you advertise in choosing to buy your pizzas over the local alternative is high! Why? Because they see your ad in their beloved church’s bulletin every week, they associate your pizza company with their parish and know that you support their church. Loyalty begets loyalty!

The same concept applies to any community newsletter — be it for a senior center, golf association, HOA, campground, retirement community, or another organization.

How Much Should Your Business Budget for Marketing?

While exact budgets, earnings, and economic conditions vary, many small businesses find that choosing a percentage of their annual revenue is a great and simple starting point. A common approach is to allocate a portion of this budget to marketing efforts that directly reach local customers — even when advertising in a recession.

For example, businesses that rely on neighborhood trust — such as home services, healthcare, restaurants, and professional services — benefit greatly from consistent local visibility and should allocate a portion of their marketing budget to local channels. Channels like community newsletters and church bulletins work especially well for these business types because they place your company and brand directly in front of nearby families, homeowners, and long-standing community members who already trust the source.

No matter your budget, there are always cost-effective local advertising options available for print and digital ads!

Essential Questions to Ask Before Budgeting for Marketing

Before finalizing your marketing budget, step back and clarify the fundamentals of how to market your business locally. A few guiding questions make the process much easier:

Who is your target audience?
Are they families, homeowners, seniors, students, or commuters? The more specific you are, the better you can choose the proper local channels. Consider age ranges, genders, even interests, and jobs when narrowing down your target audience/target market.

How local is your service area?
Do you serve a few neighborhoods, a small town, or an entire region? Businesses with tight service areas benefit greatly from hyper-local advertising , such as that found in church bulletins and community newsletters.

What marketing channels best reach your community?
Look for trusted places where your customers already spend their time. LPi’s parish bulletins and community publications reach engaged, loyal audiences who value supporting the businesses featured in them!

A thoughtful budget ensures your message shows up in the places that matter and will help you make sales before you know it!

How to Design Your Local Ads

When learning how to promote your business locally, the quality of your ad matters just as much as its placement. Some small business owners choose to design their own ads, especially when they already have a finished logo design and brand design. DIY design can work great for straightforward ads that only need basic information.

Design Your Own Ad vs. Using a Professional Designer

If you’re not a designer but still want to create something yourself, keep these basic guidelines in mind to make your design look clean and well-made:

Prominent logo to build brand awareness
Use only one or two fonts
Stick to your brand colors
Keep text short and readable — less is more
A call to action, promotion, or coupon

If you want your ad to look polished, balanced, and eye-catching — especially when it’s in a printed publication — having a professional designer create your ad design is the way to go. Designers understand layout, hierarchy, modern design trends, and the psychological elements of design that ensure your ad communicates clearly, stands out, and “works” for your audience.

How to Get Your Company’s Ad Designed for Free

One of the best small business advertising tips out there is to work smarter, not harder. LPi offers free professional ad design with every bulletin or newsletter advertisement. This gives businesses an easy and cost-effective way to advertise without needing an experienced designer on staff. Why spend hours trying to design an advertisement on your own when you can get a custom design made by professional designers, as part of your advertising package?

Why Your Brand Matters in Your Ad Design

Your ad is often the first impression someone has of your business. Consistent branding is made up of your brand’s colors, fonts, logo, and tone. Your brand helps local customers recognize you instantly across every place they see your name (or your ad).

Strong branding builds trust and familiarity, which is essential when learning how to market your business locally. A consistent look makes your business feel stable, reliable, and professional. In fact, according to Northwestern University, your brand trust can be measured through repeat purchases, referrals, and positive reviews. Remember, your brand trust is pivotal to your long-term growth as a company.

Imagine you own a flower shop but every single time you publish an ad your logo, fonts, and colors are all different. Sure, you might be using the same company name, but people won’t recognize your ads as belonging to you! Instead, they’ll think you are many different companies. This would be a terrible waste because s tudies show that consumers are much more likely to buy from brands they recognize and frequently see. In fact, consumers are more likely to spend more from a recognized, trusted brand.

Advertisement Designs That Convert

Ads that convert viewers into customers usually include:

A clear headline or service description
A visible logo
Simple contact information
A short, compelling call to action
Clean, uncluttered designs
Repetitive placement

In community-based advertising, conversion often comes from repetition. Weekly or monthly exposure helps your audience remember your business when they need you, making placement and consistency just as important as the design itself. This is one of the best benefits of local advertising!

Print vs. Digital Advertising: How to Choose the Right Mix for Your Business

Usually, the answer to "Should I invest in print advertising or digital advertising?" is "Both!" In fact, many times the organization(s) you choose to advertise with will offer easy options to make your print ad digital, and vice versa. It's important to know the strengths of each type of advertising, though, so that you can be intentional about your choices.

The Strength of Local Print Advertising

Local print advertising remains one of the most effective tools for small businesses aiming to build trust and convert customers locally. Community-based print media — like parish bulletins and community organization newsletters — carries a high level of trust and credibility to its audience. Readers see publications like these as reliable sources of local information, which means the businesses featured within them benefit from that same trust.

Print also guarantees your business an audience local to wherever the publication is distributed. Members of your community actively read these materials whenever they are published, giving your business consistent visibility with people who live and spend their money near your business. With far less competition on the page compared to sometimes over-crowded digital feeds, a printed ad receives more focused attention. Instead of reaching thousands of people with a national digital ad who may never become customers, you’re following the best small business advertising tips and reaching your neighbors and the exact local community you want to serve, reliably and repeatedly. This is called “hyper-local advertising.”

LPi’s parish bulletins and community newsletter ads exemplify this kind of targeted, high-trust print advertising, giving local businesses exposure where it makes the most impact.

The Strength of Digital Advertising

Taking advantage of digital advertising options can add flexibility, speed, and even affordability to your outreach efforts. Digital avenues like social media platforms and search engine ads (like Google) also offer targeting precision. Whether you focus on specific ZIP codes, interests, or online behavior, digital tools can help refine your audience and reach the people most likely to take action. This makes digital ads especially powerful for frequent touchpoints such as short reminders, retargeting, and reinforcing your company’s brand between print impressions.

LPi’s digital display and email ad options with local parishes and organizations provides additional, hyper-local visibility. These digital advertisements put your name in front of readers who browse their parish’s online directory or digital newsletter presence.

Why a Print + Digital Combo Is the Most Powerful Strategy for Advertising Your Small Business

Why settle for just one when you can have both options? If you’re deciding how to advertise locally or how to market your business locally in a way that creates real impact, combining print and digital options is one of the strongest strategies you can have. Research compiled by FinancesOnline found that “Online campaigns were 400% more effective when combining print and digital advertising.”

Multi-channel repetition boosts recognition and recall. This helps potential customers connect your business name with your product or service faster. That familiarity leads to higher trust, stronger engagement, and more conversions over time.

LPi’s advertising options make a multi-channel (print and digital) approach super simple. Your business receives consistent print visibility in repeating parish or community publications while also benefiting from digital exposure on their corresponding online platforms. Together, these touchpoints create a powerful, repeatable presence that keeps your business top-of-mind within your local community and even nationally!

Sources

Northwestern University. What Is Brand Trust? Why It’s Your Most Valuable Asset
Salsify. Brand Trust Makes 87% of Shoppers Pay More for Products — Here’s Why
Finances Online. 26 Relevant Print Marketing Statistics: 2024 Ad Spending & Impact

What Should a Church Post Online? This Social Media Policy Template Makes It Easy

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 15:51:24 GMT

A social media policy for your church is an essential element of your parish's social media strategy. In our Complete Guide to Catholic Church Social Media Management, we outline why it’s absolutely essential to set clear expectations for those representing your parish online with a written policy, and how even a simple policy can be beneficial. In this article, we dig deeper into what a parish social media policy is, what it should include, and provide you with a social media policy template to get you started!

What is a Social Media Policy Anyway?

A social media policy is a written guide that explains how an organization will communicate online through its social media channels. It often outlines expectations for anyone who posts or engages on social media on the organization's behalf. In a parish setting, this may include staff, clergy, volunteers, and ministry leaders. With a solid policy set in place, an organization’s digital presence will always reflect its mission, protect its community, and remain consistent, no matter who manages the accounts.

In the general nonprofit world, social media policies usually include:

Purpose and goals — why the organization uses social media and what it hopes to accomplish.
Roles and permissions — who can post, who can approve content, and who has access to accounts.
Brand and voice guidelines — how the organization speaks or wants to “sound” online, what tone is appropriate, and what visuals to use.
Content rules — what should and should not be shared, including confidentiality, copyright, and safety considerations.
Response expectations — how to approach and handle comments, questions, conflict, or negative engagement.
Security practices — password management, account recovery steps, and what to do if something goes wrong.
Accessibility guidelines — expectations for captions, alt text, readable fonts, color contrast, and other practices that help all parishioners engage with your content. Prioritizing accessibility ensures that people with visual, hearing, or cognitive differences can participate fully in your parish’s online life.

How Does Having a Social Media Policy Benefit a Church

When a parish takes the time to put these basics in writing, something important happens: communication becomes more transparent, safer, more mission-driven, and even more accessible. Instead of guessing “what’s allowed” or scrambling after the fact when issues or conflicts arise, your team has a shared roadmap.

Clarity like this and a unified approach to social media are exactly where the real benefits begin — especially when a mix of volunteers and staff may be posting and engaging with your parish social media all at once!

The Difference Between a Staff and Church Social Media Policy

A parish’s social media policy guides how the organization communicates. It outlines what accounts are your official parish social media profiles, the messaging tone, the parish brand, and the expectations for anyone posting on behalf of the parish.

A staff social media policy , on the other hand, addresses how employees represent themselves personally on their own public social profiles. Even when staff aren’t posting on parish accounts, their public online behavior can reflect on the church (or any organization they are a part of). These types of guidelines usually include expectations around respectful conduct, avoiding public statements that contradict Church teaching, maintaining appropriate boundaries between youth and adults, and protecting confidential parish information.

While these two types of social media policies serve different purposes, together they help ensure that both the parish’s official voice online and the voices of its staff members contribute to a healthy, trustworthy online presence.

What Should be in Your Parish Social Media Policy?

As outlined above, a strong social policy for any organization should include the following components:

Purpose and goals
Roles and permissions
Brand and voice guidelines
Content rules
Response expectations
Security practices
Accessibility guidelines

For your Catholic parish, when considering the above and determining your church’s social media policy, you should also seriously examine:

Any restrictions you might have about posting parishioner photos (especially when it comes to images with children).
Accountability for those responding to private messages to your parish on different platforms.
Any child protection practices your parish follows and how they might apply to your online interactions.
A specific Bible translation you use for scripture quotes.
Which Catholic sources are trusted and acceptable to use when reposting or referencing other online content.
Your parish’s approach to political and sensitive cultural topics.
How your parish chooses images to share and avoids copyright violations. Parish staff who use a content library, like LPi’s WeCreate , get all the Catholic images they need copyright-free!

Who Should be Making Our Church Social Media Policy Anyway?

Every parish is different when it comes to how it chooses to make official policies. What we’d recommend, though, is creating a committee with different staff members, volunteer leaders, and anyone else who might have access to your parish's social media accounts, to build your policy together. This gives everyone who will be using your social media a bit of ownership and buy-in. It’s a great way to get everyone on the same page from the start and to ensure they understand and agree to the rules!

Parish Social Media Policy Example

If you’re looking for a social media policy template for your parish, look no further! Here is a blank template to help you develop your own church’s social media policy. Remember, this is simply an idea guide. What you decide to do with your parish policy is up to you!

Download the template here.

For more information, tips, and ideas to aid your parish toward a faith-filled online presence, be sure to check out the Complete Guide to Catholic Church Social Media Management , as well as the Web and Social Media section of our blog.

The First Transfiguration

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 12:00:16 GMT

Reflection for December 21, 2025 — The Fourth Sunday of Advent

In this Sunday’s Gospel reading, we hear how the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, thus fulfilling a prophecy. Find the daily reading here.

I imagine Joseph waking up the morning after the dream, blinking in the dim half-light of the dawn.

One day, decades from now, the baby his wife carries will stand on a mountaintop. His face will shine like the sun, and those who look upon him will fall down upon their own faces in fear.

We call this the transfiguration, and Joseph won’t be there to see it. But that doesn’t matter. What those men will learn on the mountaintop, Joseph already knows. He learned it last night.

Today, he shrugs off the remnants of slumber and stands up.

“Rise, and do not be afraid.” This is what the baby — a baby no longer, but a man now, one in the last days of his life — will say to his companions on the mountain a few decades from now. They will look up to see him standing there the same as he always was, and they will realize that he did not change at all. They did.

“Do not be afraid.” This is what the angel said last night as he revealed to Joseph the will of God: that Joseph take Mary and the Child as his own, despite having so many reasons not to do so. And today Joseph wakes up and the world is the same as it always was: Mary is pregnant, and the Child does not belong to him.

No, the world has not changed. Joseph has.

He rises, and goes to Mary.

Advent is drawing quickly to a close, and Christmas is coming soon. The change is upon us. Do we rise to accept it, or do we fall on our faces in fear?

©LPi

Why LPi Suggests Canva for Nonprofits

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 20:29:31 GMT

What Is Canva?

Canva is an easy-to-use online graphic design platform that helps nonprofits create professional-quality materials without a graphic design background. Canva includes thousands of templates, drag-and-drop tools, free images and fonts, and learning resources. This gives organizations a simple way to design everything from flyers to social media posts in just a few clicks.

So, what is Canva used for in a nonprofit setting? The possibilities are endless. Many organizations rely on Canva to create:

Event flyers that attract attendance and boost visibility
Social media graphics that grow engagement and spread awareness
Volunteer recruitment posters that inspire signups
Donation drive visuals and thank-you graphics
Newsletters and bulletins that keep communities informed

Canva makes it easy to turn your ideas into polished visuals that reflect your mission. For nonprofits juggling limited resources and busy schedules, it’s a smart, accessible tool that helps you look your best without a hefty price tag or steep learning curve.

How to Get Canva Pro for Free as a Nonprofit

It’s true! Canva has a FREE upgrade option for registered nonprofit organizations!

If your organization is a nonprofit, you may qualify for Canva for Nonprofits . This is a free upgrade from the basic version of Canva that gives nonprofit organizations access to the full range of Canva Pro features (plus some extras) at no cost. Upgrades such as premium templates, brand kits, team collaboration tools, Magic Resize, background remover, print-ready PDF exporter, and more.

Is Canva Pro the Same as Canva for Nonprofits?

You might be asking, “Wait, what is Canva pro as compared to Canva for Nonprofits?”

Canva Pro is Canva’s paid tier, typically used by businesses, marketers, and design teams. Canva for Nonprofits offers the exact same robust functionality as Canva Pro but is purpose-built for mission-driven organizations and includes up to 50 seats for nonprofits, making it easy and seamless to work together on Canva projects with your staff.

Learn how to get Canva pro for free by visiting our step-by-step guide.

How much is Canva Pro if your organization wants to simply purchase a subscription? Canva highlights its prices on its website.

The Canva Pro Features That Help Nonprofit Organizations

There are many key Canva Pro features (included in Canva for Nonprofits) that nonprofit staff worldwide love and use every day. We’ve listed a few of them below and explain why they’re so useful:

Brand Kit — Canva Pro’s Brand Kit makes it possible for nonprofits to store their logos, colors, and fonts in one place. This makes it easy for any team member to produce on-brand designs quickly. With an organization’s brand kit so readily available, every flyer, post, and presentation stays visually consistent, even when multiple people are creating materials.
Print Ready PDF Option — With Canva Pro’s Print Ready PDFs, nonprofits can produce print materials that meet professional standards without needing design software expertise. High-resolution, properly formatted files eliminate the guesswork and keep outreach efforts looking crisp and professional.
Magic Resize Tool — Canva Pro’s Magic Resize tool lets nonprofit staff instantly adapt a design into multiple sizes to be used on social posts, flyers, posters, and whatever else you need without rebuilding anything from scratch. It saves time and ensures every message stays consistent across platforms and media.
Background Remover — If you’ve ever wondered how designers seem to so easily remove the background of an image to isolate the subject in their designs, this is the answer! With Background Remover, nonprofits can highlight people, products, or mission moments with just one click.
Premium Graphics, Templates, and Animations — Canva Pro’s premium graphics options give nonprofits access to higher-quality, more polished design assets that stand out in crowded communication channels. While the free library is robust, Canva’s premium content offers significantly more variety, more styles, and more ways to custom-tailor your visuals.
Social Media Content Scheduler — No need to download designs just to re-upload them into each platform your organization uses for social media anymore! With Canva Pro’s Content Scheduler, users can schedule posts to platforms like Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, and Pinterest directly from the Canva app.

Why LPi Recommends Canva for Nonprofits

At LPi, we work with thousands of mission-driven organizations. Through this work, we’ve seen firsthand how the right design tools can empower teams and elevate outreach. Canva Pro and Canva for Nonprofits stand out as some of the most effective and accessible solutions available today.

Here’s why we recommend Canva so strongly:

Empowers staff and volunteers with no design background
Canva’s simple drag-and-drop tools allow anyone to create polished graphics quickly.

Provides fast, branded templates
Brand kits and ready-made templates help teams produce consistent, professional materials with ease.

Supports high-end print and digital messaging
Whether creating newsletters, flyers, social posts, or something else, Canva keeps your messaging unified across platforms and professionally formatted for print and digital.

Integrates well with LPi products and services
Designs created in Canva Pro work seamlessly with LPi’s solutions like WeConnect, WeCreate, newsletters, bulletins, and even advertising.

Cost-effective and easy to adopt
With Canva for Nonprofits offering Canva Pro features (and more!) for free, nonprofit staff can save money and get started with minimal training.

Enables faster turnaround for communications
Shared assets, templates, and team collaboration tools help coworkers create the designs they want, right when they need them.

Strengthens storytelling
Canva’s visual tools, such as its thousands of premium templates for everything from flyers to social media posts, make it easier to highlight mission moments, volunteers, and your community impact!

If your nonprofit is a church, we have a Canva support page specifically created for parish staff!

What We See in the Desert

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 12:00:03 GMT

On the third Sunday of Advent, the Gospel invites us into the desert — a place of waiting, questioning, and preparation. In this Sunday’s Gospel reading, John the Baptist seems uncertain about who Jesus is. Yet Jesus affirms his mission through miraculous works, and praises John while revealing the Kingdom’s greatness. See the full daily reading of the Third Sunday of Advent .

I’ve always wanted to see a real desert.

I know all about frigid, snowy winters and warm, wet summers. I grew up on rich soil that yields lush vegetation and bountiful harvests. But I’ve never experienced a desert, not in my own country or abroad, and I’m curious.

I know there must be something magical about the desert for it to feature so heavily in Scripture, for it to provide a backdrop to so many crucial moments of salvation history. The Israelites following the cloud, the temptation of Christ, the voice crying out: “Prepare the way for the Lord.”

Why do these moments have to happen in a desert? Why do they make so much less sense in a tropical rainforest or a verdant forest?

I think it’s because the desert doesn’t have anything to offer us, at first glance. No one longs for the physical sensation of a dry heat and a beating sun. But the vast emptiness and the almost mystical harshness — even if we don’t desire and delight in it, this is a setting that we understand, somehow, intrinsically. We know it deep within our soul. God is there.

We go to Mass. We go to Confession. We pray. We read Scripture. In doing all these things, again and again, we go out to the desert.

Why? What are we expecting to see?

If we expect to be entertained, we will be disappointed. If we expect reassurance, we will be disappointed. If we expect to feel pleasant and safe and sheltered, we will be disappointed.

The desert is there to challenge us. The desert is there to show us who we are, and who we can be.

So go.

©LPi

Culturally Catholic

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 11:00:16 GMT

Reflection for December 7, 2025 — The Second Sunday of Advent
In this Sunday’s Gospel reading, we learn about John the Baptist preaching and baptizing people in the desert. He encounters Pharisees and Sadducees and warns them to produce “good fruit.” Find the daily reading here.

Catholic culture is so thick, you could spread it on a scone. Or a baguette. Or a slice of ciabatta bread. Or naan (Wait, do you put butter on naan? I would, because I’m Midwestern, but I sense that this is, perhaps, incorrect).

Okay, maybe my comparison is imperfect, but what I’m saying is this: Catholic culture is delicious, it’s versatile, and it’s nourishing. It’s the same everywhere, even though it also looks and feels totally unique in every place. The Day of the Dead in Mexico, Simbang Gabi in the Philippines, St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland, Meskel in Ethiopia, Semana Santa processions in Spain: these are all touchstones of Catholic culture.

It is so, so beautiful to be culturally Catholic. But today, when I hear John the Baptist’s words to the Pharisees and the Sadducees, I am reminded that Catholicism is so much more than just cultural expression.

The Pharisees and Sadducees were loyal sons of Abraham and scrupulous observers of the law of Moses. Their culture, you could say, was strong. But John the Baptist is telling them — and he’s telling us — that culture isn’t enough.

Actions, rituals, traditions, sentiments, nostalgia — none of it matters unless it bears the fruit of a transformed heart.

It’s something to remember, especially as we approach Christmas, a time when culture and cultural rituals become so (beautifully) prominent. In the cultural practice of Christmas, we are like the Wise Men approaching the manger, bearing our gifts. But how terrible would it have been if the wise men had hurried away, their culture expressed, their ritual complete, and gone back to the world unchanged by the gaze of the Infant?

So be culturally Catholic. Bring these gifts to the Christ Child — but linger there. Reflect. And then when you return to the world, you will bring Catholic culture with you.

©LPi

Watershed Moments

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 17:19:57 GMT

We love to hate the bad thief.

Ancient Christian tradition has called him by the name “Gestas.” In contrast to Dismas, “the good thief” who recognized and repented of his own sins, Gestas goes down bitter and swinging. With his last breaths he taunts Jesus, poking fun at the absurdity of a deity who allows himself to be crucified by mortals. “Are you not the Christ?” he sneers.

But his final words betray an undercurrent of desperation. Of terror. In the end, Gestas just wants Jesus to save him.

It’s taken me a few hundred read-throughs of this Gospel passage to finally understand a painful truth: I am Gestas. I hang from my own cross — we all do, in this life. But I’m lucky enough that my cross is right beside Jesus, because the sacraments bring him as close to me as he was to Gestas — closer, even. How unfathomable is the mercy of God.

And yet, I am not grateful. I don’t rejoice at my proximity to my Lord, to the flesh and blood that have bought my salvation. I don’t do what I should do, and what Dismas does. I don’t say, “Wherever you are King, please, let me be your subject. Wherever you are going, please, take me with you.”

“Are you not the Christ?” I say instead. And what I mean is exactly what Gestas meant: “Get me down. Take this cross away. I don’t want it. I can’t take it.”

What a tragedy it would be, if all Christ had to offer us was an easier life.

None of this looks like anyone thought it would. The long-foretold Messiah, whose majesty and might would eradicate violence and establish peace. The guy who was going to make everything okay again. The King of the Jews. And here he hangs: bleeding and dying and doing what looks like nothing. Staring at Gestas. Staring at me. Staring at you.

What will you say to him?

©LPi

The King Who Hangs Beside Us

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 11:00:33 GMT

We love to hate the bad thief.

But his final words betray an undercurrent of desperation. Of terror. In the end, Gestas just wants Jesus to save him.

“Are you not the Christ?” I say instead. And what I mean is exactly what Gestas meant: “Get me down. Take this cross away. I don’t want it. I can’t take it.”

What a tragedy it would be, if all Christ had to offer us was an easier life.

What will you say to him?

©LPi

Two Things Can Be True At Once

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 12:00:10 GMT

As my husband and I drove our firstborn child home from the hospital, I sat alongside my daughter in the backseat. Terrified, exhausted, exhilarated, confused, hopeful — I was all of these things at the same time. I gazed at her, this magnificent little creature whose face was both familiar and strange to me, thinking: She is exquisite. She is the future. She is life.

And then I burst into uncontrollable sobs.

“What’s wrong?” my husband cried, panicked, glancing in the rearview mirror.

“She’s — going — to — die — someday,” I blubbered, choking on my own tears.

“Ohhh, honey.” I’ll never forget the tone of his voice as he clearly debated turning this car around and taking me back to the hospital for an emergency psych evaluation. “I think you might be tired.”

Ten years later, it’s a memory we laugh about. I hadn’t slept more than four hours in four days. Postpartum hormones had lain waste to my senses. Here, on the threshold of new life, all I could think of was death. It’s funny. It’s absurd.

But it also makes a lot of sense.

Love and hate. Hope and fear. Joy and sorrow. Death and life. What lasts forever, and what is even now passing away before our eyes. To be human is to know that these feelings, these realities, can and often do occur at the same time. To be Christian is to know that it means something — even if we cannot understand what. Not yet.

In every moment of his earthly life, Christ shows us that two things can be true at once. A virgin is a mother. An exile is a king. The temple will be destroyed, and it will last forever. The world is ending. The world is beginning. The cross is death. The cross is life.

©LPi

Modern Money-Changers

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 11:45:00 GMT

The “liturgy wars” are something of a hot topic in contemporary Catholic circles.

Latin chant or guitar hymns? Communion on the tongue or in the hand? Chapel veils or bare heads? Surplice or alb? It’s giving me a headache just writing it all out.

I don’t mean to say that none of this matters. The worship of the Almighty God, especially in the context of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, is no trifling matter. It is good for people to be concerned about whether or not their worship is pleasing to God. I am happy that Catholics care enough about these things to have an opinion.

I’m not going to say where I fall on this spectrum of liturgical sensibility (the headache intensifies thinking of the emails I would get). And I won’t pretend it’s not something I feel passionate about, in my own way.

But too often I find myself sniffing dismissively at the “other camp,” the folks who are drawn to a different style or tradition. Too often I see them sniffing dismissively back to me. We are, both groups, obsessed with the form of a thing — so much so that we risk forgetting the function of it.

And when I stop to think about it, I wonder if Jesus shouldn’t crack the whip at us all, the modern money-changers of the temple, who have allowed worship to become a transaction (I offer x sacrifice, I am rewarded with y feeling of fulfillment and satisfaction).

I look at the Gospel today, and I can see the purpose of the money-changers. It could be argued that, in a way, they were facilitating the laws of Moses, making possible the temple sacrifices stipulated by God.

But it matters why you do something, not just how you do it.

What good is any act of worship, if at its conclusion we do not more closely resemble the One before whom we kneel?

©LPi

How to Use Digital Art and Graphic Design at Your Church

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 15:50:59 GMT

In a recent article, we shared how parish staff and ministry leaders can find incredible art and graphics to use for parish communications. We outlined the different types of art available inside the Catholic content library, WeCreate, and even revealed how to gain free access!

In this article, we’ll go a step further and discuss several creative ways to APPLY these high-quality visuals to support your evangelization and engagement efforts. Your parish’s mission matters, and how you share it can make a real difference to the success of your messaging.

Creative Ways to Incorporate Digital Art into Your Parish Communications

Suppose you’ve taken the necessary steps to subscribe to a Catholic content library or have access to one like WeCreate for free because you publish your bulletin or parish website with LPi. In that case, you're likely to have Catholic art and graphics coming out of your ears! Here are a few creative and effective ways to use the art and graphics you now have at your fingertips to improve and inspire your messaging.

Sacramental prep resources
Add custom visuals to First Communion, Confirmation, Baptism, and other sacramental prep materials to make them welcoming and beautiful. Consider adding an image to flyers, website landing pages, educational materials, sacramental prep registration forms, and even gifts .
Announcement slides & digital Mass slides
Use seasonal Catholic art and parish event graphics as backgrounds on digital Mass and announcement slides to make them more intentional and reverent.
Volunteer recruitment materials
Catch attention with vibrant, professional graphics on flyers or social posts to invite parishioners to serve.
Giving campaigns & stewardship drives
Use cohesive design across pledge cards, bulletin inserts, pulpit announcements, and even “thank you” messaging to encourage generosity.
Printable Catholic art for display
Brighten your parish office, school, or narthex with frameable art prints. WeCreate features art in many styles and subjects — from saint illustrations to feast-day art, Gospel paintings, and more.
Church bulletin design ideas
Use any of the many weekly bulletin cover series inside WeCreate to enrich your weekly bulletin and align with the liturgical calendar. Bulletins with professional cover designs foster trust and interest among your members.
Parish event communications
Promote events like festivals, retreats, or prayer nights with beautiful ministry graphics that reinforce your message and tone. Use these in your flyers, social media announcements, and even in printed materials for your events, such as the event schedule or handouts.
Website graphics for Catholic parishes
Add engaging visuals to homepage banners, ministry pages, and seasonal landing pages to invite deeper participation and ensure a consistently intentional, professional online presence .
Email visuals
Include attention-grabbing headers, a saint quote, or a Scripture-based callout image to make your parish emails more engaging.
Faith formation materials
Add Catholic art, graphics, and even Catholic comics to children’s ministry handouts, OCIA guides, or adult formation materials.
Social media content for Catholic parishes
WeCreate has a plethora of social media content and ideas to elevate your parish’s online communications. From liturgical reminders to Facebook and Instagram “stories” content, keep your community inspired and informed! Check out our complete social media guid e for even more ideas.
Worship aids and printed programs
Use professional art and graphics on the cover and inside the printed worship aids you make for special liturgical Masses such as confirmation, first communion, major Catholic holidays, weddings, and even funerals.

Get Your Catholic Art and Design Today

Don’t have a design degree? That’s ok! WeCreate makes it easy for parish staff and ministry leaders to confidently share the Good News with professional visuals. With thousands of graphics updated monthly to reflect the liturgical seasons and all the intricacies of parish life, it’s a resource built to elevate your communications with the click of a mouse (and make them easier to manage).

Ready to bring your message to life? Start exploring WeCreate today.

For more inspiration on how to access and use Catholic art and graphics to elevate your parish communications — from ideas about how to make your flyer design better, give your bulletin a makeover, and more, head over to the “Art and Design” section of our blog.

The Semicolon

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 11:00:22 GMT

My grave is in the corner of a cemetery in rural southeastern Wisconsin. For at least a mile in every direction, all you can see is farmland — cows, barns and quiet country roads. It’s beautiful, serene. I imagine the hand of God writing me into existence — she lived, she died — using for ink the very dirt that fills this grave. The dust from which I was created.

Surrounding my grave are the burial plots of other family members — Rachel, Georgiana, Julian, Josephine. I visit the cemetery to pray for them, knowing they are there, but also not there. And when I visit their graves, I stand on my own. I look out at the tree-lined horizon and the farmland. I think of how, in a thousand years, none of this will be here. But I will be here, God’s hand paused against the page, preparing to write the rest of the story not in dirt but in his own blood. For Christ does not lose anything of what the Father has given him.

Not a soul. Not a bone. Not a lock of hair.

She lived, she died; she lived again. No longer is there a period after the words she died, but instead a semicolon. And the semicolon is the grave, that mystical place where the Blood mixes with the dust of the earth, where life meets death, and then meets life again. And the story continues.

©LPi

The Best Catholic Art and Graphics for Church Communications

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 17:17:45 GMT

Catholic Liturgical Art That Brings Faith to Life

Parish staff members and ministry leaders who are stewards of their parish communications understand the importance of incorporating beautiful Catholic art into these communications. It’s no secret that an effective parish website, meaningful weekly bulletin, and a variety of flyers designed to support ministries and happenings are much more effective when they include beautiful and engaging visuals.

Faith-filled art, ranging from traditional to modern and contemporary designs, helps reach a diverse population. Great art positions your ministry materials to be more attractive to those you are hoping to reach! The right art in your communications inspires prayer, community, and a deeper relationship with Jesus.

Parish staff who have access to a solid content library, like LPi’s WeCreate , get thousands of Catholic images copyright-free! Whether it’s for your website, youth ministry flyer, or your next social media post, WeCreate puts beautiful Catholic art right at your fingertips. In this article, we’ll prove it by showing you exactly what kinds of art parish staff can find inside this fantastic library and how easy it is to use.

Catholic Bulletin Cover Art for Every Season

Every week, you’ll discover new bulletin cover art uploaded to WeCreate, from popular bulletin cover series to standalone bulletin covers. Our many cover series options have brand new designs uploaded for every week of the liturgical year, as well as artwork highlighted for Advent, Lent, Easter, Christmas, various feast days, and even Ordinary Time. Some series are visually more traditional, while others are more contemporary. Some feature illustrations, some focus more on images, and still others are a mixture of both. To find the full list of currently available bulletin series, we’ve highlighted them on our blog.

Bulletin Covers Come in a Variety of Options

Parishes using a weekly bulletin cover art series will also discover that they are available in a variety of size options. This way, if you decide mid-year to give your cover design a makeover , you have options to keep the cover series the same, regardless of your design parameters. Many of the covers found in WeCreate are also available in Spanish, and some even offer both English and Spanish together in the design — perfect for parishes with a bilingual community!

Catholic Saints and Feast Day Images

Looking for art that celebrates Catholic saints? Discover beautiful illustrations, inspiring quotes, and feast day designs honoring saints and other holy figures, in both English and Spanish. WeCreate users can find a variety of graphics in different sizes and styles to fit their needs as they share in the lives of the saints.

Scripture and Inspirational Quote Graphics

You’ll also find Catholic art featuring Bible verses, uplifting messages, meditations, quotes from Scripture, and popular Catholic sayings and messages in WeCreate. These types of images are ideal for bulletins and digital outreach like such as social media. Some offer English and Spanish options, and some offer both languages in the same image. Find square, horizontal, and vertical images to fit all your communication needs.

Catholic Sacrament and Worship Designs

There is also a wide variety of visuals celebrating Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, and more! You can find these in both English and Spanish, in a variety of shapes, sizes, and featuring everything from historical Catholic paintings and art to modern design and illustration. There’s something for every type of charism and community!

WeCreate users will also find art and graphics to support their parish worship. Images featuring the different roles available for volunteering during Mass, and for practices like Adoration and the Sacrament of Reconciliation, can all be found in a variety of types to enhance your parish communications.

Catholic Social Media Graphics That Evangelize Online

Need amazing content made specifically for your parish’s social media efforts? Find the following social media tools and content exclusively in WeCreate:

Parish Social Media Content Calendar

Daily, liturgically-inspired ideas for your parish’s social media presence. WeCreate’s monthly social media content calendar pairs beautiful visuals with pre-written captions that you can use on your own social feeds to set you up for daily posting success . Learn more about this amazing resource over on our blog.

Facebook & Instagram Stories

Our designers have been working hard to create beautiful and engaging content in WeCreate for parishes to use in their Facebook and/or Instagram stories . We’ve collected a more in-depth look at the available content here, but, in the meantime, here’s a sneak peek of one of the hundreds they can use in their own social stories below.

Banners

Many social media platforms — like YouTube, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and more — allow users to upload a banner as part of their profile. A banner image greatly enhances a page’s visual appeal and helps communicate your parish’s message at a glance. Even better, update it seasonally or for special events to keep your page fresh and engaging. Find beautifully designed, perfectly sized banner art for the liturgical year and other occasions inside WeCreate.

…And More! Technically speaking, any of the graphics available in WeCreate can be repurposed to support any posts that your parish makes on social media. Get creative and share!

Catholic Clip Art

Looking for cute clip art to support bulletin articles or shout-outs in your email newsletters? Look no further! Every month, you’ll find multiple new clip art designs released in WeCreate to support the liturgical calendar and Catholic holidays, as well as national celebrations and more. Here are a few examples of the hundreds of diverse style options available:

Clip Art for Christmas:

Clip Art for Sacraments:

Clip Art for Bible Stories:

Where to Find the Best Catholic Art Online

Whether you’re creating flyers, updating your parish website, or posting to social media, WeCreate is the ultimate destination for faith-based visuals and Catholic art downloads . With thousands of ready-to-use graphics, illustrations, and templates, it's never been easier to find the Catholic images you need, right when you need them. Best of all? Parishes that publish their bulletin or host their website with LPi receive full access to WeCreate at no additional cost!

If you’re looking for high-quality Catholic art for parishes with new pieces updated monthly, WeCreate is where you’ll find it!

To join the 9,000+ parish staff members already using WeCreate for Catholic visuals and saving valuable time designing their parish communications, dive into WeCreate today !

Tunnel Vision

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 11:00:21 GMT

There are some parents on the playground I really can’t stand.

You know them, probably, if you’re a parent, or if you’re not, you know a different version of them. They’ll tell you about how their little Brayden is a bilingual violin prodigy who sleeps through the night and only ever asks to snack on vegetables. But as soon as Brayden starts to chase your screaming kid with a stick, they’re conveniently scrolling on their phone, unaware.

You’re not irritated that their kid is smarter than yours and likes veggies (well, maybe you are, a little). You’re irritated that they have tunnel vision. In striving for perfection, they have become unable to acknowledge imperfections.

If you’re reading this, you’re probably in church. If you’re in church, you’re probably someone who is concerned with what is right and what is wrong. I’ve got news for you: that might just make you (and me) more at risk of being like Brayden’s parent than the people who stayed home today.

Unclutch your pearls! It was good of you to come to Mass. Definitely keep doing that. That’s the right choice. Just don’t forget that in making the right choice, we don’t become righteous .

Look, I’m not going to lie to you. Sometimes, it’s my kids who are doing the chasing with the stick. They’re kids, and kids do dumb things, just like everyone else. And maybe it’s because they hate vegetables and sleep terribly that I’m less reluctant than Brayden’s mom to admit their mistakes. It’s a hard fall from the pedestal.

If we’re churchgoing followers of Christ, we are hopefully people who earnestly want to do the right thing. Maybe, sometimes, we do exactly that. The Pharisee did the right thing sometimes. He fasted. He tithed. But he gazed so long at his own holiness that he became blinded by it. He stood before God, and he could only think of what he had done right.

We need to stay vigilant, folks. Just when you look away, that’s when Brayden grabs the stick.

©LPi

How to Make Your Parish Communications Easy: Catholic Graphic Design, Bulletins, Social Media, & More

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 17:53:31 GMT

What is a Content Library and How Does it Improve Parish Communications?

Simply put, a digital content library is an application that has pre-made, professionally designed content (such as art, graphics, and written pieces) that people can use as their own without worrying about copyright infringement. For Catholic parish staff, the ideal content library would include Catholic art and graphics of all types that support the liturgical calendar, church functions, and a variety of parish communication needs. It would also include a plethora of relevant and USCCB-approved written content that can be used in the weekly bulletin, as well as items such as comics, children’s coloring pages, games, and Gospel reflections to enhance a parish’s website, faith formation materials, and any other communication tools parish staff wish to use.

Content libraries save parish staff countless hours designing their own graphics and writing their own bulletin fillers — giving ministry leaders more time to focus on their actual ministries! With access to thousands of professionally designed graphics and pre-written content, a parish’s communications can always look professional and intentional, instead of homemade or “messy.” Professional graphics and communications go a long way toward building trust among parishioners!

WeCreate is the Best Tool Available for Catholics

Across the USA, 9,400+ parish staff members already trust WeCreate to save time and enhance their parish communications. Why? Because WeCreate is the best Catholic content library out there! As a bonus, it’s free for parishes that partner with LPi to print their weekly bulletins — a true win-win.

WeCreate is curated by Catholic professionals with Catholic parish needs in mind . All direction for materials inside WeCreate come from professionals who have personal experience working as Catholic parish staff, and who have a heart for sharing the Gospel.

WeCreate is approved by the USCCB. Content specific to the readings of the week and Scripture is approved by the USCCB and uses the N ew American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE).

WeCreate includes complete bulletin planning resources. One of the most valuable resources inside WeCreate is the Sunday Text Document. This resource includes pages full of bulletin planning content with special dates to note, weekly readings, reflections, and more — ready to drop directly into your bulletin. (See more below.)

Inside WeCreate, You’ll Find:

Pre-designed Bulletin Templates — Each week, the bulletin templates inside WeCreate are updated with that week’s content: reflections, Gospel illustrations, prayers, Scripture readings of the week, and more, all ready for you to use in your parish!

Sunday Text Document & Written Content — This text document provides bulletin editors with every piece of weekly content included in the pre-designed templates. This allows those who already have a bulletin design they like to pick and choose what content they would like to use. It includes multiple weekly reflections, a prayer, Catholic Q&A, Scripture readings, weekly Scripture questions, a list of feast and holy days, and more — all in both English and Spanish. This document is our golden everything-you-need one-stop resource for weekly bulletin planning! Each piece inside the Sunday Text Document is also individually searchable inside WeCreate.
Social Media Content — WeCreate includes beautiful graphics designed specifically for parish social media. Users will find a vast library of story-sized graphics for Instagram and Facebook Stories, loads of images for everyday posts on any type of social media platform, and even a curated monthly content calendar of liturgical images and caption ideas — ready to post as your own five days a week!
Stock Photography — Find vast amounts of parish-centered stock photography inside WeCreate to help fill the space in your bulletin or on your website with beautiful visuals. Stock photos are especially useful if you haven’t built up your own parish photo library just yet.
Ministry Graphics — Find vast amounts of ministry graphics inside WeCreate. There are graphics of all sizes and styles for liturgical celebrations, feast days, and even general parish ministry needs like Sacramental prep, church spring cleaning, office hours, and more! Find clip art, banners, headlines, quotes, illustrations, and a plethora of graphics to illustrate everything happening at your parish year-round!
Bulletin Cover Series — WeCreate includes a variety of weekly bulletin cover series updated each week with a new design that reflects the readings of that week. These come in multiple image sizes — full page, half page, and square — and are made in both English and Spanish to accommodate various bulletin cover formats and community language needs!

Custom Comics — Humor is a great way to teach the faith! Inside WeCreate is a weekly comic that can’t be found anywhere else. Each week the newest comic panel includes a “Fun Fact” about Catholicism so that it’s humorous and educational. These are perfect for your bulletin or social media feeds!

Flyer & Graphic Templates — No time to design your own ministry flyers or graphics, but want something customized with your parish name and information? No worries! WeCreate has graphic templates and pre-made flyers with a simple system that allows users to drop their own information into it and, voilà — your custom graphics and flyers are complete!

Children’s Content — Every parish bulletin needs something for the kiddos! WeCreate has weekly coloring pages, puzzles, children’s prayers, drawing prompts, treasure hunt ideas, and more. All ready to drop into your bulletin to help engage children and families and share the Good News.

Ways to Use WeCreate to Save Time:

Discover one of our weekly, ready-to-go parish bulletin templates, and simply insert your parish’s custom information for a complete Catholic resource. These include weekly guides to the Scripture readings, liturgical calendar, and more. Or, download one of our complete weekly bulletins — ready to be distributed immediately to your congregation — when you don’t have time to create your own content and design!

Use pre-designed, professional graphics inside your bulletin, website, ministry flyers, and social media.

Use professional banners on your website or bulletin headers.

Drop faith reflections or Catholic Q&A content into your weekly bulletin.

Use Gospel illustrations for weekly bulletin, website, social media content, or faith formation resources.

Use the WeCreate Sunday Text Document to help plan bulletin content weeks in advance.

Download a flyer or graphic template and add your parish’s information for a quick and easy professional design.

Use the WeCreate Social Media Content Calendar to keep your social media feed fresh and filled with posts that reflect your Catholic identity.

How to Get WeCreate for Free:

WeCreate is a subscription-based application that anyone can subscribe to. It’s important to note, though, that it also comes as a freebie resource for any parish that publishes its weekly church bulletin with LPi! Parishes that publish their bulletins with LPi receive a beautiful print and digital bulletin that is supported by ads from local businesses — making it free for parishes! Parishes that partner with LPi for bulletins receive a free subscription to WeCreate for parish staff.

Another way to get WeCreate for free is to use LPi to create your parish website. Our church website platform, WeConnect, comes with a free WeCreate subscription, giving users access to all the graphic and content resources they need to make their website stand out. WeConnect websites can also be created at no cost to parishes when signing up for our ad-supported system.

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For more parish graphic design tips and tricks, visit the “Art & Design” section of our blog!

The Prayers We Don’t Say

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 11:00:15 GMT

It has always confused me: why a judge?

Jesus could have compared prayer to the subject who requests a gift of his king. He could have compared it to the child who asks a favor of a parent. But in the parable of the widow and the judge, Jesus compares prayer — specifically constant, unwearying prayer — with the marginalized person who doggedly pursues her claim through an unforgiving legal system.

It’s not a rosy or reassuring picture. So what is he trying to tell us?

Unlike a king or a parent, a judge has strictly drawn lines which he cannot, under any circumstances, cross. He can only help people who bring their case to court. Even good, earnest judges cannot render justice if charges are not brought.

God is all-powerful. But that doesn’t make Him a meddler. He will not force his way into our problems. What would be the point? What is our life on earth for, if it is not to teach us how to turn willingly to God, in every instance — adoration, gratitude, need?

Today, I sat down and made a list of problems I don’t pray about. When I was done, I looked at the list and asked myself: why not? Why don’t I pray about these things? Some are huge issues over which I have absolutely no control, and prayer feels futile. Some are small grievances I never even considered mentioning to God.

If I prayed about them all, my life would be totally consumed by prayer. Constant, unwearying prayer. The kind of prayer Jesus calls me to in the parable of the widow and the judge: continual surrender of myself to the mysterious, limitless power of God.

Praying that way could make me tired. The widow was tired, too — but she kept bringing her charges. She got justice. And her judge wasn’t even a nice guy.

So say the prayer. Bring the charges. Our judge is one who wants to help, but He won’t overstep His bounds.

©LPi

How to Promote Your Church Events Online This Christmas

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 14:31:18 GMT

Chances are, you may already have an extensive plan for your Advent and Christmas events at your parish. From a giving tree to a children’s pageant, Midnight Mass, and beyond, this is one of the busiest times of the year for churches. So, you’ve got a rich variety of events, but do you have a plan to market them? Approaching the Advent and Christmas season with a digital marketing strategy for the offerings you already have in place is an excellent way to attract new people to your church and ensure that your current parishioners are in the know. It’s also an excellent way to attract volunteers and energy around your Christmas plans.

Let’s get into what a digital marketing strategy is and some ideas for how to apply it to your parish events.

What is a Digital Marketing Strategy?

A digital marketing strategy is a roadmap for using online tools like your website, email, and social media to reach your goals and grow your audience. It should be intentional and driven by a goal you have. This strategy helps you focus your efforts so that every click, post, or ad supports your mission.

To develop a digital marketing strategy, you need to determine the following factors:

Goal
Target Audience
Key Channels
Specific Tactics and Actions
How to Measure Success

Once these elements are determined, you are ready to get started.

Key Channels and Tools for Digital Marketing Strategies

Your next step in digitally marketing your parish event is choosing the right channels. The following are some great options that many parishes already utilize:

Website Tools

Event landing pages — always make sure every event or program has its own landing page hosted on your website. A landing page will have all the essential information about that event in one place. It may also include your digital flyer, registration forms, or payment options (if applicable). For easy access, add a QR code linked to the landing page on printed material and post a link to the landing page on all other digital outlets! Lastly, make sure that your landing page looks great on mobile devices , not just on a computer screen!
Blogs — If your parish or pastor keeps a blog, mentioning events in blog articles (and including a link to the landing page) is a great way to spread awareness.
Website banners — If your website uses rotating banners on your homepage, creating a banner to advertise your event is a top-tier way to get lots of eyes on your promotion. Check out some pre-designed holiday web banners available through our parish website tool, WeConnect, to get inspired!

Social Media Tools

General social media posts — Posting on social media about your event is one of the best (and cheapest) ways to advertise! Include a variety of posts, such as images from past events, your digital flyer, and even quotes and testimonials from past attendees or current organizers. Remember: ALWAYS link people to the event’s landing page so they don’t get lost looking for more info. Don’t have a graphic designer? Don’t worry! We have a variety of parish event and program graphics inside WeCreate for all your communication needs.
Videos (short and long form) — Posting a video, or “reel” as some platforms call it, is a great way to engage people online! Consider a 20-second shout-out from your pastor or ministry leaders inviting people to the event.
Ads — Paying for a “boost” on Instagram or Facebook (or even creating a whole separate ad on your favorite social media platform) is a fantastic way to reach a larger community. Again, don’t forget to include your event’s landing page link!
Events (Facebook, Meetup, Eventbrite) — Some platforms allow you to create a specific event page and advertise through their platform. Events like this then show up on that platform’s calendar, so when people search for local gatherings, they’ll see your event! This type of digital marketing is awesome for concerts, benefits, community service projects, and seminars/retreats!

Other Digital Marketing Tools:

Email Campaigns — Email is arguably still the very best way to reach your audience digitally. If your parish has a master list of parishioner emails, consider sending out email campaigns advertising your events and programs.
Digital Parish Bulletin — Make sure to include your event in your bulletin, especially if you use a digital bulletin every week. Parishes that publish their bulletins with LPi automatically get a high-resolution digital bulletin that they can send out via email or link on their website or social media posts, at no charge.
Digital Flyers — A digital flyer is simply a flyer that can be shared online. It often includes a link or two that people can click directly from their computer or their phone. Digital flyers can be sent out via email, social media, or even text message. Check out our guide on how to make awesome flyers.
Text Messaging — Send out your digital flyer and a link to your event landing page via text message if your parish has a text messaging system. Make sure both look good on mobile devices before pressing send!

Sample Digital Marketing Strategy

Here’s an example digital marketing strategy for a parish Giving Tree program.

Goal

Raise awareness and increase participation in our yearly Giving Tree program.
Have 100% of the giving tree gifts donated by December 20.

Target Audience

Parishioners attending Mass
Parish school families and religious education participants
Newer members who may be unfamiliar with the program
Broader local community and neighborhood

Key Channels & Tactics

1. Website (WeConnect)

Home Page Banner promoting the Giving Tree (Nov. 15–Dec. 20)
Dedicated Giving Tree Landing Page with:
Program overview
How to participate (physical & virtual options)
FAQs
Final return date (Dec. 20)
Contact info for questions

2. Email

Kickoff Email (Nov. 15):
“Our Giving Tree Is Up — Help Us Spread Joy This Christmas!”
Mid-Campaign Reminder (Dec. 1):
“Some Giving Tree Tags Remain! Pick Yours Up Soon!”
Final Push Email (Dec. 15):
“Still Time to Give — Gifts Due Dec. 20! Help us reach 100% giving!”

3. Social Media

Weekly Posts (Nov. 15–Dec. 20)
Photo of the Giving Tree in the gathering space
Behind-the-scenes prep from volunteers
Reminder of gift deadline
Thank-you post after deadline

Sample Captions:

�� The Giving Tree is here! Stop by after Mass and choose a tag to help a family in need this Christmas.
✨ Want to participate virtually? Visit our website to select a gift online! <Include Link>

Always Remember:

Whenever posting about your giving tree (or any event), always include a link to its landing page so people can learn more. Invite people to share the post on their own social media and, lastly, engage with and reply to all comments using your parish’s brand voice!

Tag Your Community Partners

Consider any local organizations that already support your bulletin or website. Tag them in posts you make about the giving tree so that they can share your post with their community.
Tag ministry leaders or other ministry groups in your parish who might have their own social media presence to encourage them to share.
If your parish has a school or is near a neighborhood school, include them in the tag, too!

4. Bulletin & Weekly Announcements

Announcement in all bulletins (Nov. 10–Dec. 17)
For digital bulletins: Include a link to the Giving Tree landing page located on your website.
For printed bulletins: Include a QR code that leads to the Giving Tree landing page located on your website.

5. Digital Flyers

Design a digital flyer that can be shared by anyone via:
Social media posts
Emails
School newsletters
Text messages

If you use WeCreate as your Catholic content library , there are several Giving Tree graphics of varying sizes that would be perfect to use for these communications inside.

6. Optional Add-On Content

Short video clip(s) from the pastor, giving tree coordinator, or other parish leaders explaining the program and inviting participation.
Instagram/Facebook Story countdown t o build urgency in the final week(s).
Images or video o f a family dropping off a Giving Tree gift.

5. Metrics for Success

100% tag participation by Dec. 20
Email open rate of 35% or higher
Increased traffic to the giving tree webpage
Social post engagement (likes, shares, comments)

We hope this example helps in your future digital marketing endeavors! For more inspiration, tips, and tricks for the best parish communications strategies and tools, visit our blog!

Your Faith Has Saved You

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 10:00:15 GMT

Your faith has saved you. These are the words I pray I will hear when my heart stops beating, when the last breath has left my lungs.

We hear Jesus say these words, or words like them, several times in the Gospels: to the woman bold enough to grasp for his cloak in a crowd, to the men who testify to their belief that he can restore their sight, to the leper kneeling before him in thanks.

These are some of my favorite passages in all of Scripture, because they illustrate so beautifully what salvific faith is — and what it is not.

It’s so easy to think that I have done all the necessary work by simply believing . Yes, Christ is my Savior. Yes, the Church is his bride. Yes, this doctrine is true, that dogma is infallible, so on and so forth.

I believe!

Well, so what? Satan believes, too. It doesn’t do him any good.

The lepers had faith — so they begged Jesus to heal them. They had faith — so they followed his instructions and went to the priests. Their faith was sufficient to motivate these actions, which led to their physical healing. But only one had faith strong enough to understand that physical healing doesn’t mean anything without spiritual results. Only one had enough faith to go back to the source of his healing and say, “Thank you. Now what?”

I have enough faith to know that God can heal me. But do I have enough faith to embrace the purpose for which He heals me?

If Jesus tells you that your faith has saved you, he isn’t talking about faith as merely an internally held belief. In each of these Gospel passages, he’s talking about faith as a conviction that is making itself seen. Heard. Felt. He’s talking about an arm that is reaching for the hem of a garment, a voice that says “I believe” or a knee that is bent in gratitude.

He’s talking about faith that is so strong it becomes action. This is the faith I hope I can have.

©LPi

The Father Who Knows What You Want

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 10:00:04 GMT

It’s easy to give your kid what he’s asking for. It’s hard to give him what he wants.

If a kid asks to eat an ice cream cone, there’s nothing wrong with giving him one. But if he’s grumpily demanding an ice cream cone at 7:45 in the morning, what he wants — whether he realizes it or not — is some protein and whole grains and a little encouragement to get him going on his day.

So you give him eggs and toast, and you watch him struggle to accept it. Sometimes he does and sometimes he doesn’t, but either way, you’ll be here. You’ll forgive him for whatever names he calls you and you’ll put the healthy breakfast in the fridge, waiting for him when he’s ready to eat it.

“Increase my faith.” I’ve said it to God plenty of times, imagining a prayer life that is effortless and a sacramental life that is uncomplicated, an acceptance of truth that is unshakeable. Easy faith — that’s what I’m asking for, and lots of it, please.

But easy faith isn’t faith at all, and faith that you aren’t strong enough to hold will break your arms. And what God will never do is say, “Sure, kiddo, here you go,” and pass off a false gift as the real thing, just to make us both feel good. He won’t hand me something I’m not strong enough to hold.

That would be a classic lazy-father move. That would be an ice-cream-cone-at-7:45 a.m. move.

Instead, He watches carefully while I navigate the bumpy terrain of the spiritual life, ready to whisper directions in my ear. He holds his breath while the challenges of this world create deep grooves in my soul — and then He irrigates those grooves with the life-giving waters of grace, transforming them into valleys of consolation and respite.

Sometimes I call Him names. Sometimes I refuse what He’s offering. It’s not what I asked for, after all.

But it’s what I want. Luckily, He knows that better than me.

©LPi

Snow Days and Second Chances

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 10:00:11 GMT

Yesterday morning, my kids were playing outside in the snow, and I decided to take advantage of the quiet house to make a few important phone calls.

Fool. I forgot Murphy’s Law of Parenting, which dictates that as soon as you dial a phone number, a bomb of irritation and neediness explodes within the heart of your loudest child. Sure enough, as soon as the person on the other end of the line picked up, my son was at the back door, whimpering loudly. Horror of horrors, he had snow in his boot.

I gestured to the phone. He whimpered more loudly. I mouthed and mimed threats. He threw his boot at me. I gave him The Look. He started to scream.

Well, needless to say, the phone call didn’t go well, and my son’s snow day was cut short. He begged for a second chance, but I explained to him that life doesn’t always give you second chances. The phone call was over. Ruined. I couldn’t get it back.

But that’s when I remembered that moms have a superpower: creating second chances where none had existed before. So I told him that if he could be quiet while I made the rest of my calls, he could go back outside.

My son is young right now. I give him lots of second chances because second chances help him learn. Second chances are the training wheels of life.

I dread the day when the training wheels come off, and I can’t save him from his bad decisions. I think every parent does.

The parable of the rich man and Lazarus highlights a reality that we often wish to ignore: at some point, we will run out of chances, and it’s not because God tires of giving them to us. It’s because a truly endless supply of chances would strip us of our free will. It would deny us the right of being taken at our word — and God respects us too much to do that.

My son saved his snow day. It’s a good reminder: take the second (and third and fourth) chance. Don’t wait for the next one.

©LPi

Your Parish Website & Branding: A Match Made in Heaven

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 22:05:54 GMT

Before anyone reads a word of content or clicks a single link, your parish’s website is already communicating a great deal about your community. We all know that first impressions matter a lot, so it’s important to understand that your branding is speaking before you do. For this reason, the concepts of “branding” and a “website” shouldn’t be separate. Your parish brand isn’t just an accessory to your website — it is your website!

Your Website Expresses Your Brand

Think of your website as the digital front door to your parish. Whether someone is new to the area, returning to the Church, or checking Mass times before Sunday, your homepage is usually where they will go first. The colors, fonts, layout, and images that they see all begin to form their impression of your Catholic community.

Many people use the terms “logo” and “brand” interchangeably. Although a logo incorporates branding decisions and is part of your overall brand, it is just that — only a part of it. Making sure your website is branded correctly doesn’t just mean putting your logo in the corner of your site. Branding your site involves the actions and decisions you take to shape how people feel when they land on your homepage.

For example, is it:

Warm?
Traditional?
Modern?
Joyful?
Welcoming?

The choices you make in visual design and messaging encourage different feelings. When done right, your branding should make your website feel cohesive and trustworthy — two things that go a long way toward making someone want to return to your parish or visit in the first place.

As a church, your parish’s branding should be the cornerstone of your communication efforts. It should extend way past your website into all forms of communication. Branding that extends to everything — from bulletins to emails and more — creates a sense of uniformity and professionalism which, in turn, fosters trust among community members and those outside your community.

Tone of Voice Is Branding, Too

Many people might think of branding as purely visual, but they’d be mistaken! The words you choose, how you say them, and even why you say them, matter just as much as the visual aspects of your brand. That’s why tone of voice is a key part of branding.

Does your parish speak in a warm, welcoming tone? Do you use formal language, or a more casual style? Are you focused on tradition? Do you emphasize community involvement and family life? All of these aspects of your community can come across in your brand’s “voice.”

The language on your homepage, “about us” page, event descriptions, and calls to action should all reflect your brand voice. This helps visitors feel like they’re getting to know you even before they meet you in person!

Your Brand Is the Cornerstone of Communication

Branding is the thread that ties everything together — your website, bulletin, signage, social media, emails, even the design of your offertory envelopes and church merchandise . That’s why it’s so important to consider your branding right from the start of your website planning, instead of as an afterthought.

When you lead your communication with branding, everything that follows will feel more unified and professional. For example, when correctly branded, people won’t see your bulletin and wonder if it came from a different parish. They’ll recognize your colors, your logo, your tone, and most importantly, they’ll feel that consistency. That builds trust, and trust builds community!

How to Apply Your Brand to Your Website

So, how do you integrate your branding and make it work on your website?

Start with these basics:

Logo placement — Top left corner is standard, although it’s not a hard and fast rule. Make sure your logo is high quality and consistent!
Color palette — Use your parish brand colors consistently on backgrounds, buttons, headers, and accents.
Typography — Stick with one or two fonts that reflect your parish’s personality — not a dozen. Use the fonts in your logo if applicable.
Images — Choose photos that reflect your community and match your brand’s energy. Photos of your actual parish and parishioners are always encouraged!
Tone of Voice — Revisit your website copy and make sure it “sounds like” your parish. Many parishes have an agreed-upon “tone of voice” as part of their branding.

Need Help Keeping It All Straight?

Working with LPi for your church branding means you’ll get a brand book that gathers all of your brand decisions into one easy-to-reference guide. Then, if you use our website builder, WeConnect , we’ll design your site with your brand built in from the ground up — no guesswork, no extra work on your part!

If you’re feeling a little lost on what exactly makes up a great church brand in the first place, we created a free guide to help! Check out: “Parish Branding Made Simple: A Guide to Logos, Identity, and Mission-Driven Catholic Brand Design.”

God and Mammon

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 11:00:10 GMT

Dealing with money is unpleasant.

You might be good at dealing with money (I am not). You might even do it for a living (I do not). You might be careful to use as much of your money as you can for good purposes (I try to, but man, these skyrocketing grocery prices are killing me).

But ultimately, money does not bring out the best in us. We waste it. We manipulate it. We hoard it. We become obsessed by it. We let pursuit of it define our decisions. Money is something akin to — it corrupts by touch, it seems. But unlike witchcraft, you can’t avoid money altogether. It’s necessary. These dollars and cents keep us alive in this world, for a time. We need them for food, for warmth, for health.

Jesus’ parable of the untrustworthy steward sums up all our anxieties surrounding material wealth and the delicate balance we have to strike of caring for our physical needs while prioritizing our spiritual ones. But the parable reminds us that we can’t escape money, just like we can’t escape the world and all the barriers forged by this world between man and the happiness his Creator intends for him. We could retreat to the highest, remotest mountaintop, but the human condition would follow us there.

We would still feel doubt. We would still feel pain. We would still feel fear. We would still sin.

And we would still be hungry and cold. We would still need money.

Money will never be something that is easy to handle virtuously. But guess what? Nothing in this world is. And it’s probably best that we remember that.

©LPi

Church Branding Made Simple: A Guide to Logos, Identity, and Mission-Driven Catholic Brand Design

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 16:13:48 GMT

At LPi, we’ve had the privilege of helping hundreds of Catholic parishes across the country design logos and build custom brand identities that reflect their unique missions. Time and again, we’ve seen how a strong church brand makes it easier to build trust within the community and create an environment of love and evangelization. Whether your parish wants to launch a new visual identity or simply refresh a logo that no longer serves you, we’re here to help.

Inside This Guide, You’ll Find:

What is Branding for Churches & Why Should Parish Staff Care?

Branding isn’t just for big companies or trendy startups — it’s a vital tool for parishes, too! To put it simply, branding for churches is the story you tell your community about who you are, what you value, and how you live out your mission. Your story should show up through your font choices, colors, symbols, tone of voice, and messaging. These all play an important part in how your parish communicates visually with your community.

In “Catholic Church Branding for Beginners” we discuss how a strong, Catholic brand can create a sense of trust, recognition, and welcome for visitors and parishioners alike. It sets the tone for every interaction your parish has — from reading your bulletin and visiting your website, to seeing your signage and church merchandise .

How a Church Logo Builds Trust in Your Community

It may surprise you, but something as simple as your church logo shapes how people feel about your community. Here’s how an intentional, mission-centered design can reassure parishioners and invite newcomers into a sense of belonging.

It signals professionalism and stability.
A clean, well-designed logo communicates that your parish is organized, intentional, and serious about its mission. Just like a tidy worship space or well-run event makes people feel at ease, a cohesive visual identity sends the message: “We’re here. We care. You can count on us.”
It makes your parish recognizable and memorable.
When your logo is used consistently across your parish communications, it becomes a familiar symbol to your community. That familiarity builds confidence. It helps parishioners know they’re in the right place, and newcomers begin to associate your logo with your mission and hospitality.
It reflects who your parish is and what you value.
A mission-rooted logo and brand will visually express depth and meaning. It may evoke your connection to a patron saint, your style of worship, your diverse community, your connection to the environment, or a special type of work your parish does within your community. When your parishioners see that their parish’s visual identity reflects their story, it deepens their sense of belonging.
It creates consistency that feels safe and intentional.
When a parish’s branding is all over the place — different fonts, logos, colors, and styles in every piece of communication — it will create a subconscious sense of disorganization or even confusion among members and visitors. Consistent branding sends the message that “This is a place I can trust, a community that communicates clearly and follows through.”

Always remember, your logo is the symbol of your parish’s identity and your overall brand is a foundation for building lasting trust.

When & How to Refresh Your Church Branding and Logo Design

Your church branding and logo design should communicate your parish's mission — not stand in its way. Over time, though, even the most beloved visuals can become outdated, confusing, or disconnected from who you are today as a parish. So, how do you know when it’s time for a refresh?

Here are a few signs your logo may no longer be working for you and that it’s time for a church branding makeover :

It becomes blurry or pixelated when used online or in print.
It’s hard to read at smaller sizes (like on business cards or mobile screens).
Parishioners and visitors don’t seem to recognize it — or worse, confuse it with another parish.
Parishioners aren’t buying parish merch that features your logo/branding.
It doesn’t match your current ministries, values, or tone as a faith community.
It “looks” outdated.

It’s not uncommon to update your parish brand every once in a while. In fact, your brand should evolve with your parish! That doesn’t mean throwing everything out — sometimes a light refresh is all you need to bring your identity into alignment with your present-day mission and audience.

When you're ready to explore a redesign, LPi's design team is here to help . From initial conversation to final delivery, we work with parishes to create mission-forward designs that reflect their unique story . Our design team recently shared some examples of parish logos/brands that they loved creating to help you get inspired.

For example, take a look at this Ohio parish’s before-and-after story , and you’ll see what a difference the right branding design can make!

Best Practices for Church Logo Design

As far as best practices go, we go into depth about exactly what to avoid in your logo design in Logo Mistakes Your Church Won’t Want to Make. In summary, be sure to pay attention to these design aspects:

1. Don’t incorporate too many elements into the design. Focus on just one or two that are meaningful to your parish.

2. Replace clip art with custom designs.

3. Stick with just one or two fonts that are readable by parishioners of all ability levels.

4. Your color choices matter! Stick to two or three complementary colors that represent your brand.

5. Make sure your logo is scalable, meaning that it should be recognizable on a small business card as well as on a large banner, without looking distorted or confusing.

Every design choice, from font to color palette, should point back to your parish’s identity. By following these best practices, you can be confident that your logo will become a remembered and recognized symbol of your parish’s story.

Extending Your Brand Beyond the Logo — Where to Display Your Church Brand

A strong parish brand becomes most effective when it’s consistently visible across every touchpoint of church life. From the moment someone visits your website to when they pick up a bulletin or join a ministry event, your parish identity should feel welcoming and familiar.

To be sure that your parish brand is shining, make sure it is included in these key areas:

Print materials: bulletins, mailers, parish stationery, holiday cards, worship aids
Digital spaces: parish website, social media, and livestream overlays
On campus: signs, banners, welcome packets, event registrations
Ministry resources: retreat flyers, gifts for volunteers, and all of your church merchandise

As one of our resources on where and how to use parish logos explains, consistency is what makes a brand memorable. When parishioners see the same logo, colors, and fonts in all these places, their sense of parish unity and belonging is strengthened.

We mentioned church merch above, but it’s worth bringing up again. There are lots of fun and creative ways to extend your parish mission through custom merchandise! Consider using your logo and brand colors on everything, from coffee mugs and tote bags to apparel for volunteers and ministry teams. This kind of visibility serves as a witness of faith out in the community, too! For inspiration, explore these twenty creative merch ideas designed to share your mission.

The more your logo shows up in everyday parish life, the more it becomes a trusted symbol of your community’s identity!

Great Church Branding Examples

Sometimes the best way to come up with awesome ideas for your own church logo is to see what others have done successfully. That’s why, every year, after collaborating with parishes nationwide, our design team collects their favorite branding projects — the ones that beautifully capture the parish’s mission, faith, and community — and publishes them for other parishes to gather inspiration from. Check out some of their recent favorites.

Inspiration can also be found on our website where we showcase examples of logos that are architecture-based, illustrative, feature saints, are painterly, and more!

If you want to dive even deeper into how to develop a parish brand, check out this brand book we put together for a parish who partnered with us for their design.

Designing a new brand for your entire parish community can feel overwhelming at first, but remember — you don’t have to figure it all out alone! Partnering with LPi means you have an experienced (and friendly!) team ready to walk with you through every step, ensuring your brand reflects your faith and mission. Whether you start small or go all-in, we’re here to help you share your parish’s story with clarity and confidence.

To learn more about LPi’s parish branding options, visit our website or download our branding and logo brochure. We’d be happy to bring your vision to life!

Updated 02-11-2026

The Cross is Not Negotiable

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 10:00:25 GMT

“Holiness isn’t for wimps,” Mother Angelica famously said. “And the cross isn’t negotiable, sweetheart — it’s a requirement.”

I love Mother Angelica, and I love this quote. Following God is tough , and to do it you have to make a decision to be tough , to endure tough things — and ultimately, to love the toughness of it all, because within that struggle God meets us with mercy and salvation.

But in light of today’s readings, I think Mother Angelica would forgive me for tweaking her words a tiny bit.

Holiness is for wimps, because the cross isn’t negotiable.

When the unfaithful among the Israelites were bitten by the serpents, they were healed by looking upon the instrument of their suffering: the serpent itself, mounted on Moses’ staff. With a literary flourish that puts Homer and Shakespeare to shame, God inverts that primitive symbol. To heal us, he invites us to look upon the cross — the sacrifice which achieved our redemption.

Jesus came here to die on that cross for us. For the wimps. Because we couldn’t do it ourselves, even if we tried. We couldn’t right all of our wrongs, not if we had a million years to do it. We would keep screwing it up. We would keep failing. We’re wimps; that’s what we do.

But the cross — the cross is a magnificent invitation to something more. Divinity Himself, assuming the cloak of flesh and the weight of sin, so that when we look at the cross we might recognize ourselves. So that we might see what we have been, what we are, what we could be.

And none of it is negotiable.

©LPi

Hate is a Really Strong Word

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 10:00:10 GMT

When I was a kid, we had the Dumb Stupid Hate Chair.

It was a chair in my parents’ foyer where an offending child had to sit for five or ten minutes if they uttered the words “dumb,” “stupid” or “hate.” The rules in my house growing up were very clear. We don’t call anyone stupid. We don’t call anyone dumb. And we hate no one and nothing.

Well, today, Jesus has to sit in the Dumb Stupid Hate Chair.

For someone who talks about love so much — for whom love is a legacy and a commandment — it seems weird that in today’s Gospel Jesus is calling us to hatred. It makes us question everything we think we understand about him, about God, about discipleship.

I’ll let you guess which of the kids in my family spent the most time in the Dumb Stupid Hate Chair (Hi! It was me). But I didn’t really think my sister was stupid, and I didn’t really hate my brother. Those were just the words I used, even though they were strictly forbidden — maybe because they were strictly forbidden. They were the strongest words I knew, and you need strong words for strong feelings.

Jesus knew that hate is a really strong word. It’s a word that gets people’s attention. And I think what he wants to do today, more than anything, is get our attention. He wants to force us to consider the ways in which our attachments to this world — and even to other people — supersede our attachment to God. He wants us to radically evaluate what (and who) we love and how we love it and how much of our souls, our lives, ourselves we have let this love consume.

It’s a tough assignment, and we don’t like it. Maybe we kind of hate it. That’s okay: hate has its place. So take a seat in the chair and give it a ponder.

©LPi

Is Your Parish Website Mobile-Friendly? Here’s Why It Should Be.

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 16:27:11 GMT

The majority of visitors to your parish’s website now come from their mobile devices. It’s true! Phone and tablet website navigation now out-paces computer use. This is super important to consider when it comes to your parish’s engagement strategy because, if people can’t easily navigate your site on their smartphone, they may miss Mass times, event information, or bulletins. To continue attracting visitors and welcoming newcomers, your website must be optimized for mobile so you can meet people where they are!

If you’re already scratching your head and thinking, “Oh no, I have to learn something new again!” don’t worry! Optimizing your site for mobile doesn’t have to be difficult or confusing — especially with WeConnect , our parish website builder.

Let’s get into it!

What is Mobile Optimization and How to Check Your Parish’s Site

“Mobile optimization” simply means that your website looks and works well not only on a computer screen, but also on a smartphone and tablet screen. Every website today needs to be optimized for mobile use.

To do a quick check to see if your parish website works well on a smartphone, simply grab your own phone, open your internet browser, and type in your web address. Once your parish’s website is open, view it with a discerning eye. Consider the following:

Is the menu easy to find and navigate?
Are the menu buttons big enough to easily click with your fingers without accidentally clicking the wrong ones?
Have your text boxes and images scaled correctly on your pages to look good on your mobile view, or are they disjointed and out of place, or, in the case of images, too large?
Do any of your webpage’s elements look out of place or cut off?
Are there any other problems that make your site look “off”?

Take note of what the problems are and then repeat this exercise using a tablet. It’s a good idea to try it on a few different types of phones and tablets, too. For example, you might look at your site on an Apple product and then again on an Android product.

Once you have done this, you will have a better idea of what needs to change in your original design in order to optimize your site properly for mobile visitors.

Why Mobile Optimization for Your Website Matters

If your website looks polished on a computer but disjointed or messy on a phone or tablet, you may miss out on reaching a significant demographic of people with your message. In fact, you can also miss out on computer searches by having a website that isn’t optimized for mobile, because search engines like Google often prioritize mobile-friendly sites in their rankings — no matter where the search is being made from!

Consider this: when Catholics travel or move to a new home, they often start with an internet search to find a local parish. It’s common for a faithful Catholic to pull out their phone and search, “Catholic parishes near me,” or simply search for Catholic churches on a map application. Either way, their next step would likely be to click on the parish’s website. If your site isn’t ready for mobile visitors, the sad truth is that these folks might move on to the next church whose website is easier to navigate on mobile.

Don’t forget: mobile-friendly sites help ensure quick and easy access to:

Mass times
Event details
Contact info
Online giving or bulletin links
Directions to your parish
Ministry & sacramental info
Resources someone might need

The Pitfalls of Desktop-Only Design

Some common issues that come up for people trying to navigate a website that isn’t optimized for mobile are:

Images that scroll off-screen or are in the wrong location
Tiny fonts or overlapping text
Buttons and links out of place or hard to tap with a finger
Menus that don’t show all options or are hard to find/navigate
Tables within a website (sometimes used for Mass schedules, etc.) that are difficult to see or don’t scale correctly
Embedded animations designed for a horizontal screen that may not look the same on a vertical one

To avoid these problems, every one of your website’s pages must be intentionally designed to serve both desktop and mobile visitors.

How WeConnect Makes It Easy

Church staff who use WeConnect to build and maintain their websites know that LPi’s powerful website-building platform automatically adjusts content they put on their pages to work for different screen sizes. WeConnect also includes tools like easy drag-and-drop design, multilingual options, mobile previews for both phone and tablet views, and templates that accommodate all of the above!

WeConnects powerful features make it easy to have a completely customized and mobile-friendly website that invites and supports your parish community without advanced coding skills. On top of that, a live WeConnect customer support team that is always ready to help as needed!

Tips for Mobile Website Success

To be totally sure that your website is ready for its mobile moment in the spotlight, consider the following:

Keep your content to the point. Short paragraphs and bullet points work best for home pages and landing pages.
Use fonts and font sizes that are easy to read on a mobile screen.
Test your tables, images, and buttons on a phone before publishing.
Include important links (Mass times, bulletins, online giving) before diving into paragraphs of text.
Make buttons big enough to tap!
Be sure your menu is collapsible and easy to reopen. This is best shown by 3 stacked horizontal lines in either the top left or top right of your mobile site.

If you haven’t reviewed your own website on your mobile phone and tablet, that’s the best place to start. Take note of what looks great and what needs to be fixed. If your website platform doesn’t offer a mobile preview option, consider switching to the powerful, easy-to-use WeConnect. Attend one of our free online demos to see how easy it is to create a mobile-friendly website for your parish.

What Did You Expect?

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 11:00:12 GMT

Moms have a lot of jobs, and it’s usually the case that none of them pay very well.

My work as a chef? Zero compensation, and my clientele are very rarely pleased with my efforts. My role as a teacher, a maid, a chauffeur, a therapist — same deal. Ironically, these jobs consume so much of my time that I am constricted in my work as a writer — the only sphere where I do actually garner any earnings.

It is so easy to grumble about all of this, and I do it all the time. Because despite the fact that I know better, I expect repayment for my good deeds. Deep in my soul, I expect it.

That’s a huge problem.

In my defense, I don’t think this is a very uncommon thing. I think, if we’re being really honest, we all expect “payment” for being a good person. We want God to give us what we ask. We want people to treat us a certain way. We want our day to go smoothly. We expect these things as a matter of course; we feel entitled to them, and we become grumpy when we are denied them. I worked so hard. I gave so much. What was it all even for?

But what if we expected absolutely nothing?

When you hold a banquet, Jesus said, invite those who cannot return the favor. Give not just without the expectation of repayment, but without the possibility of it.

Think about that for a minute. What does that even look like — no possibility of payment?

I know what that looks like in my own life. It’s giving more to the literal poor, yes, but it’s also giving more — and more happily, more lovingly — when I cook and clean and drive and write and console. It’s not lamenting that no one appreciates me — it’s actually hoping no one does.

It’s learning to love the lowest place at the table. Because in the lowest place, we are closest to God.

©LPi

Catholic Church Bulletins 101: Everything You Need to Know

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 14:38:21 GMT

Weekly parish bulletins remain the most trusted and sought after source of parish communication for Catholics. Week after week, bulletins hold space for everything from Mass intentions and ministry updates, to notes from the pastor and faith formation information, and coloring pages for children. Anyone involved in compiling the bulletin knows that it’s not just a quick, thrown-together printout — rather, it’s a carefully curated publication and the pulse of parish life. The bulletin is often the first communication people see from your parish when they visit and the last touch point of your community after they leave Mass.

Contrary to what some might assume, even with the availability of digital parish bulletins sent through email or hosted on a parish website through tools like Parishes Online , the popularity of actual printed bulletins is not losing ground — it’s gaining it! Recent research confirms that well-designed, content-rich parish bulletins are still being eagerly picked up and taken home after Mass. Parishes with well-executed designs are seeing their bulletins going home with families week after week and their parishioners are engaging with the content inside. Why? Because a physical bulletin fosters belonging. It provides a tangible connection to the community and delivers exclusive, relevant content that parishioners value.

In This Guide:

Trends & Insights: How Church Bulletins Are Evolving

If you think church bulletins haven’t changed much in the past couple decades, think again! Today’s bulletins are evolving in ways that blend timeless mission with modern communication strategy. The shift isn’t just visual. Across the country, parishes are embracing new design standards, enhanced content tactics, and even strategic branding efforts to ensure their bulletins resonate.

In fact, research confirms that bulletins remain one of the most-read parish communications, even among those who don’t attend Mass weekly. To remain relevant, however, bulletins are breaking free from the myth that they’re just “a list of announcements.” Smart parishes are introducing Gospel reflections, ministry recaps, parishioner spotlights, and even original Catholic comics ! Successful bulletins include content that teaches, inspires, and evangelizes. It’s not uncommon to see pastors using the bulletin to share catechesis, extend hospitality, or even highlight parish wins in engaging new ways. See a full list of bulletin content ideas here.

Design matters. Parishioners are surrounded every day by professional-looking communications — whether from schools, civics organizations, community newsletters, or even advertisements. They’re accustomed to well-designed, visually appealing publications. For this reason, it’s beyond important that your parish bulletin’s layout, graphics, and images don’t fall short.

Clean, two-or three-column layouts, intentional use of color and space, and refreshed mastheads are just the beginning. Successful parishes are also realizing the importance of implementing consistent fonts and color palettes into their bulletins that align with their websites and signage, establishing a unified parish brand that helps build trust and recognition . This intentionality helps both members and visitors feel at home and connected from their first glance.

The takeaway? Church bulletin trends aren’t about style for style’s sake — they’re about mission and impact. A well-designed bulletin helps you connect with your community using print and digital tools that feel modern, welcoming, and distinctly Catholic. Done well, this strengthens relationships with both new and established parishioners.

To dive deeper into recent trends that our staff designers are encountering and why they work for parishes, check out our article Catholic Church Bulletin Trends We’re Seeing in 2025 .

For some visual examples of gorgeous layouts that work, head over to Effective Church Bulletin Designs we LOVE!

Design Strategies for Eye-Catching Church Bulletin Covers

A strong church bulletin cover design should reflect your parish’s unique character while staying rooted in Catholic identity. More and more parishes today are updating their covers to highlight the beauty of the liturgical season or to feature original Catholic artwork connected to the week’s Gospel. Others are incorporating photos of parish life, symbols of the saints, or custom branding elements — discovering just how powerful that first impression can be.

If you’re looking for fresh Catholic bulletin cover ideas , it helps to step back and ask: What does our cover say about our parish? Is it warm? Does it inspire reflection? Is it clear and well-organized?

Here are a few parish bulletin cover tips to keep in mind:

Keep it simple. Avoid clutter and choose one strong image or visual theme per week.

Highlight the liturgy. Showcase the Sunday Gospel theme, saint feast day, or a special liturgical event happening that week.

Use high-quality images. Blurry or low-resolution art distracts more than it communicates.

Include your parish brand. Use consistent fonts, colors, and your parish logo when possible.

Rotate designs. Don’t be afraid to update your covers seasonally or monthly to keep things fresh.

Test and ask. Ask staff or volunteers which covers resonate most with them — you may find unexpected favorites!

Read our full list of tips here.

Creative Inspiration and Free Church Bulletin Design Resources

Designing a beautiful, mission-centered parish bulletin is easier when you don’t have to start from scratch. Parish bulletin editors spend hours and hours on their publications, so we’re happy to say that in addition to helping your message land, the right creative resources can also save time. In this section, we’ll explore three types of stock content every bulletin editor should have in their toolkit: graphics , stock photos , and written content . To find them all in one place, it's important to subscribe to an effective Catholic content libarary. Libraries like LPi's WeCreate gather all of the following into one place so bulletin editors can have beautiful design and professionally written content all at their fingertips.

Graphics:
Spending time designing images to illustrate your bulletin takes specialized design expertise and often countless hours of time. With stock graphics, editors simply choose a pre-designed graphic for, say, a liturgical holiday like Pentecost, and then use it to support their bulletin content. Stock graphics often include a variety of image sizes and “flavors” of designs (like modern, traditional, black and white, or color, etc.) for editors to pick and choose from to better illustrate their parish’s feel and focus.
Stock Photos:
It might seem a little strange at first to use a photo of another parish or someone who isn’t specifically a part of your community inside your bulletin. But, when you don’t have access to a collection of images taken at your church , it’s better to use something as a visual rather than nothing at all. Stock photos can be a HUGE lifesaver when your goal is to create a bulletin that feels welcoming and illustrates a lively community.
Written Content:
It happens all the time – there’s a hole inside one of the bulletin pages that needs something to fill the space, but you don’t have anything for it. That’s when stock content comes in SUPER handy. Great Catholic content libraries like WeCreate offer short- and long-form written content for your bulletin. Scripture reflections, Catholic trivia, saint biographies and prayers, stock content can make your bulletin shine. Many parishes even feature liturgical stock content like reflections based on that week’s Gospel in every single bulletin. Bonus if they pair it with a stock graphic with the same message!

If you're not sure where to begin with Catholic stock content, or feel stuck with so many choices, WeCreate offers all of the above (and more!) for parishes ready to create the best bulletin possible. Every asset inside of WeCreate is searchable and easy to drop directly into your bulletin to both improve your visuals and save you time.

Want a sneak peek at what WeCreate has to offer? We feature free art every month on our website for parishes to make use of — on us! It will give you a glimpse of what’s inside WeCreate’s vast catalogue of content should you decide to subscribe.

Practical Tips to Improve Your Bulletin’s Impact

In order to have lasting impact, your weekly bulletin needs to be more than just designed well . A bulletin that’s thoughtfully written and reader-focused will reflect your parish identity and even draw those who might be on the margins of parish life deeper into community. In this section, discover simple, effective tips to ensure that your bulletin is working hard, not just filling space.

Lead with the essentials. Mass times, contact info, and urgent news should always be front and center. Put these things on the first page or even on the cover!
Use consistent section headers. This helps regular readers find what they’re looking for quickly and ensures nothing important gets skipped. For example, if you always have youth ministry news, make sure that content is always in the same location in the bulletin, so parishioners know exactly where to look for what matters most to them!

Only use the best art and graphics. Make sure you are applying your awesome art and graphics in the best ways to inspire the attention of your readers. Learn to creatively incorporate design best practices so your bulletin stays fresh and as readable as possible.
Always include a digital option. LPi has quick and easy digital options for parish bulletin editors to use through Parishes Online . There is even a set-and-forget bulletin widget available so a parish can display their digital bulletin on their parish website and it automatically updates with their most current bulletin every week! Don’t forget to share the link to your digital bulletin in other places, too. Post the link to your social media and email it directly to your parishioners so it’s always easy to find.
Remember your audience. Your readers will be different ages and have different interests and abilities. Make sure you include a little something for everyone . Consider including some children’s pages in your bulletin, too.
Remember the occasion. Is your bulletin for Mass during ordinary time, or is it going out to a larger Christmas or Easter holiday crowd packed with visitors? For holiday bulletins, you might consider a slightly different approach than what you do for your regular Mass attendees.

Want to see what’s working in other communities? We’ve rounded up bulletin designs we love and simple swaps that can instantly elevate your layout.

How to Get a Free (Ad-Supported) Bulletin from LPi

Parishes that partner with LPi gain access to a wide range of tools for their weekly bulletin, including a no-cost bulletin publication for parishioners. Thanks to our ad-supported system, we connect your parish with local businesses and organizations that sponsor your bulletin. Their support covers the cost, so your parish receives its most valuable communication tool for free!

Other perks of publishing and printing with LPi include:

A complimentary custom bulletin template designed by our expert multimedia team. Check out some examples here.

· FREE access to WeCreate, our extensive library of Catholic graphics, articles, reflections, social media resources, and weekly bulletin content for your staff members. We update WeCreate with new content monthly based on liturgical celebrations and happenings in daily parish life.
High-Resolution digital copies of your bulletins are uploaded by you and published and delivered by us to the Parishes Online directory . Link to your parish bulletin on your website, via email, in your social media, even through text! We also store your bulletins from past weeks for easy access.

Real human customer service interactions . When you call LPi, you will always talk to an actual person, not an automation, who cares about your mission. Our customer service team works with awesome parishes across the country just like yours by assisting them with their communication questions and needs.

We know you’re passionate about making your parish bulletin the best it can be! Every improved layout, thoughtful content, and beautiful image you add to it is a new opportunity to connect with and build a stronger Catholic community. Never forget, bulletin editor, that the work you’re doing is sacred and essential. It can feel tedious at times but the weekly bulletin you create is indispensable for your community. Keep up the great work! Your parish is lucky to have you!

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For more resources, or to join the thousands of parishes who already partner with LPi for their print and digital bulletins, visit 4LPi.com/church-bulletins.

To browse more articles about bulletin design, publishing tips, and more, visit the “Church Bulletins” section of our blog.

Updated 02-11-2026

Heaven and Regina George

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 11:00:17 GMT

There are certain phrases that serve as a kind of shibboleth for millennials, a dog whistle that only ears formed between 1981 and 1996 can discern. “You can’t sit with us!” is one of those phrases.

It’s from the movie Mean Girls , (which, I hear from my younger family members, has now become cool with the kids again, so maybe my point about it being niche is incorrect). The character Regina George, merciless ruler of the cool kids, is rejected from the ultra-exclusive lunch table she herself formed when her minions, tired of her cruelty, serve her the most devastating words a teenager can hear in public: “You can’t sit with us.”

So passes earthly glory, as they say.

At first blush, this Gospel gives “Mean Girls” vibes. We have an image of the unlucky masses clamoring for entry into the kingdom of heaven as God locks the door against them, saying, “I do not know where you are from.”

Very “you-can’t-sit-with-us.”

But we need to remember that the people pounding on the door of heaven in today’s Gospel aren’t people who wanted a seat at God’s lunch table — at least, not until it was the only lunch table left, because they had Regina George’d their way out of all the other ones.

Jesus’ whole thing was that you can sit with us, whoever you are, wherever you’re from and whatever you’ve done. But there are a lot of lunch tables in the world, and not everyone wants to be at one with rules like “repent” and “be good to that person you really don’t like.” It’s not always an easy table to sit at, especially when there are so many other options.

We have to choose heaven before heaven becomes our only choice.

©LPi

The Fire

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 11:00:06 GMT

This past week I have been reading a biography of St. Francis of Assisi. I admit I didn’t know much about Francis going into the book, but I always had this image of him as a hippie — an easygoing nature-lover who sang about peace and let animals climb on him.

I’m not sure where that caricature of Francis came from, but since I’ve been reading this book I’ve come to see that it’s not true at all. He was a lover of nature, yes. A poet who sang of God’s peace, yes. And I’m sure he let a few animals climb on him from time to time (he did live in a hut in the woods).

But St. Francis of Assisi wasn’t the lost fourth member of Peter, Paul and Mary. He was a man on fire. He was a man burning.

Francis walked around barefoot and slept on the ground. He abandoned a life of wealth to embrace the material poverty that Christ experienced. He embarrassed his family and they disowned him. When his father would encounter Francis in the streets of Assisi, he would curse him.

Sometimes we get this idea that Christianity is a comfortable, cozy thing. We give our lives to Christ, and we expect to feel instantly satisfied, happy, safe and warm. But the saints knew better.

The saints knew that Christ had not come to wrap us in a warm blanket. Christ has come to set us on fire. And though fire is often seen as a sign of death and destruction, it is also the precursor of new life.

Think of a field of native plants and how it benefits so richly from a controlled burn — an action that clears away detritus and releases nutrients back into the soil.

If we let Christ set fire to our lives, what would that fire burn away? What dead and festering undergrowth in our souls would be consumed by the flames? What promise of future holiness would sprout from beneath the ashes?

©LPi

Are You Talking To Me?

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 13:30:00 GMT

Last summer I was at the National Eucharistic Congress when Fr. Mike Schmitz delivered an impassioned call to repentance in his keynote address during an evening revival session. The crowd received his message with great enthusiasm. Their applause and the cheers shook the Lucas Oil Stadium.

The next night, Sr. Josephine Garrett took the stage and, in her address, got into the nitty-gritty of what it means to be a disciple, what it means to live repentance — or, as she so beautifully put it, to embrace the hunger.

And in doing so, she called back to the previous night’s thunderous approval of Fr. Mike’s message.

“When I heard you clapping when Father said we need repentance, I was worried you thought he was talking about your neighbor’s repentance,” she said. “He is not.”

In other words: he’s talking about your repentance.

We all love a message about The Right Thing To Do. We all love when a priest or a nun or any Catholic with a microphone gets up and talks about the truth. We rise to our feet and applaud.

And then, too often, we take a deep breath and walk to our car and forget all about it — because we think they were talking to someone else. You know…the others. The ones who need to hear it. The ones who aren’t being vigilant.

In today’s Gospel, Peter asks Jesus, “Is this parable [of the absent master] meant for us, or for everyone?” (Luke 12:41). And Jesus answers him with a question. In so many words, he says this: “Do you want it to be for you? Are you ready to hear it?”

Whoever we are. Wherever we’re from. Whatever our life looks like. However we pray. He’s talking to us.

Are we ready to hear him?

©LPi

10 Best Practices for Church Websites

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 18:20:36 GMT

At LPi, we partner with Catholic churches across the country to create professional websites for their parish's online presence. Through this work, we've collected the best practices we think every parish staff should know when creating and maintaining a their church website.

Inside This Guide You'll Find:

Why Your Church Website Matters

1. Know Your Audience Before You Design Your Church Website

2. Your Parish Logo and Branding Matter for Your Church Website

3. Church Homepage Strategy: Make it Welcoming, Make it Clear

4. Keep it Updated: Timely Updates, Seasonal Readiness, and Landing Pages for Church Websites

5. Simplify Church Signups and Stewardship With Downloadable Content and Digital Giving

6. Have a Catholic School Connected? You Need a Church Website That Serves Both

7. Useful Web Integrations: Features That Keep Your Parish Website Fresh with Less Work

8. More Church Website Time-Saving Tools

9. Think Like a Web Designer — Even if You Aren’t One

10. How to Find the Best Church Website Builder and Get it For Free!

Why Your Church Website Matters

Your church’s website is often the first impression someone will have of your parish. As one of your most important ministry tools, your website should reflect your mission, extend hospitality to visitors, and serve as an easy-to-navigate bridge between your parish and the people you are called to reach.

Your parish website:

Is the digital front door of your parish. Most people will visit your website before ever stepping into your church. It sets the tone for your community’s hospitality.

Serves your existing parishioners. A well-maintained site keeps your community informed, connected, and engaged with parish life.

Is a home for seekers and the curious. Many people exploring their faith or returning to the Church begin their journey online. Your thoughtful website will help guide them to your community and into a deeper relationship with God.

Simplifies communication and supports your mission. From promoting sacramental prep to sharing Mass times, sign-ups, and ministry information that invite deeper discipleship, your website should reflect and amplify your mission. This makes it easy for website visitors to find the valuable resources they are looking for.

Enables stewardship. Tools for online giving make it easy for parishioners to support the parish.

Builds ongoing trust. Your clearly branded, functional, well-designed, and regularly updated website reflects a parish that’s vibrant, active, and committed to its members.

In this guide of best practices for parish websites, we’ll walk through the essential strategies that help parishes create and maintain a website that truly serves not only today’s needs, but grows with your parish into the future.

1. Know Your Audience Before You Design Your Church Website

Before you choose colors, fonts, or layouts, take time to consider who your website is really designed for. A successful parish website doesn’t serve a general, public-type of audience — it serves your people. This includes longtime parishioners, visiting families, parents of Catholic school students, young adults searching for answers, and those returning to the Church after time away. Each group will bring unique needs and expectations to your digital front door.

To build a website that genuinely serves your community’s needs, it’s essential to first identify your key user groups. Are most visitors looking for Mass times? Do families need quick access to calendars and bulletins? Are you making newcomers feel welcomed and informed? Start by exploring how to identify your parish’s unique web audience and then build your site content strategy around giving them what they want . Understanding your primary audience(s) should shape everything — from your homepage layout to your navigation menu.

Equally important is knowing what people are searching for that leads them to land on your website. Research has shown that visitors are known to quickly scan a website for a few key info items upon visiting it for the first time: Mass times, parish location, and staff contact information, to name a few. If these search items aren’t clearly visible and easy to access on your website, you may miss a chance for connection. For a deeper dive into this type of user behavior, check out The First Things Visitors Look for on Catholic Church Websites.

2. Your Parish Logo and Branding Matter for Your Church Website

Before visitors read a word of content or click a single link on your site, they’re forming an impression just by simply looking at your homepage. It’s in your best interest to fully control and shape that initial impression, and the best way to do that is for your parish brand to be the unifying aspect of your website design. Remember, a strong visual brand identity isn’t just about logos and colors.

A strong brand communicates:

who you are
what you value
and whether or not someone can trust you

Good branding helps your website feel familiar to your community. Having a professional parish brand also goes a long way toward helping people TRUST your parish. Above and beyond your website, your parish brand also brings cohesion to your homepage, bulletin, signage, stationery, social media, church swag like t-shirts and hats, and more!

Even the most beautiful website can feel disjointed or forgettable without a clear, cohesive brand. That’s why branding should always come before (or at least alongside) the actual web design portion of your website process. Why? Because your brand should influence everything about your website design — from your font choices and color palette to the tone of your images and the design of your call-to-action buttons.

If you’re starting from scratch with your logo and branding, or need a brand refresh, LPi offers professional branding services for Catholic parishes , including custom logo design and complete identity packages that pair perfectly with your church’s website. LPi will equip you with a custom logo, a brand book to reference all of your font and color choices, and the option to continue with our web design team to help you seamlessly integrate your parish brand into your website with our easy-to-use website builder, WeConnect.

3. Church Homepage Strategy: Make it Welcoming, Make it Clear

Okay, let’s get into the meat of it and talk about the first page you will likely need to design: your homepage. This page is your most important because it’s the one that visitors will judge upon first coming to your parish’s online home. In just a few seconds, visitors will decide whether to stay and explore — or leave. What they see (or don’t see) on your homepage shapes that decision.

A strong homepage blends beauty with clarity. It should be visually inviting, easy to navigate, and clearly reflect the identity of your parish community. It serves as your central hub. It’s the one place where every type of visitor (from longtime parishioners to first-time seekers) will find their next step.

In 4 Tips to Make Your Church’s Homepage More Inviting , we walk through several key design strategies in depth:

Use a clear call to action. What’s the one thing you want a visitor to do next? Learn about your parish? Find Mass times? Donate? Make it obvious and easy for them.

Feature real photos of your community. Stock images can feel inauthentic. When visitors see your members and your sanctuary, they get a sense of belonging. Even cell phone photos can work to convey the warmth and authenticity of your community across.

Avoid overwhelming your page. Keep it simple. Too many banners, pop-ups, or competing messages will confuse rather than inform your visitors.

Make site/menu navigation intuitive. If someone must search too hard to find your bulletin or your staff contact page, they’ll likely give up. Use clear labels and a logical menu structure.
Follow basic SEO best practices. Search engine optimization or, SEO, doesn't have to be a mystery. To help, we collected the easiest church website SEO tips all in one spot. Don't skip this tip!

Most importantly, let your homepage reflect the personality of your parish. If your church is known for joyful worship, family ministry, or social outreach, these things should be apparent just by glancing at your homepage. An intentionally designed homepage sets the tone for the entire site and helps each visitor feel at home right away.

4. Keep It Updated: Timely Updates, Seasonal Readiness and Landing Pages for Church Websites

A great parish website is a living resource that should reflect the rhythms of the liturgical year and the life of your parish. Keeping your content up to date not only builds trust with your community, but also shows that your parish is active and responsive.

Consider creating a simple content calendar to guide website updates throughout the year. Include updates around feast days and the liturgical seasons, parish events, and faith formation/sacramental prep.

Updates like:

Timely homepage banners for Advent, Lent, Easter, or special Masses that make your site feel vibrant and relevant while also sharing important information.

Landing pages for parish retreats, festivals, or registration drives. Landing pages allow you to create a space with all the relevant information in one place and link to it from your homepage. This makes it easy for visitors to engage without having to dig through menus or endlessly scroll.

Your current bulletin should always be available for download in a digital format on your website. Scroll down to best practice #7 for more information on how to use a self-updating web integration to always keep your bulletin current!

As shared in our checklist to get your church website ready for Easter visitors , the time is always right to prepare seasonal messaging, publish your Mass schedule clearly, and even include helpful notes for first-time guests about attending special events.

5. Simplify Church Signups and Stewardship With Downloadable Content and Digital Giving

It may seem surprising, but after working with hundreds of parishes across the country to create custom Catholic websites, we know it to be true: Many parishes still don’t offer online sign-up options for programs like faith formation, sacramental prep, family parish registration, or even retreats! Many churches also don’t offer any form of online giving option for parishioners. This is a missed opportunity not just from a convenience standpoint — it’s a missed opportunity from a ministry one.

Today’s parishioners expect easy, digital access to whatever they need. Our society already has access to resources like this in almost every other part of our lives. Schools, government resources, healthcare, housing utilities, you get the idea — all have access to fill out forms and make payments online, including directly from our cellphones.

Your website should make it easy for people to connect — not frustrating. One of the best things to make participating in the life of the parish easy is to include digital options for registration, payments, and giving, right on your website.

Downloadable forms like PDF registrations or event flyers are a good starting point. Better still, though, is offering digital submissions directly on your site. A contact form for baptismal inquiries, an embedded faith formation registration, or a quick signup for ministry volunteers can make a world of difference for staff and parishioners alike.

The same is true for online giving. Whether through your diocesan platform or a third-party provider, a secure, easy-to-use giving option helps support stewardship and parish sustainability. Especially during times when people may not be able to attend Mass in person — for example, due to illness or travel — digital giving options keep parishioners connected and contributing.

6. Have a Catholic School Connected? You Need a Church Website That Serves Both

If your parish has a Catholic school, your website should clearly reflect that connection. Too often, we see connected parishes and schools operating as two digital silos. They have separate menus, conflicting design styles, or even entirely different website designs that leave visitors confused.

Whether your parish and school share one homepage or operate from two distinct (but visually aligned) subsites, the key is clear navigation and consistent branding throughout. A well-integrated site (or sites) strengthens the identity of both communities. Site continuity between the parish’s and school’s online identities provides clarity for parents, staff, and parishioners while streamlining communication across ministries.

In The Ultimate Website Checklist for Parishes with Schools , we walk through smart integration strategies, such as:

Unified branding that makes it clear the school is part of your parish mission.

Dedicated space on the site for school-specific content: admissions, calendars, staff lists, etc.

Shared event promotion for major fundraisers, holy days, and family activities.

Intuitive navigation. Visitors should be able to easily navigate between parish and school content with minimal clicks. Even if this means switching from a parish website to a different school website.

LPi regularly partners with parishes that operate schools, and our website design team knows how to build digital experiences that honor both identities, all while creating a sense of unity. Whether it’s a single site with two audiences, or two sites with a common brand, we’ll help you build something that works for the whole community!

7. Useful Web Integrations: Features That Keep Your Parish Website Fresh with Less Work

A web integration, sometimes called a widget, is a simple way to connect your website to tools or services you already use. Instead of updating the same information in multiple places, an integration allows you to enter it once (such as sharing a photo to Instagram), and the content will automatically appear on your website. This means fewer manual updates for your webmaster, fewer mistakes, and a website that stays current without extra effort!

We love a good web integration because it makes your site more functional and helps it stay fresh, relevant, and welcoming with minimal maintenance from your team.

For Catholic parish websites, some of the most useful integrations include:

Bulletin widgets for easy, direct access to your most recent bulletin.

Event calendars that sync with parish planning tools.

Fillable forms for sign-ups, prayer requests, or inquiries.

Online giving platforms that allow secure, recurring donations.

Social media widgets to easily direct people who want to connect with your parish through social platforms.

LPi’s WeConnect platform offers streamlined integration with tools parishes already use without needing outside developers or plugins. Our goal is to make your website more effective with less effort, ensuring you’re supporting your community without overwhelming them with unnecessary tech.

8. More Church Website Time-Saving Tools

Keeping a parish website current and engaging doesn’t have to fall solely on one person or require hours of weekly upkeep and graphic design. With the right content creation tools in place, you can save time and reduce stress.

One of the biggest time-savers? A reliable content library. Having access to ready-made, mission-aligned art, web banners, and graphics that you can download and use as your own on your parish site means you’re not scrambling for images or wondering about copyright law. Seasonal imagery for Lent, Advent, holy days, and graphics for parish events can be easily found and queued up in advance so your homepage always looks professional.

WeCreate is one example of an extensive Catholic content library built specifically for parishes. It includes thousands of graphics, photos, web banners, templates, and more — all custom-designed and curated with Catholicism and the life of a parish top of mind. New liturgical content is uploaded every single month!

If you’re looking for a simple place to start, WeCreate offers this free collection of Catholic art as a great resource to explore if you don’t have a subscription to the full library just yet.

9. Think Like a Web Designer — Even if You Aren’t One

You don’t need to be a professional designer to build a great parish website, but you do need to think like one. That means prioritizing clarity, consistency, and user experience from the very beginning. Whether you're refreshing an existing site or starting from scratch, it’s worth understanding what separates a functional church website from a truly effective one.

Start with the Right Questions
Great design begins with intention. While creating your perfect design, it’s helpful to explore the kinds of questions that professional designers use to guide the process — like those in this behind-the-scenes look at what web designers ask parish staff. Questions about mission, audience, priorities, and staff capacity all shape what your final website will look like and what it accomplishes.

Optimize for Mobile
Some studies suggest that as many as 60% of visitors to your website are accessing it using mobile devices. For this reason, all your pages, most especially your homepage, must be optimized to look good on cell phones and other mobile devices!

Prioritize Purpose Over Trends
Not every design trend serves your parish’s mission. Explore six parish website trends our team considers worthwhile, like simplified navigation and authentic imagery, and see which ones to skip. A beautiful site means nothing if the design confuses visitors or obscures essential information such as Mass times or contact forms.

Make a Mood Board Together
One way to ensure visual consistency, especially if you have more than one staff member regularly working to update your website, is through a mood board. A website mood board is a curated collection of colors, images, fonts, and design ideas that inform how you want your website to look, feel, and work. It should incorporate your brand and other ideas you have for your online identity. If you’ve never built one before, this step-by-step mood board guide is a great place to start.
Get Inspired by What Works (and What Doesn’t)
Sometimes the best way to move forward is to see how others have done it well. Our design team rounded up some of their favorite church websites with examples that balance beauty with function, and reflect the unique character of each parish. Whether you’re aiming for traditional, family-friendly, modern, or minimalist designs, there’s something to learn from every example.

Also key : knowing what not to do. Avoid image pitfalls with our visual “this, not that” breakdown for parish websites, which highlights common mistakes such as blurry uploads, awkward cropping, or inconsistent tones.

10. How to Find the Best Church Website Builder and Get it For Free!

Designing a website that properly reflects and works for your parish is a big task, but remember: You don’t have to do it alone! LPi’s WeConnect platform is supported by real designers, friendly customer service, and a team that understands the needs of Catholic parishes.

The best part, though? Catholic parishes that use WeConnect are paired with a sponsor who supports their mission — covering the full cost of the website and making it completely free for the parish .

Learn how to get started with a sponsored Catholic WeConnect website today.

Congratulations on your parish website endeavors! Use this guide to start conversations with your team, assess where you are in your web design process, prioritize what matters most, or update what you’ve already got. When you're ready, LPi is here to further assist you.

Still craving more ideas and inspiration? Browse the web and social media section of our blog for practical tips, creative insights, and real parish examples that can help you take your next step toward website mastery!

Updated 02-11-2026

The Barn

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 16:38:33 GMT

It’s 9:08 on a Saturday morning, and I am too darn busy for confession.

I’ve probably written before about how hard I find it to get to confession — I say ‘probably’ because I really can’t remember. I whine about it so frequently that it’s hard to tell if I’ve made it the subject of a written piece or if it is simply an oft-recited refrain from the Litany of Colleen’s Perpetual Complaints.

During the week, it’s tough to get to confession because I have little kids who are attached to me like Velcro, and I don’t need them listening in on (and eventually repeating to everyone) my sins. On the weekend it’s a little easier, but our parish doesn’t offer it before or after Sunday Mass, just on Saturdays. Saturday is when I get most of my work done, so getting absolution usually comes at the expense of productivity.

And that, friends, right here, is my barn. Productivity. That’s the proverbial storehouse of my earthly harvest. For the rich man in the parable, it’s a literal barn, filled to bursting with sellable crops. For you it might be money or your job title or what your life looks like to other people on social media. For me, it’s Getting Things Done. That’s my barn, the repository that holds the whole of my worldly preoccupations.

And it’s so full I want to tear it down and build a new one. A bigger one. One that can hold more worry, more time for work, more focus on output and crossing things off a to-do list. Vanity of vanities, indeed.

If I die tonight, the deadlines will go unmet, and no one will even notice. But God, when He meets me in the world to come, will surely ask me why I couldn’t take 45 minutes to accept a gift He tried again and again to give me.

I have to burn the barn, friends. I don’t want to, but I have to. I’m closing my laptop and going to church.

©LPi

How to Handle Negative Comments on Your Parish’s Social Media Posts

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 14:35:44 GMT

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…”

“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.

From Criticism to Connection: How One Negative Google Review Became a Parish Success Story

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 14:00:05 GMT

I worked for several years at a lovely, moderately sized neighborhood parish as the director of youth ministries. I would describe our church as super welcoming — great for young families and teens, engaging, and becoming increasingly diverse in our population as our surrounding neighborhoods grew. Although St. Peter had once been a parish situated in a very rural area 50 years ago, it had become a busy suburban parish, with a brand-new public grade school built across the street to boot! We were proud to be so family-friendly!

One day, one of our parish staff members was looking at our church’s Google reviews and noticed that the most recent review was a very negative one. The reviewer mentioned a disheartening interaction they had recently with one of our parishioners. They wrote about how badly they had been treated by this parishioner while attending Mass there for the first time with their three young children. They went on to explain that one of their children was disabled and that it’s already challenging for them to bring all three kids to Mass. Having this negative interaction with a member of our parish during their visit made them feel awful. They were frustrated and hurt.

Our staff was shocked. The collective embarrassment was palpable when we discussed the review. We didn’t have an official policy on how to manage bad reviews, so we decided to gather as a staff to figure out the best way to respond.

During our meeting, it came to light that the offending parishioner was a known troublemaker. Although I didn’t know him personally, this situation apparently wasn’t the first time he’d been at the center of a problem with another parishioner. As he was part of one of the liturgical teams, the staff member in charge of those teams was appointed to address him. I was tasked with handling the response to the review.

Why me? Well, since the person who left the comment had children whose ages would place them in my ministry area (middle school and high school), it was decided that I would be the best person to reach out to her. My hope was to meet her in person and address the very valid concerns she brought up in her Google review and see how we, as a parish, could potentially make it up to her and her family.

I was a little nervous, but I sent her a message. Surprisingly, she immediately responded and accepted my offer to grab a cup of coffee together. Little did I know at the time how much my soon-to-be-friend Marcy would positively impact me and our parish!

During our coffee meeting, Marcy told me everything about the incident and how horrible it felt to encounter someone in a church setting who was so abrasive and unwelcoming to her and her family. In short, the trouble-making parishioner was annoyed at the family who was settling down before Mass and sitting in what he deemed to be his own personal pew. Lots of “you can’t sit with us” energy — that type of thing. I came equipped with the knowledge that this was not his first offense and was able to share with her what steps the staff was taking to ensure something like that didn’t happen again. I thanked her for writing the review and bringing it to our attention because we “really, really did not want anyone to ever experience anything like that.” Without her review, we wouldn’t have known otherwise.

The entire vibe and feeling of the coffee meetup between Marcy and me relaxed after this. We comfortably chatted about ministry, kids, faith, and family. I walked out of that coffee meeting with a new friend!

After our initial meeting, I invited her to meet the youth ministry parent volunteers I worked with at our parish and to check out our youth programs for her kids. I promised that I would personally ensure that they encountered only friendly faces while with us! Marcy accepted.

Over the course of the next year, Marcy joined our adult volunteer team for the middle school youth ministry. She and I worked together to develop strategy and programming around helping parents with disabled kids feel more accepted in our parish, and ways to provide more options for their children inside our youth ministry programs. She was also a key advisor for new policies that we adopted as a parish that ensured accessibility for families with disabilities to all aspects of parish life. Her kids joined the youth group and made friends, and they all began attending Mass more often, becoming a big part of our parish family!

Looking back now, I’m so glad we didn’t ignore or just brush off the negative Google review. By leaning into an uncomfortable moment and responding with curiosity, understanding, and empathy, we gained more than just insight — we gained Marcy. The community of St. Peter is now stronger thanks to her valuable experience, and together we were able to establish a deeper commitment to making our parish truly welcoming for every family.

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Looking for more content to inspire your parish staff members? Our Complete Guide to Parish Social Media Management is jam-packed with tips and tricks to bring your mission to life online!

Ask and You Shall Receive

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 11:00:20 GMT

It’s easy to look at today’s Gospel reading and come away with a view of God as disinterested and irritated, reluctant to give us what we need unless we bang down his door, hound him to the furthest reaches of heaven, wrench him from his reverie and force him to answer just so we’ll finally go away.

Well, that’s not what Jesus means by the parable of the friend at midnight — but it’s also not surprising that we would think that it is. The whole point of this Gospel is that communication between God and man has been broken. It’s not as easy as it once was, as it should be, as it could be.

In this parable, there exists many barriers between the supplicant and his friend. The time of day is not ideal. The door is locked. Their dispositions are opposite — one is in the middle of a REM cycle and the other is deeply agitated. They appear to be two people who are not primed to communicate well. Everything is working against them.

The same could well be said of God and the human race. Here we are in a fallen world, surrounded by sin and pain and sickness and death to the extent that it infiltrates not just our bodies but our souls, our minds, our attitudes.

We are the friend caught unprepared in the dead of night. We don’t always know how to talk to God ( That door is thick! Will he hear us if we knock? ). We don’t always know if we should ( It’s all my fault that I ran out of loaves, after all ). We don’t even know if we want to ( It’s nighttime! He might be angry! ).

Everything is working against us.

It doesn’t matter, Jesus tells us. Whatever is interrupting communication between your heart and the One who crafted it, the One who desires its full and irrevocable attention, it can be overcome. There is no door thick enough, no night dark enough, no sleep strong enough.

So knock.

©LPi

Martha’s Burdens

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 11:00:27 GMT

It’s time to admit it: I’ve been unfair to Mary in the past. Been a little catty about her. Oooh, Mary, she’s so holy . Well, do you like to eat, Mary? Who made your lunch? Yeah, that’s right: it was Martha. Because you know what? It’s the Marthas who get things done in the world while the Marys lounge around reading Aquinas and attending silent retreats and going to Eucharistic Adoration whenever they want.

And there you have it, folks: my bitterness on full display! I tend to identify with Martha, not with Mary, and I need to stop doing that.

Because I am not Martha instead of Mary. I am both. We are all both.

Mary was a woman; she was expected to do the serving, too. She shared that burden; she wasn’t abandoning it, heaping her portion on Martha. And it’s so wrong to assume that Mary didn’t have the same cares and anxieties as Martha — perhaps she even had more!

Here’s the difference: Mary, unlike Martha (and me, I guess) knew where to go with them.

We typically see our burdens as an impediment to a relationship with Christ. I’m so busy. I’m so overwhelmed. There are so many demands on me, on my time, on my person, on my finances. Take a number, Jesus. Get in line. But we’re thinking the wrong way. Burdens aren’t an obstacle that stands between us and Christ. Burdens are the straightest path to his feet.

God knows about burdens, okay? Aside from being all-wise and all-knowing, he basically completed a doctorate in suffering, taking on a human form (itself kind of a burden, if you think about it) and for 33 years lived among the hardest and heaviest burdens this world has to offer.

Why did he do this? Well, part of the reason was so that we could finally understand that our burdens aren’t a barrier between us and God. On the contrary, they connect us to him.

Are you anxious about many things? Then you need to be right where Mary is: at the feet of Jesus, with all your burdens.

©LPi

The Complete Guide to Catholic Church Social Media Management

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 20:32:01 GMT

Social media is one of the most effective ways for Catholic parishes to build relationships with parishioners, stay visible and relevant, build community, and share the Gospel beyond the pews. Whether you're just starting out as your parish’s social media manager — maybe you’re a staff member or even a volunteer — or you’re a seasoned professional looking to refine your strategy, this guide offers a practical path forward that’s grounded in real parish experience and the tools you need to support your mission.

In this Guide:

Why Social Media Matters for Catholic Churches

When parish staff members reflect on their church’s communication goals, many discover that social media helps them reach people who might not otherwise be as connected. From young, busy families to seasonal attendees, or those curious about the Church, using social media platforms to spread your message can often reach them when other communication avenues like your parish bulletin or emails might get overlooked.

When starting out, parish leaders voice similar concerns: What social media platforms should our church be on? What should we be posting and how often? Are people even seeing what we are putting out there?

These common questions are a great starting point and will lead to something much more fruitful. By actively using social media to highlight ministries, events, volunteers, and everyday moments of our Catholic faith, parishes can keep people engaged well beyond Sunday. Here’s how some parishes have answered these common social media outreach questions and why these strategies work.

In fact, regular engagement on social media platforms has the added benefit of building trust and transparency between church staff and parishioners! It’s a great way to answer questions, share updates, respond to comments, and show that your parish is both welcoming and active.

Choosing the Right Platforms for Your Parish Social Media Presence (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc.)

Don’t worry! Not every parish needs to be on every platform. The key is to choose the ones that meet your parishioners where they are. It’s also important to take into account what platforms your team is already familiar with, willing to learn, and has the bandwidth to manage as well.

For many, Facebook remains the cornerstone, offering group functionality, fantastic event options, livestreaming, and wide reach for all ages. Instagram is great for visual storytelling and community life —especially through the Stories and Reels functions . YouTube provides an ideal home for video content like homilies, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and special events.

Some parishes are using Instagram in creative ways to build momentum with younger audiences and feature more spontaneous, visually engaging content. Whether it’s a First Communion celebration or sharing a snapshot from the parish festival, platforms like these can bring the beauty of parish life to life online.

Content Strategy, Planning, and Scheduling for Church Social Media

Having a social media presence is only the beginning. What you post, how often, and how well your content aligns with your mission all make a big difference. A strong content strategy helps your parish stay consistent, meaningful, and relevant throughout the liturgical year and parish calendar.

Many parishes find that a content calendar is the single most helpful tool for keeping social media organized. A well-structured Catholic content calendar simplifies planning , gives visibility into upcoming feast days and events, and frees up your team to be more intentional rather than reactive. Start by identifying key dates like Holy Days, sacramental celebrations, or parish events, and build content around those types of anchors.

Only have a limited amount of time to spend on a social media strategy? This article about social media strategy for churches breaks down strategy options for those with 10 minutes a day to spend on social media, an hour a day, and 2+ hours a day so that, no matter what kind of time you have, your parish can still be engaging well online!

When it comes to what to post, parishes have seen great success by sharing both inspirational/educational content and parish-specific moments. Think quotes from the saints, clips from homilies, reminders about adoration times, or a behind-the-scenes look at how the youth ministry volunteers set up games for the kiddos. These glimpses into parish life go a long way to helping parishioners who follow you online feel more connected and seen. We go much more into depth i nside this article about parish social media policies and even include a free policy template!

A thoughtful parish social media strategy also means understanding your audience and balancing content to meet their needs. If you’re just getting started or feeling overwhelmed, Catholic tools are available to help make content scheduling easier and more intuitive .

Even a simple weekly rhythm — like Monday Gospel reflections, Wednesday volunteer highlights, and Friday Mass reminders — build momentum. If you're looking to deepen your overall approach, laying out a basic strategy that includes goals, audiences, and calls to action is the best way to make sure that your efforts support your parish’s larger communication goals.

Best Practices for Parish Social Media Engagement

Posting content is one thing, but building real connections with your online flock is another. The most effective parish social media accounts don’t just broadcast information — they listen, respond, and invite people to engage both online and in person! Engagement is about creating a two-way conversation that fosters trust, familiarity, and a sense of belonging.

Start by being responsive. When someone comments on one of your posts, make sure you reply! When a parishioner shares a post you made, thank them! This simple act of acknowledging others in the social media sphere makes your online presence feel way more human and approachable. Parishes that embrace this mindset are seeing their online communities grow stronger .

Another great practice? Ask questions. Polls, open-ended prompts, or invitations to share prayer intentions will turn a follower’s passive scroll into a potentially meaningful interaction. Don’t forget to also always include clear, actionable language in your captions. For example, “Join us this weekend at Mass” or “Tag a friend who needs this prayer.”

In general, visual content tends to outperform text-heavy updates, so be sure to mix in photos, videos (reels), and story posts often. Keep your tone warm and consistent with the heart and mission of your parish. Remember, people who interact with your posts aren't just engaging with content — they’re engaging with your mission and deepening their faith.

How to Handle Negative Comments on Your Church's Social Media

It’s true — even the most well-intentioned posts can attract the occasional negative comment. When that happens, it’s important to respond with clarity, charity, and a calm presence that reflects your parish’s values.

Start by assessing the tone of the comment in question. Is it a genuine concern, a misunderstanding, or simply inflammatory? For constructive criticism or questions, respond publicly and pastorally by thanking the person for their input and offering clarity or next steps. For inappropriate or hostile remarks, it’s okay and often necessary to delete or hide comments like these and, when necessary, block users who repeatedly cause disruption.

Have a plan in place ahead of time so your social media manager(s) know how to respond. Your plan should include knowing when to escalate an issue to other staff members or leadership and when to simply let silence speak. Kindness, professionalism, and intentional, consistent boundaries are critical to maintaining a healthy online space for your community.

Lastly, don't forget that sometimes a negative comment or review is the beginning of a pathway toward a healed relationship! Read a story about how one negative parish review led to a ministry success in this article.

Measuring Success: Key Social Media Metrics to Track

Likes and shares are just part of the picture. To truly understand the impact of your parish social media efforts, you need to track engagement over time. This means you must measure your number of comments, reach, post saves, and click-throughs. This data will show whether your community is truly connecting with your content or not.

It’s also helpful to compare metrics across different types of posts. For example, is spiritual reflection content getting more interaction than your posts about parish event reminders? Do videos and reels outperform posts you make with static images? Data like this helps guide your future content planning, helping you strategically create content that resonates the most.

Over time, your real “wins” may show up in less measurable ways like increased participation in events, newcomers mentioning they found your parish online, or parishioners who feel more connected and regularly engaging online with your parish throughout the week.

Tools to Simplify Social Media Management for Church Staff

A strong strategy needs support, and thankfully, there are great tools designed to make parish social media management easier and more efficient.

Many parishes have discovered that a content suggestion tool specifically designed for Catholic parishes is a huge timesaver and reduces the stress of constantly coming up with new ideas of what to post. This is especially true for churches with smaller teams, or volunteers who manage social media communications part-time.

Some churches go a step further and use a complete social media management platform to organize their content, post across platforms from one easy spot, and keep track of data and metrics. A management platform is especially useful for parishes managing multiple accounts and want to streamline content approvals across various staff members.

Other tools like Canva Pro can help elevate visual content , offering ready-made social media-specific templates and design flexibility.

When it comes to Catholic faith-based content, LPi’s WeCreate library provides thousands of professionally-designed Catholic graphics, weekly Gospel-themed social media captions, and seasonalassetsideal for churches online.

Here’s a roundup of other top tools many parishes are using today , useful no matter your skill level or budget.

Social Media Policy for Church Staff & Volunteers

It’s absolutely essential to set clear expectations for your parish staff or team when multiple people contribute to your parish’s social media activity. A written social media policy helps maintain a unified voice, protect your parish’s reputation, and ensure that everyone — staff and volunteers alike — understands their roles when it comes to your church’s online communication.

A strong church social media policy should outline:

Who is authorized to post and comment on official accounts.
Guidelines for tone, content, and visuals.
How to handle comments or questions.
Boundaries around personal social media use when representing the parish.
Restrictions you might have on posting parishioner photos (especially when it comes to images with children).
Accountability for those responding to private messages.
Any child protection practices your parish has and how they apply to online interactions.

Your policy doesn’t have to be overly complicated, but it should reflect your parish’s mission and values, and be agreed upon by all staff members and volunteers who use your parish’s social media accounts. Make it accessible, review it annually, and use it as a training tool for new team members or volunteers.

Examples of Successful Catholic Social Media Campaigns

Sometimes the best inspiration comes from parishes just like yours! From Holy Week reflections to video spotlights, parishes are finding creative ways to bring their faith and community to life on social media and it’s making a real impact.

At St. Augustine Parish in Coral Gables, FL, a thoughtful, consistent strategy helped them grow engagement and reach more people than ever before. Their secret? Staying mission-aligned, involving volunteers, and carefully ensuring each post they make is intentional.

During special liturgical events like Holy Week, many churches achieve success with simple but powerful social media efforts that blend prayerful content, shareable graphics, and invitation-style posts. Strategies like this turns sacred seasons into an opportunity for much wider outreach.

Additional Parish Social Media Resources

Want to avoid common pitfalls? Here’s a helpful look at the social media mistakes some churches unknowingly make alongside tools to help you course correct with confidence.

LPi also offers additional guidance and tools to enhance your social media presence through WeCreate, our library of Catholic graphics, photos, and other useful content. Our collection of free trainin g reso urces and parish-focused articles will simplify the journey using knowledge from social media managers and real parish experiences from churches we partner with across the country.

Happy posting!

Updated on 02-11-2026

Crossing the Street

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 11:00:14 GMT

It takes a cold, hard, godless heart to step over a wounded man on the street.

But in the parable of the Good Samaritan, the priest and the Levite didn’t step over the half-dead traveler. I think we picture them doing so, in our collective imagining of this well-known story, but the words of the Gospel are quite clear. “When he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side,” Jesus says of both.

So they saw him. They saw his need. It made them uncomfortable; it confused them — many scholars have said that Judaic law concerning the touching of dead bodies might have made them reluctant to approach — and so they decided the simplest way to file this situation in the Not My Problem category was to cross the street.

But that still leaves a half-dead guy on the road. And we all, 2,000 years later, still think of the priest and the Levite as cold and hard and godless — even if they didn’t want to be, even if they didn’t think of themselves that way — because the bottom line is, they didn’t see the half-dead guy as their problem.

As Christians we know that everyone is our neighbor. It’s drilled into us from the first time we hear this reading.

Well, I don’t know about you, but I find myself crossing the street a lot more than I should.

There is so much pain and suffering in the world. We certainly can’t begin to alleviate it all. But we have to start with the pain and the suffering that we see, that’s right in front of us — even if it’s something we really, really want to ignore. Even if we find it inconvenient or confusing or scary or weird.

The heroism of the Good Samaritan wasn’t in his selfless actions, although those were certainly commendable. It was in his courage. “He approached the victim,” Jesus said.

Can we approach the victims we see? Do we have that courage?

©LPi

6 Creative Ways to Welcome Your New Pastor to Your Catholic Church

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 21:26:01 GMT

Transitions in parish leadership are significant moments in the life of your Catholic community. The arrival of your new pastor presents a valuable opportunity to strengthen community bonds and renew parish engagement. Making this transition warm and memorable helps both the priest and parishioners feel more connected.

To help, here are six thoughtful and creative ways to introduce your new pastor to your parish family, make him feel truly welcomed, and include everyone in a special way.

1. Host a Welcome Picnic or Potluck

There’s something sacred about breaking bread together. A parish-wide picnic or potluck is a relaxed, joyful way for parishioners to meet their new pastor. As many leadership changeovers happen during the summer for parishes, consider organizing a simple outdoor gathering with family games, music, and a short welcome speech. It might even be fun to include an outdoor “Mass on the Grass” as well. Add a table for children to create welcome cards or drawings that can be displayed in the parish hall or office for the summer while your new pastor gets settled.

2. Use the Parish Website as a Storytelling Platform

Your parish website is a powerful tool to introduce your new pastor to not only your church community but also to those who might come across your website. Beyond a basic biography, consider adding a Q&A blog post or welcome letter from the pastor sharing his background, vocation story, favorite Scripture verse, hobbies, and hopes for the parish. Incorporate warm, professional photography to help parishioners feel they already know him before he celebrates his first Mass. Many websites made with LPi’s powerful church website platform, WeConnect, already incorporate a section for a pastor’s letter in the design. It’s the perfect place to host this type of information.

3. Feature the Pastor in Your Bulletin

Your bulletin is already a trusted weekly touchpoint for your parish family. Include an interview with your new pastor, a personal reflection, or even a photo collage from his first week. The bulletin is also a great spot to promote welcome events or invite parishioners to submit prayers or notes of encouragement for your new pastor.

Pro tip! Make the most of your content by using it across multiple touchpoints. If you’ve already posted something on your website, consider sharing it in your bulletin too (or the other way around). There’s nothing wrong with a little overlap. For example, if your pastor provided a great Q&A for your website, you might include the first few questions in your bulletin and invite readers to “read more” online.

If you’re looking at your bulletin right now and wondering if your new pastor might find it a little outdated … we can help! Our designers specialize in creating modern, welcoming, and fully customized parish bulletin templates. Learn more about what we can do for your parish bulletin.

4. Don’t Forget Social Media!

Posting on Facebook or Instagram gives your parish a chance to make introductions in a personable, ongoing way. Share a short video greeting from the pastor, post photos from the welcome events you may hold in his honor, or run a "Meet the Pastor" week with fun daily facts like his favorite saint, go-to coffee order, and hobbies. As a bonus, encourage parishioners to comment with their own introductions and warm wishes, or ask them to tag you in their own welcome posts — then repost them!

5. Introduce Through Ministry Moments

Schedule meetings with your new pastor for all active ministries. Although these introductions won’t happen overnight and might, in fact, take several months, they’re a great way for ministry leaders and volunteers to introduce themselves, explain what they do, and build early rapport. These informal gatherings could be simple coffee chats, faith-sharing circles, or brief "tours" hosted by each ministry to showcase how they serve the parish and community.

As a bonus, consider highlighting these ministry visits with photos in your bulletin and on social media. For example, one week he could write about his experience visiting the youth ministry, accompanied by some photos. The next week, he could include a note about his visit with the St. Vincent de Paul chapter of your parish.

6. Start a "Welcome Journal"

Set out a notebook or binder in the church narthex where parishioners can leave notes, prayers, or drawings to welcome the new pastor. This simple gesture creates a lasting keepsake for the new priest and gives him a glimpse into the hearts of those in his new community. Consider encouraging and reminding people to do this through announcements at Mass and in the parish bulletin.

Transitions often have the opportunity to become beautiful beginnings. With a little creativity and heart, your parish can help your new pastor feel immediately at home, while strengthening your parish’s sense of community in the process.

For more inspiration and ideas from LPi, head over to the “Parish Life” section of our blog.

On Pilgrimage

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 11:00:06 GMT

Before I embarked on my trip to the National Eucharistic Congress last summer with a group from my archdiocese, we had an orientation meeting. At that meeting, the coordinator of the trip shared with us “The Five Rules of Pilgrimage.”

If you’re not familiar with them (I wasn’t), here they are:

Don’t complain.
Don’t complain. (It’s so important, it’s listed twice.)
When you see a bathroom, use it.
When someone offers you something, receive it.
When someone asks you for something, give it.

It’s great advice for a pilgrimage, but more than that, I think it’s great advice in general. So when I read today’s Gospel and I hear Jesus say essentially the same thing to his disciples as they set out to evangelize (well, minus the bathroom tip, but those weren’t as much of a thing in biblical Judea), I come to an important realization.

The whole Christian life is a pilgrimage.

Too often, life falls short of my expectations. An opportunity didn’t work out. A day didn’t go the way I planned (like, at all). A person didn’t accept me. And I ball up my fists and stomp my feet like a full-grown Veruca Salt, and I yell: I cannot work in these conditions!

And then, I imagine God, on his celestial throne, sighs and opens the Book of the Gospels (surely he keeps it handy, don’t you think?) to Luke, Chapter 10. And he whispers in my heart what he said to his disciples 2,000 years ago.

Don’t complain. Be open and give of yourself, and in turn, receive what comes your way, whatever it is. If it’s good, rejoice. If it’s not good, move on. And in the end, remember where you’re headed — the place you’re trying to go.

Oh, and again: don’t complain.

©LPi

Some Say

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 10:00:09 GMT

At first, the Apostles try to dodge the question.

When Jesus confronts them — and make no mistake, it is a confrontation — with the question “Who do you say that I am?” they act like a man whose wife has just asked him if she looks fat in these jeans.

The evasiveness of their answer puts politicians to shame: “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

Some say.

But Jesus doesn’t let them off easy. He repeats himself. He wants an answer. “Who do you say that I am?”

They all know the answer. They all believe the answer. And they all know the answer could get them thrown in prison or killed. Only Peter is brave enough to say it: “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”

People have a lot of opinions about God. They always have. They have a lot of opinions about Jesus and the Bible, about the Catholic Church and the Pope. Some of these opinions are well-founded, well-researched. Some of them are based in ignorance. Many are born of painful misunderstandings. But they are all just that: opinions.

Some say.

We know who Jesus is. We know who the Eucharist is. We know what the truth is. Amid the chaos and the violence and the excruciating loudness of this fallen world and all the words it shouts into the void about God and Jesus and right and wrong, we know .

But will we answer?

©LPi

How to Support Your Parish Ministries With WeCreate

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 19:24:16 GMT

WeCreate is the trusted resource Catholic parish staff rely on for high-quality graphics and content to support their church’s ministries. From OCIA to Grief Ministry to the Giving Tree and more, WeCreate gives parish staff and ministry leaders the visuals they need .

The following guide shows how WeCreate can support some of the most common parish ministries found at churches nationwide. Let’s dive in!

Liturgical Ministry

This ministry ensures the reverent celebration of the Mass and other sacraments , and can include Lectors, Altar Servers, Communion Ministers, Sacristans, and more.

WeCreate can provide:

Pre-made Templates for bulletins, worship aids, flyers and digital displays.
Mass Planning Support with images and written content aligned with the weekly readings.
Graphics for Ministers to enhance liturgical scheduling, training handouts, and announcements related to liturgical ministries.
Catholic Clip Art to add that little bit of flair to your bulletins and announcements with custom clip art for holidays, holy days, and traditions.

Music Ministry

Whether your parish has only a small music group or many choirs and instrumentalists, your music ministry plays an important role in your parish’s worship life and spiritual identity.

WeCreate can provide:

Seasonal Images and liturgically appropriate art that music ministers can use for printed worship aids and concert flyers.
Digital Display Graphics for the screens in your sanctuary or narthex to support weekly hymns and parts of the Mass being shared.
Social Media Assets to help recruit new members and raise awareness of special music ministry events.

Religious Education

Often this ministry encompasses youth education, as well as adult religious education, OCIA, Sacramental preparation, and various retreats and small groups. With such a diverse offering, it’s important to have a robust library of Catholic content to rely on for support.

WeCreate can provide:

Age-Appropriate Communication Tools like flyer templates, social media graphics, Gospel illustrations, and images for holy days and saint feast days that can be customized to different age groups.
Liturgical Thematic Content that RE coordinators can align with their teaching schedule. Both written and graphic content for everything from Advent to Ordinary Time including Gospel reflection questions, Catholic teachings, and more.
Sacramental Prep Content including images for educational materials, invitation templates for sacrament celebrations, and even graphics calling for program registrations and volunteer recruitment.
Children’s Puzzles, Games, and Coloring Pages to add as bulletin inserts, have available in the parish nursery, or for use during children’s ministry.

Social Justice/Outreach

Your parish likely has some type of outreach ministry to serve your neighbors and draw people into your community. These types of miniseries often encompass a wide variety of service projects and events.

WeCreate can provide:

Announcement Graphics and Flyer Templates to invite your community to outreach events and/or ask for participation.
Custom Images to support all sorts of ministry events, from spring cleaning days and parish auctions, to yard sales and Mass on the Grass. WeCreate even has graphics to help you recruit volunteers, collect donations, and thank those who support your outreach efforts.
Bilingual Adaptations of parish graphics for communities with both Spanish and English speakers. Find bilingual graphics for both print and digital use that celebrate Catholic holidays, as well as thousands of Spanish and English options.
The Social Media Content Calendar in WeCreate is curated every month with an image and caption for each day of the week, ready for your parish to customize. This calendar makes social media outreach a breeze for staff.
Facebook and Instagram Story Graphics that deal with everything from inviting parishioners to special Mass times to education about saints and social teaching. These specially designed story slides are easy to upload to your parish social media and customize to fit your needs for outreach.

Get Started With WeCreate

If your parish bulletin is printed with LPi, WeCreate is already included at no extra cost! Reach out to your LPi customer service representative to get started and unlock everything this dynamic platform has to offer your parish’s ministries.

We also have handy-dandy WeCreate tutorial videos to help you navigate the platform and make the most of its features. They’re perfect for anyone with a login who’s not sure what to do next.

Not printing with LPi yet? No problem! You can subscribe to WeCreate and gain access to our full library of Catholic content today.

As the Day Was Drawing to a Close

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 10:00:27 GMT

It isn’t uncommon for me to get to the noon hour only to realize that I haven’t yet eaten anything that day.

It drives my husband crazy. He was raised by a bunch of Italian women, so he can’t help but think three meals ahead. And don’t get me wrong, I love food — I literally dream of donuts. But some days, I’m just so busy and I keep putting it off until I realize how weak I feel, how light-headed. And I think to myself: Stupid, you’ve done it again.

This is what comes to mind today, on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, as I read the Gospel account of the miracle of the loaves and fishes.

I think of hunger, distraction and the poor planning of those who pride themselves on being capable.

“As the day was drawing to a close,” it is written — that’s when the disciples finally realized that 5,000 hangry people is not an ideal situation.

I wonder, did Jesus roll his eyes when they came to him, and think, “Finally”? At any point he could have pulled out a fish and said a blessing. But he waited for them to ask. He waited for them to realize how badly they needed it.

Sometimes we forget that we need the Eucharist. It’s not just a nice thing to have, a sweet act of devotion, a sacramental item that bolsters our faith. The Eucharist is none of those things. The Eucharist is the food without which we will die. The Eucharist is something we must seek out. Remember: the day is drawing to a close.

©LPi

Have You Seen These 7 Gorgeous Bulletin Cover Graphics for Catholic Churches?

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 00:17:53 GMT

Is your parish’s bulletin cover working for you? Ideally, your cover serves as both an invitation to open the bulletin and a reflection of your parish’s unique spirit and community life. The right weekly bulletin cover will help set the tone for the liturgy, draw people into the Gospel message that week, and even offer a visual reminder of the beauty and rhythm of our Catholic faith.

In this post, we’re highlighting seven unique cover design series available through WeCreate, LPi’s library of Catholic content for vibrant parishes, that do just that. If you're looking for something traditional, artistic, modern, or even deeply reflective, these covers are crafted to make your bulletin perfect for your parish. To get an even deeper look at parish bulletin resources beyond just the cover, check out our free parish bulletin guide!

The Vintage Series

This series highlights the timeless beauty of traditional Catholic artwork paired with a short exerpt from the Gospel message each week. Each design draws color cues from the featured art inside and echoes the ornate borders of classic hymnals. The Vintage Series brings a nostalgic and liturgical feel to your weekly bulletin. The collection includes full-page, half-page, and square layout options available in both English and Spanish to suit your parish’s needs. For this collection there is also a bilingual option that includes both languages on the same design!

The Immerse Series

The Immerse Series invites your community to focus deeply on the Gospel message each week through striking, reflective imagery. Each bulletin cover features a compelling photograph, often from the Holy Land or landscapes tied to the liturgical theme, chosen to visually echo the Scripture readings of the week. This intentional pairing of text and image brings the Gospel to life on your bulletin cover in a vivid and meaningful way. This series is available in multiple layout options, as well as in Spanish and English.

The Traditional Series

For parishes seeking a timeless, reverent aesthetic, our Traditional Series offers a harmonious blend of visual beauty and biblical depth. Each cover features a classical Catholic painting that illustrates a moment from that week’s Gospel, paired with an extended Scripture passage from the same reading. The series gives a nod to the historical legacy of the Church while delivering a more in-depth scripture message for parishioners. These covers are ideal for parishes with a love for history and tradition. The collection is available in both English and Spanish with full-page, half-page, and square options.

Gospel Illustrations

Unlike our other cover series, this captivating collection is available exclusively in a square format and without any text. Designed to draw you into the heart of each week’s Gospel reading, every illustration is meticulously hand-drawn to reflect the story being told and each is rich in color and emotion. Many pieces offer a powerful point-of-view perspective, placing the viewer within the scene as a witness or participant. One striking example, shown in the first of the image above, shows the miracle of Jesus walking on water as if the viewer is inside the boat with the disciples. To learn more about the artist behind this series, meet her here.

The Vibrant Series

True to its name, the Vibrant Series remains one of our most beloved and popular collections! Each cover brings together a powerful Scripture quote from the week’s readings, the liturgical date or feast name, and a stunning piece of sacred art. Our design team thoughtfully layers these elements into visually rich and faith filled compositions that capture attention and inspire reflection week after week. Want a bulletin cover that includes both English and Spanish on the exact same image for your bilingual community? This cover series has that option, along with all of the other usual options LPi provides for our covers — full-page, half-page, and square.

The Nature Series

Parishes with a special love for God’s creation will be drawn to our Nature Series. Put the Lord’s handywork on display alongside a relevant scripture passage from that week’s readings to entice your community to open your bulletin. These covers are so beautiful, they could double as parish office decor! The collection includes full-page, half-page, and square layouts, in both English and Spanish.

The Psalms Series

Last, but not least, our Psalms Series pairs bold and beautiful photography with a passage from the week’s Psalm. Featuring a variety of fonts and images, these popular designs have proven to delight parishioners across generations and cultures. Just like the Psalms themselves, there is something for everyone in this collection. Choose from full-page, half-page, or square layout available in both English and Spanish.

Never Design Another Bulletin Cover Again!

Whether your parish sticks with one series every week or mixes and matches, you can’t go wrong with the gorgeous images designed for Catholic bulletin covers inside of WeCreate .

Parishes who partner with LPi to print their bulletins already get access to WeCreate for free! To learn how to make use of this incredible resource, contact your customer service representative and they will get you started.

Not printing with LPi? You can still access these cover series and thousands of other content pieces specifically designed for Catholic churches inside WeCreate. Head over to our website to start your subscription today!

The Best Kind of Mystery

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 10:00:33 GMT

“Do you have a mystery for me to solve?”

If I’ve heard it once, I’ve heard it a hundred times. My daughter is obsessed with mysteries. It’s not enough for her to read about them in the pages of every Nancy Drew book she can get her hands on. She wants more than that. She wants a real-life mystery. A puzzle that resists being solved. A question that eludes an answer. Something that isn’t easy to wrap her head around.

And not surprisingly, she’s not satisfied with the “mysteries” I can offer her. The Mystery of Mom’s Missing Hair Tie (spoiler alert: it was in my purse). The Mystery of the Missing Lunch Ham (oops, Mom finished it).

Simple answers are so boring. “Will I ever have a real mystery?” she moans.

I get it. We’re all this way, really. We are drawn to the mysterious, to the inscrutable. It’s because we know that the answers to the really big questions are ones that can’t be explained in a neat and tidy way. We know that the reality of life and love and the human condition is something we can’t quite fit our heads around. We know that there is so much in this world, in this universe, that we can’t… understand . So, in a way, mysteries are the only things that really make sense to us.

Why do we love mysteries so much? Because God is a mystery. And that’s never as clear as it is today, on the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity, the mystery that boondoggles us all. Four relations. Three persons. One God.

Don’t ask me to explain it. I could, but I don’t have the word space, and frankly, it might not even make sense then. It’s a mystery, you see. A real one. The best kind.

©LPi

Leaving the Room

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 10:00:27 GMT

I was a full-grown adult before I realized that Pentecost is known as “the birthday of the Church,” and it only resonated with me because someone showed up to a church function with cake and candles. Leave it to buttercream frosting to drive home a theological reality I had been missing for 25 years.

I knew what Pentecost was, of course. It simply went over my head that, despite all the incredible, world-changing things that had come before the moment of Pentecost, prior to this day, the Apostles were just a group of guys in a room. It wasn’t until Pentecost that they became the Church.

So what makes the Church…well, the Church , capital C ? What makes it more than just a group of guys in a room?

It’s true, they were a very special group of guys. They had the Truth — capital T . They had borne witness to Christ’s miracles, to his life and to his passion and death.

But they were still in that room.

When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they received graces and gifts that made them fit to carry out the Great Commission. The Truth wasn’t enough, even with a capital T . They needed the Spirit — capital S — and more than that, they needed to receive it with the courage and faith necessary to do what needed to be done.

To get up and leave the room.

Because what good is any of it unless they leave the room? What does it matter, the tongues of fire and the miraculous bilingualism and, frankly, the coming of the Spirit, if no one ever hears about it?

The mission is what made them the Church. It’s what makes us the Church. Without it, we’re just a bunch of guys in a room.

©LPi

Is Your Church Bulletin Cover Turning People Away? How to Fix It Fast

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 18:53:12 GMT

We’ve all heard it before: “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” While this advice is well and good, it’s also true that people DO judge publications solely on their first glance at the cover. When it comes to your Catholic parish’s weekly bulletin , your cover is your first impression — and it absolutely sets the tone for what’s inside. It’s very important that it communicates the message you want it to send through both the cover's content and its design.

If your bulletin cover looks like it hasn’t changed in 20 years, or if it’s overloaded with text and hard-to-read information, it’s undoubtedly time for an update. Don’t stress, though! Updating your church’s weekly bulletin cover doesn’t mean you have to start from scratch. What’s most important is that you’re intentional with what you feature, what you remove, and how everything is organized together.

Let’s walk through a few practical design tips that can transform your weekly church bulletin covers from “meh” to “magnificent.”

Consider Removing these Church Bulletin Cover Elements

One common issue our designers encounter with parish bulletins across the country is too much “stuff” on the cover. Making the mistake of putting way too many elements and information on your cover will give readers the impression that your parish is disorganized or out of touch with modern communication practices. While it’s tempting to load up the front page with everything from office hours to your staff contact list, this just makes the cover cluttered and uninviting.

Move These Things to the Inside of your Church Bulletin:

Overly detailed content like ministry schedules, office hours, or lengthy welcome messages.
Event announcements and details should all be inside on a dedicated events page or section.
Anything not absolutely essential to a visitor at first glance.
Visual clutter , like too many different kinds of fonts and graphics. Stick with a beautiful cover image and your parish branding.

Keep These Elements on the Cover

Your church’s name and logo
Date of the bulletin
An eye-catching cover image
Your church’s contact information

These are your must-haves. Everything else? Fair game for the inside pages.

Make Sure You Add These Elements to Your Weekly Church Bulletin

Now that you’ve cleared some space on the cover, it’s time to make it shine.

Beautiful, meaningful cover art goes a long way in making your bulletin feel welcoming. Consider using art relevant to the week’s Mass readings or selecting a cover image series that carries through the liturgical seasons. In fact, sticking to a cover art series creates a consistent and polished feel for both regulars and newcomers.

LPi’s WeCreate provides a variety of liturgical cover series, along with stand-alone covers for every week of the liturgical year, including holy days and celebrations. Did you know? Churches that partner with LPi to print their bulletins have free access to the entire WeCreate library of content. If your parish doesn’t print with LPi but still wants access to the beautiful catalogue of cover art available inside of WeCreate, subscriptions are available!

A custom masthead can also add a personal, professional touch. If the word masthead is new to you, a masthead is a design featuring the title of your parish in the top two inches of your bulletin cover. This is the perfect place to use your parish’s logo and branding . Your custom masthead will appear on each bulletin, unifying them under your intentional brand. If you don’t have a logo or brand yet, we can help you get started!

A simplified informational layout is important. Stick to the essentials — if you give out too much information on the cover, nobody will be enticed to open the bulletin! Prioritize the basics (outlined in the next point). They might seem obvious to you, but they matter to your readers — especially visitors. Don’t assume everyone knows the basics about your parish.

Prioritize What Matters in Your Weekly Bulletin

If you’re working with limited space, like on the cover of a church’s weekly bulletin, it helps to think in layers:

Primary Info: This is the information people are likely hoping to find on your cover.

Church name
Date of bulletin
Parish address
Parish main office phone number
Parish website URL
Priest’s name

Secondary: This type of info might be better placed on the inside cover.

Your Mass times
Welcome statement
Social media handle

Tertiary: Information like this, although still important, would shine brighter on an inside page where it can be one of the focus points instead of being smushed into an already crowded cover design.

Office hours
Staff listing
Mission statement
Upcoming news or events

Let the most essential details take center stage on your cover and move the rest inside your bulletin.

Lastly, Ask Yourself (or a Colleague) to Appraise Your Parish Bulletin:

Does the front cover feel welcoming and easy on the eyes, or is it too cluttered?
Does the image you feature catch the attention of your viewers and enhance your bulletin’s visual appeal?
Is there information on your cover that could live inside your bulletin instead?
Is anything missing that would help someone feel more at home with your community?

If the answer to any of those is “yes,” it’s probably time for a redesign — something we specialize in!

Ready for a Parish Bulletin Makeover?

If you’re an LPi customer, you’re eligible for a FREE professional bulletin refresh — yep, totally free! This includes a new cover design template, customized for your parish, and a template for the rest of your inside pages, too, made by our in-house design team! Simply reach out to your LPi customer service representative to get started.

Not printing with LPi yet? No problem — we’d love to show you what’s possible.

For more church bulletin inspiration, dive into our free guide: Catholic Church Bulletins 101: Everything You Need to Know

Updated 11-19-2025

LPi Announces the 2025 LPi Vibrant Employee Award Winner

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 16:34:30 GMT

LPi’s Vibrant Employee Award is given to those who have exceeded performance expectations while modeling the LPi Core Values — passion, positive team spirit, servant leadership, embracing change, and having fun. All employees are eligible to nominate someone for the award, and all employees are eligible to win!

This year, our big winner is Jake Adams, Marketing Designer! His designs touch nearly every part of our organization, from events for our internal stakeholders to emails to far-flung prospects to customer communications. With every design Jake makes, LPi communicates that much more strongly.

His coworkers praised him in their nominations:

Jake is a dedicated member of the team, always willing to grow and help and support. I recommend him WHOLE HEARTEDLY for this award!
Jake always brings something thoughtful, researched, and measured to the discussion
He's incredibly insightful as to what needs to be happening, and the best ways to make those things happen. I love listening to what he has to say and learning from his wisdom.

Winners of the Vibrant Employee Award are recognized at an all-hands company meeting and awarded an all-expenses paid trip for them and a guest to a place of their choosing! Upon winning the award, Adams shared, “I’m honored to receive the Vibrant Employee Award and grateful to be part of such an inspiring team. The recognition from LPi motivates me to keep bringing energy, positivity, and passion to everything I do!”

The runners-up for this year’s award were Amanda Holmberg, Payroll & Benefits Specialist, and Nagaraj Vittal, Solution Delivery Manager. Honorable mentions went to Anthony Gurak, Celia Gutierrez, Keely Hockenberry, Jodi Hotz, Ann May, Megan Russell, Laura Standard, and Emily Williamson.

LPi would like to extend a big congratulations to everyone recognized! Great work and thank you for all that you do!

Interested in a career with LPi and a chance to win the next Vibrant Employee Award? Find open positions here: https://www.4lpi.com/current-job-openings

That the World May Believe

Thu, 29 May 2025 10:00:20 GMT

I love today’s Gospel because, in it, Jesus prays for me.

And you.

And the guy sitting next to you at Mass. And the priest, and the altar server, and all the people in all the churches in all the towns in all the world who woke up this morning and headed to Mass because, while it’s true that God is everywhere, the Body and Blood of Jesus is only found in one place.

And he prays for the barista who will sell you your coffee later today and see your crucifix and hear you say, “God bless,” and think, “That’s a weird necklace, and I don’t believe in God,” but who will one day, at her lowest point, wonder if anyone ever truly loved her, and remember the sight of that broken and bloodied Corpus.

Today, Jesus prays for the person you passed on the way into the parking lot this morning, the one who doesn’t go to Mass anymore but who always walks his dog on this street, on this morning, for reasons he can’t explain.

He prays for your great-great grandparents and your great-great grandchildren.

“Those who will believe in me through their word.” That’s me. That’s you. That’s us. We’re the ones who believe through the word of the Apostles, who bore witness to the life and death and Resurrection of the God-Man, Jesus Christ, and whose testimony to that life is an eternal flame illuminating the understanding of every human being who will ever say, “I believe.”

But if we listen to what Jesus says today, we must understand: it’s not just the Apostles’ job, and it’s not done. It’s not a book that is closed. It’s a mission that is alive and ongoing, and it’s as much ours as it was theirs: that the world may believe that you sent me.

©LPi

Catholic Church Bulletin Trends We’re Seeing in 2025

Wed, 28 May 2025 21:49:31 GMT

Your parish bulletin is a visual reflection of your church’s mission, culture, and commitment to clear, unifying communication. In 2025, we're seeing some exciting design shifts that are helping parish bulletins stand out while also staying true to their Christ-centered identity.

Five Key Weekly Catholic Bulletin Trends to Watch:

1. Consistent Layouts for Easier Reading

Gone are the days of long, full-page text blocks. Parish bulletins are focusing more on easy-to-digest two or three-column layouts that provide a cleaner, easier reading experience. This structured approach helps your community quickly find the content they need — whether it’s Mass times, announcements, reflections, or even Catholic comics!

2. Modern Visual Hierarchy

The best bulletin editors are replacing heavy text box outlines and cluttered visual cues with thoughtful use of color and space. A light, neutral background behind sections adds structure without distraction, while occasional bold color blocks draw attention to key updates or events. See some great examples here.

3. Branded Fonts & Color Palettes

Using too many fonts or defaulting to only using liturgical colors can make your bulletin feel inconsistent or, worse, like you aren’t intentional about your design. Parishes who value effective communication are developing a unified brand — sticking to one or two typefaces and a recognizable color scheme that mirrors their website, signage, and social media. This consistency builds recognition and trust with both members and visitors. Need some help in this area? LPi has assisted parishes across the country develop unique, Catholic logos and branding to better communicate their mission and unite their parishes!

4. Refreshed Mastheads

What’s a masthead? Great question! The masthead is the section of your bulletin that typically appears on the first page or even on your cover. It displays your parish’s name, logo, and all of the information you deem most essential to be able to navigate the rest of your publication. Your masthead helps form your reader’s first impression of your parish!

In 2025, churches are streamlining the front of their bulletins with their current branding, updated contact info, and digital presence (like website URLs and social media handles). If your masthead hasn’t changed since the '90s, it might be time for a refresh that reflects your community today! LPi’s bulletin service includes a free redesign of your bulletin that includes an updated, custom masthead. Head over to our website to see some before-and-after examples.

5. Intentional Use of Evangelizing Content

Beyond great design, parishes are putting more thought into the content they share. Today’s bulletins are becoming valuable tools for evangelization, offering more than just announcements. The most effective bulletins feature welcoming messages, thoughtful reflections, educational pieces about the Catholic faith, and visuals that resonate with both long-time parishioners and first-time guests.

Parish Bulletin Resource Options

Remember, a beautiful design means little if the content doesn’t also serve your mission!

A resource like WeCreate — our library of Catholic content specifically created to be used in parish communications like your bulletin, website, and social media — is a great places to start. It offers thousands of professionally designed graphics as well as Catholic articles, reflections, and weekly liturgical content ready to enhance your bulletin today.

We've also published a free guide to everything you need to know about creating, editing, and publishing weekly parish bulletins! Inside you will find tips and tricks to make your bulletin the best that it can be. Find it here.

Need a professionally designed template? If your parish bulletin could use a modern update, you're not alone, and you don't have to do it alone! Discover how our expert bulletin design services can save you time, strengthen your parish’s message, and engage your parishioners all week long. Learn more at: www.4lpi.com/church-bulletins

Social Media With Canva Pro

Thu, 22 May 2025 17:18:19 GMT

Your presence on social media makes a difference! With 73% of the US population regularly using social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and more, these time-saving tips will help teach you how to use Canva Pro’s graphics in your social media posts and keep your messaging top-of-mind.

There are numerous tutorials online to aid in learning how to easily navigate Canva Pro. We found some of the best ones and organized them so you can hit the ground running.

Follow these steps to start using Canva Pro For Your Social Media

Search for a social media template & edit your graphics

Inside Canva Pro, you can find thousands of templates available specifically for social media. Canva makes it easy to customize graphics for different platforms with searchable templates designed to meet each platform’s specific requirements. For example, if you want to create an Instagram story graphic for your organization, Canva Pro has templates already sized to perfectly fit the dimensions of an Instagram story.

o Video tutorial: Design for Social Media | Canva Nonprofits

Link to your social media accounts

With Canva Pro, you can connect your social media accounts for a simplified, seamless posting experience. Currently, Canva Pro supports Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, Pinterest, Slack, and Tumblr. Once connected, you can post to your chosen social media accounts right from the Canva Pro app.

o Video tutorial: How to Connect Your Social Media to Canva

Share your graphic to your social media account directly from Canva Pro

Ready to share your creation? Canva Pro allows you to post directly to your social media accounts as soon as you’re finished with your design. This eliminates the extra steps of downloading and uploading graphics and logging into/navigating a different app. It’s a streamlined way to keep your content fresh and consistent without jumping between platforms!

o Video Tutorial: How to post a design from the Canva Editor

o Video Tutorial: How to schedule a social post from the Canva Editor

o Written Tutorial: Share on Social Media and Messaging Apps

Go Beyond the Basics

If you want to dive deeper into the Canva Pro learning experience, Canva provides users with free, more in-depth learning options inside their “ Canva Design School .” We suggest the following short video courses for further learning:

You Can Use WeCreate, too!

LPi offers daily, ready-to-use social media graphics and captions for Catholic parishes inside of WeCreate , our digital library of Catholic content. This resource is filled with liturgically relevant, daily social post options that parish staff can easily share on their church’s social media feeds. Find this content inside the WeCreate Parish Social Media Content Calendar .

WeCreate users already have access to the LPi social media content calendar! Need help accessing it? Contact Customer Support to give you a hand!

My Peace I Give to You

Thu, 22 May 2025 10:00:15 GMT

When John has a vision of heavenly Jerusalem, he sees walls.

“A massive, high wall,” to be more precise. In the modern lexicon, walls have a negative connotation; we use them as metaphors for all that is exclusionary and rigid. But throughout much of history, walls have meant something very different. In the ancient world, walls meant safety.

Walls meant peace.

“My peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you,” Jesus tells his disciples in today’s Gospel. “Not as the world gives do I give it to you.”

So what’s the difference between the peace we know in the world, and the peace we know in Christ?

Well, I would argue that the difference is that the peace we know in Christ exists . We know no real peace in this world. Sometimes, we witness a sort of mirage of peace — something like it, but just a little off, and always on the horizon, never within reach.

Peace, to me, means rest. It means quiet. It means the absence of confrontation, of conflict, of anxiety. But I can’t actually experience any of that in this life, not in a substantial way. I can rest — but I never really feel rested. I can retreat to a room by myself to have silence, but someone always knocks on the door, and even if they don’t, my thoughts get pretty loud.

And boy oh boy, are those thoughts full of confrontation. Full of anxiety, full of conflict. Wherever I go to find peace, the world finds me and banishes it.

I think of the walls of heavenly Jerusalem, so high and so sturdy, guarded so scrupulously by God’s strongest angels. These walls are not barriers. They are shields. They are arms, encircling us, gathering us in.

In Christ alone can we find peace in this world.

©LPi

Resembling Jesus

Thu, 15 May 2025 13:35:15 GMT

I once wrote an article about several women residents of a local nursing home. In researching the piece, I discovered that they had grown up in the same neighborhood as my grandmother, and that one of the women was, in fact, my grandmother’s dearest childhood friend.

When I visited this woman to take her photograph, she took a long look at my face, and I could see in her eyes that she was reaching back in her memory across the years.

She said: “You resemble her.”

I wept on the way home.

My grandmother died when I was nine, and for the last several years of her life she suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. I have always deeply grieved the time we lost, the relationship we could have had. I have hazy fragments of memory from before her illness that lead me to believe we loved each other very much.

Being told I look like my grandmother by someone who knew her well — being identified as belonging to her in some way — was one of the more beautiful things to happen to me.

When we love someone, we want to be associated with them. We want to be recognized as theirs somehow. And if we love Christ, we should want to be known as belonging to him. We should want those who see us to know we are his.

The only way we can resemble Jesus is through love. It is his most recognizable quality, his most famous trait. This is how all will know that you are my disciples.

As Catholics, we are always talking about finding ways to live our faith boldly, unapologetically, publicly. Good — we should! But if we want people to know we are Catholic, we should love them. Bravely. Recklessly. Sacrificially.

As he loves us.

©LPi

LPi Partners with Archdiocese of New Orleans to Launch New Chapter for Clarion Herald

Tue, 13 May 2025 18:42:05 GMT

LPi is thrilled to announce a new partnership with the Archdiocese of New Orleans to support the Clarion Herald — the official Catholic newspaper of the archdiocese — with state-of-the-art printing and expert advertising services.

This collaboration marks an exciting new chapter in the publication’s longstanding tradition of Catholic journalism, following the conclusion of its in-house print production starting June 2025. Beginning July 1, 2025, LPi will manage the printing of and advertising in the Clarion Herald, ensuring its legacy of excellence continues while embracing innovative opportunities for the future.

“We’re honored to partner with the Archdiocese of New Orleans in supporting the Clarion Herald’s mission of evangelization and Catholic storytelling,” shared Matt Inkmann, Vice-President of Ad Sales for LPi. “With a deep commitment to parish communication and Catholic publishing, LPi brings decades of experience in advertising sales, modern printing technology, and digital communication tools to share their mission. Together, we’ll help the Clarion Herald thrive in print and in the digital space.”

A key component of this partnership is LPi’s print and digital advertising service, which will fully offset the cost of printing for the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Thanks to this service, the Clarion Herald can continue delivering important news and stories to its readers without placing additional financial demands on the archdiocese — a meaningful benefit for the local Catholic community.

Print remains a vital part of any successful communication strategy, particularly within the Catholic Church, where parishioners of all ages rely on tangible, trusted sources of information and inspiration. By partnering with LPi, the Clarion Herald will not only maintain its cherished print edition, available in over 100 parishes and Catholic institutions, but will also position itself to grow its digital presence through the use of ParishesOnline.com . LPi’s team is committed to helping the Clarion Herald expand its reach through integrated communication tools, multi-platform content, and expert guidance in navigating the Church’s digital future.

“We are truly excited about the new partnership between the Archdiocese of New Orleans and LPi,” said Sarah McDonald, Director of Communications for the Archdiocese of New Orleans. “While we know we must focus on a ‘digital first model’ to tell our story in real time, this partnership will allow us to continue sharing the local, regional, and global Catholic news and features in print every two weeks for our loyal Clarion Herald readers. This is taking two things that are so familiar (the Clarion Herald and the parish bulletin) and bringing them together in an innovative way to celebrate the beauty, tradition, and inspiration that is the Catholic Church in New Orleans.”

The Clarion Herald will continue to be available both in print and online, delivering the voices of clergy, religious, and laypeople throughout the archdiocese. As the Archdiocese of New Orleans transitions into this next phase, LPi is proud to support its mission of faith, connection, and Catholic community.

We Don’t Follow Strangers

Thu, 08 May 2025 11:00:06 GMT

I get a little crazy when it comes to my kids’ safety. We’ve probably had a few too many conversations that could be entitled “What to Do If Mommy Loses You At the State Fair” or “Don’t Trust People Just Because They Smile At You.” Am I making them paranoid? Possibly. But that’s something they can sort out later with their therapists.

Because here’s the bottom line of it all — I don’t want to instill a fear of strangers into my kids, but I do want them to understand that you can’t always trust people you don’t know (heck, you can’t always trust the people you do know, but that’s another therapy-provoking conversation we can have when they’re older).

If someone says, “Hey, follow me,” and we don’t know them, it’s not always a great idea to comply. First, we have to ask questions. “Where are you taking me? Why are we going? Who else will be there?”

But if someone we know and love and trust says, “Hey, follow me,” we don’t even think twice, and we don’t need to ask any questions. We know wherever we’re going is a safe place for us because we have a relationship with the person doing the leading. We feel comfortable putting ourselves in their care.

That’s why it’s so important to Christ that we know him. That we have a relationship with him. That we trust him.

Because we don’t follow strangers, do we?

I don’t have all the answers to the questions I would love to ask Christ. “Why is this happening? Where are you taking me?” But the beautiful thing is, I don’t actually need those answers. I know him. He’s got my hand. Wherever we’re going is where I want to be.

©LPi

The Witnesses of What Makes No Sense

Thu, 01 May 2025 18:30:46 GMT

It never fails to amuse me that the disciples in today’s Gospel don’t recognize Jesus until he asks them to do something that makes absolutely no logical sense.

He’s just some random stranger on the shore — until he gives them an order that, in any other circumstances, would have them rolling their eyes into the backs of their head: Drop the nets again. I know you haven’t caught anything all night. I know you’re tired. Just do it one more time. Trust me. Again.

That’s when they recognize him.

The disciples display such poor recognition of Jesus after the resurrection. I’m sure there’s a good, theologically sound reason for it, one I am not smart enough to explain. Whatever that reason is, it’s very clear that God was carefully orchestrating these moments of realization. He is trying to tell us something about how we recognize the risen Christ — the one who has conquered sin, the one whose love was stronger than death. The one who never made any sense, and never will, because his kingdom is not of this world, and to understand him — to recognize him — you have to detach from the priorities, the expectations, the limitations of this present world.

You have to be willing to do what makes no sense.

Love — again, even when it doesn’t make sense. Forgive — again, even when it doesn’t make sense. Believe — again, even when it doesn't make sense.

“We are the witnesses of these things,” Peter tells the Sanhedrin (Acts 5:32). Peter, who was so full of joy when he recognized Jesus that he leapt into the sea, fully clothed, desperate to be near him.

It makes no sense, and that’s okay. That’s kind of our whole thing, as Christians. We are the witnesses of the things that make no sense.

©LPi

Wonder, Don’t Wander

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 10:00:08 GMT

My daughter recently asked me if it’s okay to “wonder if all the Jesus stuff is true.”

I wasn’t surprised by her question. I’ve expected it, in fact. If you’re raising a child to be a critical thinker, you don’t want them to accept everything you tell them simply because it comes from your lips. I have promised my children that I will always give them the truth about God. But that’s all I can do — give it to them. Whether or not they accept it, ultimately, is their own choice.

“I know it’s true,” she told me. “But sometimes it just all sounds so…unbelievable.”

She’s not wrong. It does sound unbelievable that an all-powerful God could create us for no reason other than sheer love, that He could be generous enough to give us free will to accept that love, that he could be merciful enough not to destroy us when we reject that love, and finally that he could be faithful enough in that love to become flesh and die in order to save us from the consequences of our own poor choices.

But lots of things are unbelievable. That doesn’t mean they’re not true.

When Jesus says, “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed,” he isn’t calling Thomas a fool for questioning something that sounds a little outrageous. He’s just highlighting the fact that Thomas is afforded a luxury that none of the Christians born after him, my daughter included, will have: he gets to see proof with his own eyes.

I told my daughter it’s fine to wonder — just don’t wander. Take Thomas’ example. Stay close to the people you trust. Return to the warmth of the upper room. Be willing to recognize Jesus when he’s in front of you. Never be afraid to believe.

©LPi

The Search

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 10:00:04 GMT

Everybody’s trying to find God. They may not admit it. They may not even know it. They may talk around it, shy away from saying the name, both to others and to themselves: God . But I know for a fact that every person who was ever born into this world spent their lives searching for Him - somewhere, somehow, even if the only place they thought to look was in money or drugs.

It’s a comforting fact, really — a reminder of how alike we all are. Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, atheist, rich, poor, Black, white. When it comes right down to it, the history of humanity is a never-ending Easter morning scene that plays in perpetuity. The sorrow, the shock, the confusion. Again and again, as each newborn baby opens his eyes, the search begins anew. Where did he go? What has happened? Where can I find him?

Catechesis isn’t enough. Even those who learn about Jesus Christ, who accept his word, hang hesitantly outside the tomb, afraid to go in. Jesus’ best friend — the disciple whom he loved — ran faster than Peter, so desperate he was to find his Lord. But when he got to the tomb and saw it empty, he got spooked. He froze.

Sometimes, we expect God to be right where we left Him — in a certain parish, with a certain priest, in a certain relationship, at a certain job. We show up, and we’re heartbroken to see that our expectations have been turned upside down. He’s left us , we think dejectedly, but we’re wrong.

There is no one who has been abandoned by God. There are only those who stop looking for Him.

Don’t let the empty tombs define you. It’s the search that defines you.

©LPi

The Stones Will Cry Out

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 11:00:04 GMT

I have a complicated relationship with evangelization.

I don’t think that we (I’m talking about 21st-century American Catholics here) have had much formation around what exactly it means to proclaim the Gospel. We don’t know how to do it. We don’t really want to do it. It sounds kind of scary and awkward. It sounds like knocking on strangers’ doors and yelling through the keyhole, “Have you accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior?” It sounds like arguing with friends and family. It sounds like a real pain.

I’m Catholic. I’m proud of being Catholic. I do my Catholic things in my Catholic house throughout my Catholic life. But is that enough?

All Christians are called to “wordless witness” in how they live their lives, writes Paul VI in the apostolic exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi — but this alone, he says, is “insufficient.” We must talk about Jesus. We must name him. We must speak of his life, his promises. We must proclaim him.

We must be loud enough that a Pharisee would cringe at us.

And yet — and Paul VI acknowledges this — it’s not actually evangelization if we do it so badly that nobody listens. If we “impose” truth on someone’s conscience instead of “proposing” it. If we make the mistake of thinking there is one singular way to share Christ with the great variety of personalities that exist in this world.

Dear reader, I am running out of column space, and still I have no answers for you, or for myself. I don’t know how to do it well. But I know we have to try. We have to pray. We have to reflect. We have to be patient. We have to be humble. We have to remember it’s about him and not about us.

Most of all, when we find ourselves confused and retreating into silence, we must remember Christ’s words: “If they keep silent, the stones will cry out.”

©LPi

The Allure of Being Right

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 11:00:04 GMT

It wasn’t a real question.

“The law of Moses says we should stone her. What do you say?” the Pharisees asked Jesus as they brought the adulterous woman before him. But they weren’t really asking. They didn’t care what Jesus’ answer was. They didn’t ask his opinion because they wanted to know. They asked because they wanted to use his words against him.

Righteousness, truth — that wasn’t the goal. The goal was being right.

And in the middle of the whole scene, dragged before Jesus, used as a literal prop in this staged drama, is a woman. A real flesh-and-blood woman.

I find myself wanting to know more about her. She had been “caught in the act,” they claimed, but I wonder what that even means. With whom was this act committed, and what were the reasons for her participation in it? Was she coerced? Was she scared? Was she confused? Was it really a cut-and-dry, black-and-white situation of adultery, of lust, of making the wrong decision?

We will never know the answers to these questions, and it doesn’t matter — it’s not our business. God knows the answers. God knows the truth of the matter: what she did, what she chose, what she felt. Because she wasn’t a prop to Him. She was a person.

When God looks at us, he sees more than the worst decisions we’ve ever made.

I worry that we use one another as props even today, when we try like the Pharisees to illustrate “What is Right.” We have a terrible tendency to see only decisions, and in doing so we dehumanize the people behind them.

Too often, we don’t care about righteousness or truth. We just care about being right.

©LPi

LPi promotes Matt Inkmann Vice President of Ad Sales

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 21:54:15 GMT

In February of 2025, LPi promoted Matt Inkmann from Senior Director of Ad Sales to Vice President of Ad Sales. With his recent accomplishments still fresh, we couldn’t resist sitting down with Inkmann to learn more about him, his journey, and life at LPi.

Q. Hi Matt! What is your new position and how does it fit into LPi’s goals for the future?
A. I accepted a newly created position at LPi, the Vice President of Ad Sales. I’m now officially a member of the company’s leadership team and will be leading our ad sales teams — inside, outside, and renewals. I’ll be working closely with our leaders to develop strategies that fill our ad space in print, drive digital growth, and expand into new markets.

The cool thing about this unique role is that advertising is the driving force behind LPi’s success as an organization, so I get to directly support the mission of LPi as well as all of our publishing partners! I’m very grateful to be in this new role, and it’s humbling because it’s a big responsibility to lead this team. I take it seriously that we are all working together to build a bright future for LPi.

Q. Of all the companies out there, why LPi?
A . I’ve been with LPi for a total of seven years. My background is in print and digital advertising, and I first joined LPi as an advertising sales manager.

The greatest endorsement I can give LPi is that after LPi sold its WeShare and WeGather products, my team and I moved to the company that acquired them, Ministry Brands — since the teams for those products were part of the sale. That said, I didn’t leave LPi at that point by choice — and when given the opportunity, I jumped at the chance to come back! That speaks volumes as to how special LPi is. Of all the companies I’ve worked for, LPi is the most meaningful to me, and it’s all because of the people and customers who I work with here. The relationships we build and investment we have in each other at LPi are unlike anywhere else I’ve worked.

Q. What makes working in sales at LPi different? Give us a tip when it comes to succeeding in sales!
A. One of the best parts of our business model is that it’s a win-win-win. Our publishing partners get what they need for their communications almost entirely at no cost, advertisers connect with a hyper-local audience that is already invested in supporting them — since their ad supports an organization their audience already loves — and we all get to build careers doing something meaningful. I advise our teams that if they ever struggle with what to say in a sales conversation, just tell the story of LPi. Once people understand what we do, they see how unique and valuable it is.

Another key to success in ad sales? Be human. Making a ton of calls is part of the job, but it’s easy to slip into robotic mode. I always remind our teams: take a breath, reset, and approach each conversation as if you were sitting down with the person at a restaurant. Business owners get bombarded with sales calls every day, but what makes you stand out is how genuine you are and how passionate you are about what you do.

Q. What are you excited about when it comes to this upcoming year at LPi?
A. This year, I’m excited about my expanded ability to work with our teams and drive new opportunities — especially with the launch of our digital products. These open the door for new advertisers and fresh ways to sell advertising that benefit both our customers and our revenue growth.

Two big focus areas are digital expansion and growing our customer base. I’m also looking forward to working with my team on innovative solutions for the church merger challenges in the Catholic space. We have a strong customer base there, and it’s important to nurture those relationships while continuing to evolve.

Q. Tell us a little about your life outside of LPi!
A. I’m a huge sports fan and still play basketball whenever I can. I grew up playing sports and I love competition. You won’t catch me on a treadmill to work out — I’d much rather play a sport like basketball for hours and be around people to stay fit!

I’ve also become really interested in the business side of the NBA, things like contract dynamics, salary caps, and the rules that GMs need to navigate. I’ve even taken courses to understand it better, just because I find it fascinating. One of my bucket-list goals is to attend a national conference for basketball business nerds and really dive into the behind-the-scenes world of the sport.

My downtime is also extremely centered around my family, especially my two daughters, who are 9 and 6. Whether it’s dance parties in the basement or playing Barbies, I cherish every moment with them. Life is busy, so I try to maximize my time with family as much as possible!

Q. Do you have any good book recommendations?
A. One of my favorite books is “Turn the Ship Around” by David Marquet, a former Navy officer. The core message is that great leaders don’t create followers, they create more leaders. That idea really resonates with me, especially when leading a 200-person team. Making big changes isn’t about telling people what to do — it’s about empowering others to take ownership and lead. We’ve seen that firsthand with the launch of our ad CRM, where we focused on getting the team invested in the process rather than just enforcing change. Leadership at LPi isn’t about just one person — it’s about building the next wave of leaders!

Q. Thank you, Matt! Before we close, is there anyone you’d like to thank?
A. Absolutely! I owe a lot of my leadership growth to Tim Potrikus, LPi’s CRO, who challenges and pushes me outside my comfort zone on a regular basis. His encouragement has helped me grow to the point where I can confidently take on this new role. I’m looking forward to the challenge and I’m ready to have a blast as the new Vice President of Ad Sales!

Thank you, Matt, for your time and congratulations on your new position. We’re proud to have you on the LPi leadership team!

Interested in a career with LPi? Visit our careers portal here:  www.4lpi.com/careers

The Apology

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 11:00:11 GMT

I like to imagine the Prodigal Son practicing his apology in the mirror.

He wouldn’t have, of course. Mirrors weren’t exactly a dime a dozen back then. But I imagine him anyway, rehearsing the words as he contemplates his own gaunt reflection: “Father, I have sinned against God and against you. Treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”

In other words, I have done wrong. I deserve nothing from you. But please, don’t let me starve. Save me.

The apology wasn’t necessary to move the heart of the father. We know that because before they meet, before anything is said, the father is overcome with compassion — not because he got his satisfaction, that long-awaited “I’m sorry, I was wrong.” No, he’s simply overjoyed to see his son alive. Even without apology, we know the father will beg his son to stay.

So why does the son apologize?

The father doesn’t need the “I’m sorry.” He isn’t starving and lost. He knew all along it was a bad idea. He doesn’t need to learn any lessons.

But what a tragedy it would have been, if the son had never said he was sorry. Undoubtedly, his father would have let him stay as a hired worker, and he would have had food to eat. He would have survived. But he wouldn’t have been what he was born to be.

I often think of the son’s apology as I am kneeling in the confessional, awkwardly reciting sins God already knows and is eager to forgive. Why are you doing this? some people would ask. God doesn’t need this.

It’s the apology, you see. The apology means everything. The Prodigal Son was dead. The apology brought him back to life.

God doesn’t need our repentance. We need our repentance.

©LPi

The Patient Gardener

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 11:00:07 GMT

I have garden beds on the side of my house that I don’t deserve.

When we bought the property, this was one of the features that was highlighted in the listing. “Professional landscaping! Tri-level garden beds that bask in the southern exposure!”

But I’m so terrible at weeding these garden beds — they become overgrown quickly, and I shudder to imagine what the previous owners would think of me if they drove by. I’m afraid they would write me off as lazy or disinterested, when really I’m just exhausted and busy. Every time I try to garden, one of my little assistant gardeners runs near the road and I must abandon the project to save them.

So, my husband, bless his heart, is the savior of these garden beds. He goes out there in the cool of the evening to pluck up the weeds that threaten to overtake this beautiful little garden. Patiently and tenderly, he restores it to a presentable state. Without him, they would be lost.

Perhaps I love these garden beds so much because I identify with them. If I were a garden, I would also be a mess, and people who have no time for messes would write me off as hopeless. We all need a savior to stick up for us, to come and quietly prune the unsightly growths that have taken root in our souls and turn the soil that has sat undisturbed for too long.

What I love most about our Savior is that he didn’t — doesn’t — give up on us. “Give me more time,” he says to the Master. “I can still fix this one.”

©LPi

LPi Sales Teams Thrive in Atlanta at Dynamic Sales Conference

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 14:45:28 GMT

This past February, LPi sales teams from across the country converged in Atlanta, Georgia, for an annual sales meeting. The group was joined by LPi’s senior leadership team, as well as members from other departments. The theme for this year’s meeting was Thrive in ’25 — The Future is YOU! From “Thrive Talks,” where key members shared their experiences and advice, to opportunities to bond with coworkers and strategize for the year ahead, the meeting was a resounding success!

The event this year featured training on new programs, a continued focus on expanding our digital footprint, and celebrations of our recent successes! In fact, by the end of the event, 100% of our sales team was certified to use our new CRM system. The meeting also provided a unique opportunity to collaborate with our LPi colleagues across the country.

“I was thrilled with the opportunity to collaborate with not only my team, but the entire LPi sales team,” explained Mark Daniel, Inside Sales Manager. “From our incredible breakout sessions, to the complete buy-in of our new CRM, and all the way up to the 12 ^th floor and the fun times at Club 901, this conference reminded me why our team is the best in the business.” With over 200 people in attendance, there was something for everyone at this year’s four-day event.

Jeff Tallman, Director of Outside Ad Sales, expressed his delight at the experience. “I was fortunate enough to have a promotion announced in front of the entire audience! The recognition was quite special, and was an extraordinary moment that I will never forget.”

The event also included exciting leadership news! Matt Inkmann, who previously held the role of Senior Director of Ad Sales, was named Vice President of Ad Sales. Congratulations, Matt — we can’t wait to see all you accomplish in this role!

We’re grateful to everyone who contributed to this THRIVING success. Here’s to building on this momentum and creating even more impactful and inspiring gatherings in the years ahead!

The Divine Confidante

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 11:00:04 GMT

My husband pretty much knows that if he tells me something — anything — he’s also telling my sister.

Most of us have that person that we run to when we have important information. I’m not even talking about gossip; I’m talking about stuff we just have to discuss. We joke that I don’t really know how I feel about something until I’ve run it by my sister first.

There’s not really anything wrong with that. When we’re trying to figure out how to think about something that has happened or how to react to a certain situation, it’s always helpful to get the opinion of someone we trust.

But what if we ran as quickly to discuss the situation with God as we did to discuss it with our “person?” Wouldn’t that be ideal?

After witnessing the transfiguration — an event that had to have been as confusing as it was astounding — we hear that the disciples “fell silent and did not at that time tell anyone what they had seen.”

When something profound, frightening, or confusing happens, our first confidante should be God. I’m reminded of Luke 2:19: “Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart.” There is something to be said for taking a moment to keep that information sacred between ourselves and the One who can really help us confront it.

Sure, maybe we don’t understand what just happened. Maybe we’re scared by it. We don’t really know how we feel about it. And that’s totally okay. The divine confidante knows how to help us pray through that confusion, that fear.

If you’re someone’s “person” and they come to you wanting to talk, that’s great. Talk it out. But remind them — and remind yourself — to pray about it as much as you talk about it.

Let the love of those things carry you through this Lent, and beyond.

©LPi

What the Devil Doesn’t Have

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 12:00:08 GMT

The devil knows all the rules. The devil knows all the Bible verses. He probably knows them better than you do (certainly better than I do).

He knows them so well that here, in today’s Gospel, he thinks he can outsmart the Son of God. He thinks he can out-argue him.

See, the thing you need to know about the devil is that he could have a master’s degree in theology. Maybe even a doctorate. But have you ever met a master’s student, or even a doctoral one, who doesn’t have a particular passion for what they’re studying? I sure have.

The devil didn’t rebel against God because he didn’t understand God’s will. He rebelled because he understood God’s will perfectly — and he didn’t like it.

The devil knows that Jesus is human, and so in today’s Gospel he employs all the very best tricks he has for getting humans to break. Physical hunger. Insecurity and a desire for power. The yearning to appear learned and wise.

The devil will try these things with us, too — this Lent, and throughout our lives.

It doesn’t work with Jesus, because, of course, Jesus is not just human. He can feel temptation, but he will not submit to it. But how are we supposed to do the same? We’re not divine. We’re just human.

Well, here’s the thing. We may be only human, but as Christians, we have a secret weapon. (No, it’s not a master’s degree in theology. Some of you may have that, but it probably doesn’t make you holier.)

We have a love of what the devil has renounced — those things belonging solely to God. Truth. Joy. Humility. Sanctifying sacrifice.

Let the love of those things carry you through this Lent, and beyond.

©LPi

The Log in Your Eye

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 12:00:05 GMT

Today’s Gospel is a big favorite of non-Christians — or Christians who don’t like being told what to do.

That trusty ol’ remove the wooden beam from your own eye line is a classic. Mind your business, Christians! You’re not perfect either.

And that’s entirely true. None of us are perfect. We’ve all got logs in our eyes. We can’t approach life acting like we have the answers simply because we follow Jesus.

Jesus has the answers, and we have Jesus.

The real problem with having someone remove a splinter from my eye, if he himself has a log in his eye, is not that he has no business removing the splinter from my eye. It’s that he can’t see clearly to do it. His own eyesight is occluded.

If we see a splinter in another person’s eye, or a problem in the world that needs to be fixed, or a scandal in the community that should be addressed, what Jesus is saying is not that we should ignore it and move on. He’s merely saying that, when we see these things, we must take them first as a challenge to examine ourselves. To address the problem as it exists within our own souls, so that we ensure we are seeing clearly. Then, if we reach out to pluck the splinter, we will do so with clear eyesight.

He wants us to worry as much about our own souls as we do about other people’s.

We tend to look at the world and feel anxious — so much evil! So much hate! So much sin! We pray, God, when will you change it?

And He whispers back: I will change it here. Now. In your own heart. You just have to ask.

©LPi

Judgment and Love

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:00:06 GMT

“Oh, well. I’m going to hell anyway, right?”

I have a few family members and friends who are not practicing Catholics who say this to me from time to time. It’s always spoken in a teasing manner, with a wink and a shoulder shrug, usually to explain away some sort of minor misbehavior they feel guilty about.

It saddens me that Christians have somehow gained this reputation as a people who judge, who condemn. I think in part it stems from a misunderstanding on the part of unchurched people (and lots of churched ones, too) regarding what constitutes “judging.” It is absolutely not “judging” someone to disagree with a personal decision, whatever that decision may be, or to decline from participating in that decision. We all have functioning consciences; we are all supposed to discern the moral goodness of any action before we take it.

But it is judging someone if we allow their decisions to impact how we treat them.

Today’s Gospel is an invitation for us to consider how we engage with people who disagree with us — or maybe even actively dislike us. Much is said these days of the “culture wars.” I certainly don’t disagree that it can often feel like you’re fighting a war when you’re trying to live as the Church teaches. The forces against you often seem overwhelming and nefarious. And guess what? They are.

But we need to remember who the enemy really is. The enemy is not other children of God, even if they are children of God who are actively promoting ideas that are wrong. Perhaps these people are misguided and mistaken. Perhaps they are misled by the devil. Have we not all been misled by him at some point?

We must interact lovingly with people who think differently and live differently from us. The Christian life absolutely demands it.

©LPi

In the End, Does it Matter?

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 12:00:03 GMT

When I was a teenager, the priest I would go to for confession used to tell me, over and over: “In the end, we all get the same dirty hole in the ground.”

What he meant was, it doesn’t matter how rich or smart or well-liked we are. We’re all heading to the same place. This life comes to an end for every man. All the money he earns, all the stuff, all the worldly esteem, will at some point be of no further use. We all get the same dirty hole in the ground.

It was an important message for me to hear, because at the time, it all seemed so important: my after-school job and my FAFSA application and my grades. The admiration of my friends and teachers. I was so consumed with what I was going to become that I wasn’t spending a lot of time thinking about who I was going to become. But the who is the only thing that lasts until the next life.

And to be honest, it’s all still too important to me. Avoiding sadness and disappointment. Saving money and being liked. Focusing on “the five-year plan” when it comes to career, house plans, and a whole bunch of other things I can’t take to my dirty hole in the ground.

Jesus was radical in his teaching that the “stuff” in life wasn’t all that important. It was radical for him to say that the worldly signs of success — wealth, popularity, pleasure — did not amount to a whole lot in the grand scheme of things and that suffering could sanctify us. It was radical in the ancient world, and it’s radical today.

Are we ready to be radical, too?

©LPi

Surprise! Printed Church Bulletins Are More Popular Than Ever

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 22:27:10 GMT

We are surrounded by digital content every day so it's easy to assume that printed church bulletins are becoming a thing of the past. Wrong! Recent studies show that well-designed, content-rich Catholic parish bulletins are still going home with families after every Mass. Is your parish running out of your printed bulletins every week? If not, we can help you level up. By following our tips to enhance your bulletin's design and content, you can increase its appeal and effectiveness within your congregation. Want to go a step further and learn more? Head over to our comprehensive "Bulletins 101 Guide" for a deeper look at all things bulletin related.

Why Are Printed Church Bulletins Gaining Popularity?

Professional Design: A strong, easy-to-navigate parish bulletin design is one of your very best tools to getting your parishioners to pick up the bulletin every week. Churches with professional, attractive designs are finding bulletins fly out the doors!
Tangible Connection: A physical bulletin provides a sense of tradition and belonging that digital formats often can't replicate.
Engaging Content: Elements like pastoral letters, beautiful Catholic covers , and parishioner spotlights can make the bulletin more engaging.
Exclusive Content: Make your bulletin one of a kind with content your parishioners won’t find anywhere else! With WeCreate, our exclusive library of Catholic content, you’ll have access to Catholic comics that engage and inspire, Gospel story illustrations that bring scripture to life, saint illustrations that highlight the heroes of our faith, and so much more !

How to Enhance Your Parish’s Bulletin

1. Lean In and Invest in Professional Design: If your bulletin is cluttered with small copy and hard to read, many folks may simply overlook it. An intentional and professionally designed layout enhances readability and reflects your church's commitment to excellence.

Don’t forget, parishes that print their bulletins through LPi get a free professionally designed, custom bulletin template to easily cross this task off their list!

2. Incorporate that Engaging and Exclusive Content: Consider the content you include and remember to:

Highlight Key Information: Important announcements, event details, and staff/ministry contact information should be prominently displayed and easy to find.

Maintain Consistency: Use consistent branding elements, such as colors and fonts, to create a cohesive look that aligns with your church's identity. We can help if you don’t know where to start with a professional brand for your parish.

Solicit Feedback: Encourage congregation members to provide input on the bulletin's content and design to ensure it meets their needs and preferences. In fact, consider putting a survey in the bulletin for them to return the following week!

3. Print Your Bulletin in Vibrant Color: Give your parish a bulletin that stands out with high-quality paper and gorgeous, eye-catching color — without breaking the bank. With LPi’s free, ad-supported bulletins, your parishioners will feel proud to pick up a beautifully crafted bulletin as soon as they see it at Mass.

By focusing on these areas, your church bulletin will become a cherished resource that congregants look forward to each week, fostering a stronger sense of community and engagement.

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To learn more about LPi’s ad-supported free printed and digital bulletin service for Catholic parishes, and see some examples of the beautiful bulletin designs we create for thousands of parishes across the country, head on over to our website . We would love to help you spread the love of Christ!

The Catch

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 15:01:43 GMT

I love today’s Gospel passage, and not just because I love a good fish fry.

I love it because I am Peter. Over and over again, I am Peter, standing here exhausted because I relied on my own abilities, and it got me nowhere. I’m ready to call it quits. I’m ready to say it’s too hard. And here comes Jesus, asking me to lower my net. To keep trying.

And I try to talk sense into him. “It’s not going to work, God,” I insist. “I’ve been trying.”

“You’ve been trying,” Jesus agrees. “But you haven’t asked for my help yet.”

What does it mean to lower your net? It sounds so simple and so easy, but it takes a great deal of humility and trust. I think I’m the expert on my own life, the captain of my own ship. Peter probably thought so, too — he was the fisherman, after all. Why would a fisherman listen to a carpenter on matters of fishing?

Lowering your net means giving God control and letting yourself be changed by what He chooses to show you.

It means to listen to God’s instructions, even when you don’t understand them, even when you find them frustrating. It means to keep trying the hard thing that you know is the right thing, even when it hasn’t born much fruit. It means to keep loving the person who is making life hard on you, even when all you want to do is give into feelings of bitterness and distrust.

If we would only lower our nets, the catch would astound us.

©LPi

Checklist: Get Your Church Website Ready for Easter Visitors

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 19:33:37 GMT

During the weeks leading up to Easter, parishes can expect an increased number of visitors to their websites. People looking for a spiritual home this Easter season will be searching for churches local to where they live or where they are traveling, so it’s in your best interest to make sure your website is intentionally optimized to reach them! Here’s a comprehensive checklist to help you get ready:

Parish Easter Visitor Checklist for Websites:

Ensure Mobile Compatibility
First and foremost, be sure that your website is mobile-friendly. These days, most users will access it via their mobile devices — especially if they are traveling to the area for the holidays. If needed, seek professional assistance to enhance mobile responsiveness. Our parish website builder, WeConnect , makes this process super easy.
Highlight Easter and Holy Week Schedules Prominently
Feature all your Easter and Holy Week/Triduum event times prominently on your homepage, allowing visitors to view them without having to scroll far. Utilize eye-catching banners or dedicated sections for this information.
Save time on design by using the Easter Sections exclusively available inside of WeConnect . These drag-and-drop website sections are designed for Catholic parishes to use during the Easter season, drawing visitors’ attention to your schedule immediately upon visiting your website.

Incorporate Professional Easter Graphics
Use high-quality Easter-themed graphics to emphasize important information. Tools like WeCreate offer all different sizes of graphics and customizable templates tailored for Easter. Bonus — you can use the WeCreate Easter graphics for more than just your website. They can be placed in your social media, bulletins, flyers, programs, and wherever else you need liturgically appropriate images!

Ensure Your Parish is Easy to Locate
Ensuring your church's location is easy to find is crucial for welcoming new visitors, especially during the Easter season. Make sure you display your complete address prominently on your homepage, as well as in your “Contact Us” section.
Make sure your Parishes Online profile is up to date as millions of people across the country use this website to search for local Catholic churches in their area. Don’t forget to also register your parish with Google . This ensures your parish appears in relevant Google search results and on Google Maps.

Provide Accessible Visitor Information
Include a clearly labeled section in your main homepage menu for newcomers, such as "I'm New" or "Welcome." This area should offer essential details to help visitors feel comfortable and informed, like where to park, when Mass and confession times are, what your parish mission is, and how to learn more about your parish staff.

Showcase Ministries and Services
Ensure that information about your various ministries and services is also easily accessible from your homepage. Doing so allows potential visitors to understand your unique community and the opportunities your parish offers.

Highlight Faith Formation Programs
Prominently display information about faith formation programs for both youth and adults. This demonstrates your commitment to spiritual growth and education while also directing visitors to a welcoming place to explore more about sacraments and your faith.

Integrate Social Media Features
Add social media links and any live feed information to your website. This integration fosters community engagement and keeps content dynamic. It is common to have Facebook, Instagram, and other social media links located either at the top of your homepage or in your footer.

Create an Easter-Specific Landing Page
Develop a dedicated page with comprehensive details about Easter services, events, and any special instructions visitors might need to know. This centralizes information, making it easy for visitors to find what they need.
As a bonus, you can link to this landing page from other information sources like social media posts, Easter invite mailers, flyers, bulletin articles, and more!

Test Website Performance
Regularly check for broken links, outdated information, and loading speeds both on the mobile version of your site and your desktop version. A well-functioning website enhances user experience and reflects the parish's attention to detail.

By following this checklist, we’re confident that your parish website will be well-prepared to welcome and inform visitors during the Easter season. Cheers to creating a positive and lasting impression for all!

Need to simplify your website design and updating process?

LPi can help! Our robust Catholic parish website builder, WeConnect, allows your parish to quickly build, edit, and maintain events, post bulletins, update blogs, and so much more. As a bonus, our multimedia design team is equipped build you a professional and mission-forward site! To learn more about WeConnect, head over to the WeConnect website or check out our upcoming free online live demo dates .

Want some more parish website inspiration? Our article , “Church Website Trends We’re Loving” has examples of some of the best parish website’s we’ve seen lately. You can also head on over and browse the articles inside the “Web and Social Media” section of our blog or simply dive into our complete guide to parish websites .

The Thoughts of Many Hearts

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 12:00:04 GMT

When Simeon cradles the infant Messiah in his arms, he speaks of salvation and glory and revelation. He speaks of his own death. He speaks of the fulfillment of God’s promise to all people.

But most memorable, in my opinion, are his words about the hearts of men. This Child, he says, will be the way “the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

Perhaps you’re like me. Perhaps you don’t enjoy scrutinizing yourself, your actions, your intentions. You don’t like reflecting on why you feel or react the way you do, and you really don’t enjoy measuring those feelings and reactions against what you know they could be.

It’s exhausting to sit with God, your heart in your hands, both of us looking at it, talking about it. So far too often, I opt out.

The oldest trick of the devil, you see, is to distract us from thinking about our hearts. It’s not hard for him to do. There are so many other things I could be doing, after all. Answering emails. Catching up on laundry. Scrolling Facebook. Worrying about inflation and the election. Stressing about my kid’s dance recital and next week’s busy schedule.

But where is God truly at work? Where is the place God will point to, when my life on Earth has come to its close?

It is the very depths of my heart. The place where I am my most authentic self, for better or worse. The place where all my pretensions crumble away, and I am alone with the truth of who I am and what I choose to do.

Am I brave enough to look into the depths of my own heart?

©LPi

Perfect Gifts for Parish Visitors That Won’t Break the Bank

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 18:18:02 GMT

Welcoming first-time visitors warmly is essential for fostering a thriving Catholic community. Offering thoughtful gifts can make newcomers feel valued, appreciated, and inspired to learn more about your parish. In this article, we'll explore budget-friendly gift ideas that leave a lasting positive impression on your guests.

Consider the Following Parish Gift Ideas

Let’s Start with Youth!

Nothing quite says, “Your family belongs here,” than by warmly welcoming children. Many parishes have found great success in offering a small bundle of crayons and coloring pages to families with young kids, right as they walk in.

Additionally, during special holidays, passing out a treat after Mass — as families leave — can have a lasting positive effect! Consider candy canes after Christmas Mass or another kind of treat after Easter, Pentecost, or any other Mass you want to highlight. In fact, did you know that there are many online and possibly local-to-you printing companies that will print your parish logo onto candies and/or candy packaging? That might be a fun option to consider!

For Your Adult Visitors

Welcome gifts for your adult newcomers can come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, and can accomplish more than just simply implying that you’re glad they visited. Intentionally crafted visitor gifts can communicate your parish’s mission, invite guests into ministries, help create an environment of care and prayer, and more! Here are some successful gift ideas from some of the parishes we partner with:

Mystery Bible Verse — Print out a bunch of different Bible verses on your parish’s stationary and put them in your parish’s branded envelopes. Use beautiful verses about God seeing, knowing, caring, and loving people, but be sure to put a different verse in each envelope. Inside the envelope, consider also including a parish registration, list of ministries, and even a recent bulletin with upcoming events. At the beginning of Mass, tell the congregation that anyone visiting is encouraged to pick a mystery verse out of the bunch, special for them.

Need Prayer? — Printing out an inviting card that says something like “How can we pray for you today?” and placing it in each pew shelf next to the hymnals, or somewhere similar, is a great way to invite newcomers to participate. Make sure the card includes:
Instructions for where the card can be placed for collection.
A section to write down a prayer intention.
An area for the person filling out the card to share their contact information.
A checkbox to indicate whether they would like to be contacted directly about the prayer request.

Don’t forget to have pens or pencils readily available, too! This type of “prayer card” will foster a sense of caring and nurturing for newcomers and long-term parishioners alike.

Newcomer’s Coffee Hour Mug — Invite visitors to your newcomer’s gathering by giving them a mug with your parish’s logo, stuffed with some candy, as well as with information about your parish’s next meeting. Bonus if you make it an actual “Newcomer’s Coffee Hour” to tie in with the mug theme!
Personalized Card and a Chance to Get a T-Shirt or Tote — A thoughtful greeting card signed by staff along with a hand-written welcome note is a wonderful visitor gift. Consider printing a list of fun things to do at your parish for a newcomer to check off and including it in the card. You could make it even more engaging by offering an incentive: if they check everything on the list, they can turn it in at the parish office to receive a parish T-shirt, tote bag, or something similar! ( Here’s a great list of merch ideas for parishes!) Include items like “enjoy coffee and donuts after Mass,” “turn in your parish registration,” “sign up for a ministry,” and “attend one of the talks at our upcoming parish mission weekend.”

What are some strategic, affordable, and useful things that your church can include with your welcome gift? Consider bundling any of the following with your gift to increase your hospitality:

Your current parish bulletin.
Coupons from some of the local businesses that advertise in your bulletin (for example, does a pizza place sponsor an ad on your bulletin? Ask if they’ll share a coupon for visitors!).
A list of your parish ministries, including meeting times and contact information.
A printout of your upcoming parish events or a QR code that takes users to the events page on your parish website.
A welcome letter from your pastor.
Information about your newcomer’s meetings or gatherings.
Parish registration information.
Mass times and office/contact information.
Information about OCIA and/or how to learn more about Catholicism.
Information about the sacraments and how to register themselves or their children.

Need a Little Assistance Getting Started?

LPi is your one-stop shop for all things parish communications and offers many tools to assist you in crafting the perfect welcome gift. For example, if you want to offer church merchandise like coffee mugs, T-shirts, and the like, but don’t have a great parish logo yet, head over to our Logos and Branding page to get started on your very own logo refresh or total rebrand! Or, get inspired by some of our favorite parish logo examples and learn about what makes a church logo successful in this recent article .

Another tool to make use of while designing assets for your welcome gifts is WeCreate, our library of Catholic art and content. The thousands of digital images available inside can be used in any way that you’d like to enhance your welcome cards, gifts, prayer cards, and however else you’d like to use them! We even offer templates that you can customize for your own needs, and graphics for every liturgical occasion and ministry need!

Bonus — although WeCreate can be purchased as an à la carte subscription, parishes who already print their bulletins with LPi get it for FREE! Head on over to our WeCreate support page and we’ll be happy to get you started.

These Evil Days

Thu, 23 Jan 2025 12:00:01 GMT

“Alas, that these evil days should be mine.”

If you’ve ever seen “The Lord of the Rings,” you might recognize this quote from “The Two Towers.” The words are spoken by King Theoden at the grave of his only son and heir, as Theoden contemplates the coming war for Middle Earth, a war which has already claimed the life of his son, a war he wants no part of, a war that seems utterly hopeless and unwinnable.

These evil days.

You don’t have to be a fantasy enthusiast or even a Tolkien fan to identify with Theoden here. We have all experienced this same feeling of despair, perhaps increasingly in this age of technology and social media, when the ills of the whole world — violence, injustice, moral disorder and chaos — are in our faces, on our phones, looming over our days.

But when we despair like this, we forget an important truth: this is the time of fulfillment, and we are lucky enough to be living through it.

Yes, the world is broken. It was broken two thousand years ago, too, when Jesus stood up in the synagogue on the Sabbath and read the words of the prophet Isaiah: “He has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives…and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.”

Jesus didn’t come to fix the brokenness of the world. He came to fix our brokenness. He offers us not relief from the trials of life, but an answer to the question of how to live in joy, in love and in purpose in the midst of these evil days.

©LPi

This Holy Week, Reach Further with These Social Media Tips

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 21:17:01 GMT

Did you know that internet search terms like “Catholic churches near me” skyrocket around Triduum and Easter? As people search for Mass times, events, and a spiritual home for the season, it’s the perfect time to ensure your parish’s social media and online presence are working for you.

Make Triduum Mass Times Easy to Find

One of the biggest reasons people search the internet for Catholic churches in the weeks leading up to Easter is to find Holy Week-specific Mass and service times. Don’t leave anyone guessing! Share your Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Vigil times on every available platform:

Website : Create a banner or a dedicated page for Holy Week schedules.
Bulletin : Include details in your printed and digital bulletins.
Social Media : Post your schedule multiple times leading up to the Triduum on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and any other platforms you are using.

Use tools like WeCreate to make this process even easier! WeCreate has ready-made and customizable graphics designed specifically for Holy Week, so you can create beautiful, eye-catching posts in no time. Search with terms like “Holy Thursday,” “Good Friday,” or simply “Triduum” in WeCreate to find perfectly designed images for your needs.

Leverage Facebook and Instagram Stories

Stories on Facebook and Instagram are a fantastic way to catch people’s attention, and they’re often viewed more than regular posts. Use the story-sized graphics in WeCreate’s Social Media Stories section to promote your Triduum schedule and events. These graphics are professionally designed and easy to customize with your own parish’s details.

Here’s how to use them effectively:

Add Key Info : Many of the story templates have extra space where you can drop in Mass times, event details, or even stickers and polls to engage viewers.
Use Title Slides : Start your story sequence with a bold slide like “Holy Week at [Your Parish]” to grab attention.
Be Consistent : Post daily during Holy Week with reminders, reflections, or updates to keep your parishioners informed and engaged.

Create and Pin Facebook Events

Facebook events are a great way to reach both parishioners and visitors who are curious about your parish. Create separate events for each major Triduum celebration — Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil, Easter Sunday and any other gatherings you may have, such as special times to pray the Stations of the Cross or receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Include key details like time, location, and a brief description of what makes each celebration special. Encourage parishioners to share the events to their own social media profiles and to invite their friends and family through Facebook.

Once you’ve created your events:

Use Banners : WeCreate has a section called “Social Media Banners” specifically filled with graphics that are sized to fit in Facebook event headers. These professional graphics will make your events stand out and look polished. There are many Holy Week and Easter designs!
Pin Them to the Top : Does your parish have Facebook groups for its ministries or parishioners? If so, be sure to share upcoming events directly in these groups. Use the “pin” feature there to keep these events at the top of that group’s page, ensuring they’re the first thing members see when they visit.

Get Your Parish Team Involved

Your social media posts will go farther if more people engage with them. Encourage staff members and volunteer ministry leaders to like, share, and comment on your posts. The more engagement your posts receive, the more likely they are to appear in others’ feeds. It’s an easy way to amplify your reach without extra advertising costs and doubles as a way to invite your staff and ministry leaders more deeply into the digital ministry of your church!

Build a Stronger Digital Presence

Social media isn’t just for your current parishioners — it’s a key tool to reach those who may be new to your church, new to the area, or for Catholics who are looking to return to regular practice of their faith. Your posts during this Lenten and Easter season can make a welcoming impression. Include simple, heartfelt captions like, “Join us this Holy Week as we reflect, pray, and celebrate together,” and use inviting, liturgical, and thoughtful images to make your posts visually appealing.

Remember, you can repurpose WeCreate’s graphics not only for social media but also for your website, emails, bulletins, mailers, flyers, and however else you want! The more places you share, the more people you’ll reach.

Bonus Tip: Use the WeCreate Social Media Content Calendar

Feeling overwhelmed? The WeCreate Social Media Content Calendar is your best friend this Holy Week. It includes curated Catholic graphics and ready-made captions for easy copy-and-paste posting that your church can rely on. With this tool, you’ll save time while still making an impact.

Let’s Make This Triduum Unforgettable

By putting your Triduum information front and center on the web through your website and social media, you’re not just sharing details — you’re extending an invitation. Whether someone is a long-time parishioner or someone searching for a spiritual home, your online presence can be the bridge that brings them closer to Christ.

Feeling inspired? Visit the “Web & Social Media” section of our blog for more tips on how to live your faith and impact your parish’s mission by using our culture’s modern tools and networks. We also have a free, complete guide to parish social media management available!

LPi’s 2024 Hall of Fame – Celebrating a Year of Success

Mon, 20 Jan 2025 20:30:09 GMT

As we turn the page on another successful year at LPi, we’re taking a moment to reflect on the incredible accomplishments of 2024. It’s been a year filled with growth, innovation, and collaboration across all areas of our company. Each item on this list reflects the unwavering dedication and effort of our teams, who consistently strive to deliver excellence for our customers, partners, and colleagues. Here are some of the achievements that made 2024 a standout year:

Ad Sales Achievements

Growth in digital advertising exceeding expectations : Our team’s commitment to innovation has propelled us beyond our goals in this critical area.
Celebrating our employee’s success with a record number of attendees at the 2024 Circle of Excellence Awards banquet : This event was a fitting tribute to our high-performing sales teams and their achievements.
The integration of AI resources into our Ad Design team’s workflow : This achievement has streamlined processes and enhanced our creative capabilities.

Customer Wins

We opened a new brick and mortar sales office near Olympia, Washington: The location is already a thriving central hub of support for our customers along the West Coast.
Successfully navigating church consolidations : Our team’s adaptability and expertise shone through in these complex transitions.
The beginning of our intentional acceleration of the Senior Center market : A strategic step forward as we expand our impact in this growing segment.

Service Upgrades

The upgrade of our Las Vegas press: This significant enhancement bolsters our production capacity and quality.
Starting the rollout of our new LPi Dashboard for our publication customers : The user-friendly tool is already earning praise from customers and staff alike.

Terrific Tech

The value, growth, and sales seen in the Parishes Online and My Community Online email distributions : These efforts showcased the power of targeted communication and strategic outreach.
Our team worked tirelessly on the long project to successfully launch our new Advertiser CRM System : This game-changing development will improve our workflows and customer engagement.
The start of transforming Parishes Online : Our incremental steps are making a tangible difference, adding value that’s being recognized by our customers.

Employee Achievements and Gratitude

Craig Polack’s decision for his family to say goodbye to owning LPi : We bid farewell to a remarkable 52-year chapter of LPi’s history with the Polack family while eagerly embracing the opportunities ahead.
Provided Situational Leadership Training for all LPi leaders : Empowering our leaders with tools to grow and adapt in a dynamic business landscape.
Standardized hiring and onboarding processes in targeted areas of the company : The standardization ensures consistency and quality with how we bring new talent into our organization.
93 jobs offered to candidates year-to-date : A testament to our continued growth and commitment to building an exceptional team.
Rolled out three Learning Circles for employees to collaborate and learn from each other : Creating spaces for innovation, collaboration, and shared knowledge across the company has been a big win for us this year!

As we celebrate these many accomplishments, we are filled with gratitude for the teams, individuals, and partners who made them all possible. LPi was founded to serve locations in the Chicago area over 50 years ago. Today we serve 5,000 parishes and 1,000 non-profits! Together, we’ve built a foundation of excellence that will continue to propel us forward into 2025. With so much momentum and excitement, we can’t wait to see what’s next for LPi. Here’s to another year of success, growth, and making a difference — together!

LPi Employees Give Back

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 17:27:43 GMT

This season, as many turn their focus toward giving and volunteering, LPi employees are following suit! One of the many benefits of working at LPi is our employee philanthropic program. We believe that giving back to nonprofit organizations not only enriches the lives of our communities but also enhances the lives of our employees.

Through this program, employees are encouraged to donate 20 work hours per year to a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization. Best of all, these hours are considered paid time off and don’t count against other PTO benefits.

How are LPi employees using their volunteer time? Recently, some members of the Milwaukee Account Processing Team volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House, putting together lunches for families staying there. Meanwhile, the rest of the team stayed back to ensure their volunteering teammates could serve without work getting backed up. What a great example of positive team spirit — one of our core values at LPi!

It sure looks like they had fun during their volunteering time! What a great way to use their volunteer hours!

Interested in giving back to your community? Learn more about the incredible work of the Ronald McDonald House .

Our Designer’s 4 Favorite Catholic Church Logos!

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 01:51:11 GMT

Did you know that our design team typically receives two main types of requests when it comes to designing Catholic church logos? Most frequently, parishes want their logo to focus on their patron saint or on an element of their church building’s unique architecture. Every year, our amazing team of designers meet these requests and more for parishes all over the country. It’s our pleasure to work with parish communities to bring their brands and logos to life, and we’re proud to share four of our favorite Catholic church logo and branding projects to date.

Our Lady of the Lake Church and School

This logo is strong because it creates harmony between their parish and their Catholic school. The community wanted to use elements from their existing school crest (the gold cross and blue colors) combined with elements from the parish like the image of Mary.

Mary, often depicted as a key figure in many Catholic church names, serves in this case as a familiar image reference that our design team frequently works with. The most effective “saint-featured” logos, like this one, maintain a clean aesthetic with simplifying colors. When choosing the colors for saint-featured logos, we also evaluate the design’s effectiveness in many different capacities. For example, does the logo look good in black and white? Does it look good as a social media icon or as a watermark? Our goal is to make sure the figure fits in all contexts without becoming unrecognizable or unsettling.

Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church

The Blessed Sacrament logo is an “iconic-styled” logo. It combines both bold typography and symbols that reflect the Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharist.

An effective iconic logo like this one should be easily recognized at a glance. It should be so bold and simple that anyone could easily re-draw it from memory. This logo adheres to that principle. As for the color choices, the use of green, gold, and blue accents creates a harmonious and cohesive color palette for the parish’s identity.

All Saints Catholic Parish

This parish came to us with a vision! They hoped to have a logo and brand design that reflects the communion of saints and their parish’s unique tagline, while also using recognizable liturgical colors.

The finished logo exudes a welcoming feeling using jewel tones influenced by the colors of the liturgical calendar. Its uniqueness and clarity make it a compelling design. If you look closely, you can easily identify a golden monstrance, three figures with tongues of fire above them (like those encountering the Holy Spirit at Pentecost), a cross, the Eucharist, and the viewer can even interpret this logo as depicting the Trinity.

Although this design is clearly multi-faceted and communicating a lot, it is still simple and elegant enough to be scaled to any size and still look great. It’s memorable, unique, and the type of design that a parish can be proud of!

St. Mary of the Assumption Church

This parish logo highlights the unique architectural elements found in St. Mary of the Assumption’s sanctuary building combined with an illustrative design style. Community members who see this logo will immediately recognize the architecture and know who this logo belongs to.

What we particularly admire about this design is its presentation of the church's façade within a circular golden “frame.” The frame calls to mind the halos found in traditional Catholic icons of saintly figures and immediately bridges the gap between design and holiness for the viewer — it’s a nice touch!

As for the other color choices, the gentle blues symbolize Mary, while the warm tans and bronzy-gold colors reflect the stone and bells of their actual church building.

Discover the Logo Your Parish Deserves

Love these examples and want a beautiful new logo for your own parish? You’re in luck because we’re here to guide you every step of the way! Whether it’s time for a fresh start or a complete rebranding, LPi’s experienced designers are ready to help your parish stand out and connect with your community. Your story is worth celebrating — let’s create something extraordinary together!

For a more comprehensive guide to branding beyond simply logo design, head over to our article, Parish Branding Made Simple: A Guide to Logos, Identity, and Mission-Driven Catholic Brand Design

Your Logo, Your Brand — Building Parish Trust Through Design

Fri, 03 Jan 2025 15:14:30 GMT

Establishing a strong brand is essential for Catholic churches aiming to build trust within their communities. A cohesive and authentic brand not only reflects a church's mission and values but also fosters a sense of reliability and connection among parishioners and visitors alike.

Understanding Church Branding

Church branding goes beyond a logo or visual design — it represents the church's identity, mission, ministries, and the experience it offers to its community. A strong, well-defined brand communicates what the church stands for and what individuals can expect when they engage with the parish. It’s for this reason that the process for creating a brand for your unique parish should be intentional and guided by a clear understanding of your mission, values, and the message you want to convey to your community. We suggest partnering with a professional design team to guide the journey.

LPi has worked with hundreds of parishes nation-wide to created unique and prayerful brands alongside their parish staff and community. Before we dive in to how your brand should build trust with your members, be sure to bookmark the LPi parish logos and branding services page so that, when you’re ready to create that perfect brand, you’ll know exactly where to turn!

The Role of Branding in Building Trust

Consistency and Recognition : Consistent use of visual elements — such as logos, colors, and typography — across all platforms and communications helps your church become easily recognizable. This consistency conveys professionalism and reliability, making it easier for individuals to trust your parish’s presence both online and offline.
Authenticity and Alignment : When a church's branding accurately reflects its mission and values, it demonstrates authenticity. This can go a long way toward ensuring there is no gap between your parish’s proclaimed beliefs and its actions. Closing this gap, even with something as seemingly minor as your branding design, is crucial, as inconsistencies can erode trust. A thoughtfully crafted parish brand demonstrates your commitment to your mission and identity, reinforcing the trust and connection with your community.
Community Engagement : A strong brand fosters a sense of belonging and community. When individuals identify with the church's brand, they are more likely to engage, participate, and invest in its mission. This engagement builds deeper relationships and trust over time.

LPi Brings Parish Brands to Life

At LPi, we understand the importance of effective branding in building trust and engagement within the church community. Our design team specializes in creating cohesive and authentic branding solutions tailored to the unique identity of each parish.

Our services include:

Custom Logo Design : Crafting brand new logos or simply refreshing an outdated design that encapsulates your church's mission and values. We work alongside your parish staff in the process and ultimately provide two to three custom options with multiple rounds of edits to ensure the perfect fit.

Full Branding Packages : Developing comprehensive branding materials, including brand books, bulletin designs, business cards, social media assets, and more to ensure consistency across all platforms.

Website Integration : Offering packages that combine full branding services with custom website designs, providing a cohesive digital presence that reflects your church's identity.

Investing in professional branding is a strategic step for Catholic parishes seeking to build trust and deepen connections within their communities. By presenting a consistent and authentic identity, churches can effectively communicate their mission, foster engagement, and create a welcoming environment for all.

To explore how LPi's branding services can support your church's mission and enhance your community presence, join us on our Church Logos and Branding page.

Looking for more inspiration to enhance your parish brand? Head over to the “Art and Design” section of our blog or check out our free, everything-you-need-to-know guide to parish branding.

Logo Mistakes Your Church Won’t Want to Make

Thu, 26 Dec 2024 15:59:58 GMT

A parish’s logo is more than just a graphic — it’s a reflection of your faith community’s mission, identity, and purpose. A great Catholic church logo helps communicate your story, unify your parishioners, and create a welcoming first impression for visitors.

Whether you’re refreshing your current logo or starting from scratch, avoiding these common design mistakes will ensure that your logo serves you well for years to come.

Parish Logo Pitfalls and How to Steer Clear

1. Incorporating Too Many Elements

It’s tempting to want your logo to say everything about your church — reflect your building, your patron saint, your mission, your location, and every religious symbol under the sun. While it’s great to feel passionate about telling your story, cramming too many details into one logo will unfortunately overwhelm your audience and dilute your message.

Why it’s a mistake:

Busy logos are hard to recognize and even harder to remember.
Small details get lost when printed on smaller items like business cards or mugs.
Overcomplicated logos may look cluttered and discourage people from engaging.

Best Practice: Focus on one or two elements that are meaningful to your community. For example, you might choose your patron saint’s symbol and a simple cross or an image that reflects your most prominent building element (like a particular stained-glass window or your architectural design) so that people recognize your church right away. A clean, clear design will have a greater impact and better longevity. For some examples, check out our designer’s favorite parish logos of 2024.

2. Using Outdated Clipart

Using clipart in your logo gives off a dated and unprofessional vibe. Your parishioners are accustomed to polished branding everywhere they look — from schools and sports clubs to businesses and online communities. Clipart sends the wrong message about your parish’s vitality.

Why it’s a mistake:

Clipart often lacks uniqueness and fails to tell your parish’s specific story.
It can unintentionally signal that your church is stuck in the past or doesn’t prioritize outreach.

Best Practice: Work with a professional designer to create something fresh and custom for your community. Our designers work with Catholic parishes across the United States to create brands and logos that represent them. Trust the professionals!

3. Choosing Too Many Fonts or Fonts That Are Hard to Read

Unique, ornate fonts can look appealing at first glance, but when they’re too complex, too small, or poorly spaced, they become difficult to read. Remember, your logo needs to be readable by all ages, in all settings, and at all sizes — whether on a billboard, a bulletin, or a social media profile.

Why it’s a mistake:

Complex or cursive fonts may alienate viewers, especially those with visual impairments.
Multiple fonts within one logo can also create visual chaos.

Best Practice: Stick with one or two clean, readable fonts that balance modern appeal with timeless simplicity. Test your design with parish members of all ages and abilities to ensure clarity success.

4. Using Too Many Colors

Color is a powerful communication tool. It evokes emotions, reinforces your mission, and enhances the impact of your logo. Too many colors, however, can create visual clutter and make the design feel chaotic to viewers. Plus, more colors often mean higher printing costs for materials like apparel or signage.

Why it’s a mistake:

Logos with too many colors are harder to reproduce in print or embroidery.
Color overload can overwhelm viewers and distract from the logo’s main message.

Best Practice: Choose two or three complementary colors that align with your church’s identity. For example, soft blues can symbolize peace, while deep reds may represent the Holy Spirit. Ensure your design also works in black and white for versatility.

5. Neglecting Scalability

Your logo is meant to appear on websites, social media, bulletins, banners, business cards, and beyond. If your design doesn’t look good at both large and small sizes, its impact will be lost.

Why it’s a mistake:

Intricate details or thin lines may disappear when scaled down.
A logo that’s not adaptable won’t serve all your parish’s needs.

Best Practice: Ensure your logo is simple and clear enough to work at any size. A professional designer will test its scalability across different platforms and formats while creating your perfect design.

6. Failing to Reflect Your Parish’s Mission

A great parish logo visually conveys your church’s mission and values. If your logo lacks meaning or feels disconnected from your identity, it won’t resonate with your community or inspire newcomers to engage.

Why it’s a mistake:

A generic logo misses an opportunity to reflect your community’s unique story.
It may feel impersonal and fail to connect with parishioners on an emotional level.

Best Practice: Start with your parish’s mission. Ask questions like:

What is at the heart of our faith community?
Are there religious symbols, saints, or local features that define us?
What feelings do we want our logo to evoke — welcome, peace, tradition, or hope?

Choose design elements that authentically reflect who you are as a parish. For some inspiration, check out this article about three different parishes and the logo designs that we created for each to represent their unique communities.

Ready for Your Parish's Perfect Logo?

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, we’re here to help! Our team has worked with parishes across the country to create beautiful, impactful logos that reflect their unique identities. Whether you’re starting fresh or simply need a whole brand refresh, we’d love to help your parish shine. Contact us today to learn more about our parish logo and branding services . Your parish has a story worth telling — let’s bring it to life together!

If you simply want to learn more and become a branding pro, check out our free guide to parish branding. It covers everything you need to know to create the best brand (and logo) possible for your community!

Better Bulletins, Stronger Parishes: Simple Changes for Big Results

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 20:43:42 GMT

Your parish bulletin is a key communication tool for your church community. With a few simple adjustments, you can transform it into a vibrant, engaging resource that parishioners look forward to each week.

Six Easy Ways to Take Your Parish Bulletin to the Next Level

1. Go Digital

Offering a digital bulletin isn’t just convenient — it’s essential. A digital version ensures your bulletin is accessible to parishioners on the go, reaches those unable to attend Mass in person, and connects with those who prefer to consume their news and other information online. With LPi's free digital bulletin service , including a digital bulletin for your parishioners alongside your printed bulletin is seamless. We make it super simple to deliver your bulletin to parishioner’s inboxes and to host it on Parishes Online , our online parish directory used by Catholics nation-wide.

2. Use a Professionally Designed Cover Image

Don’t miss the opportunity to grab the attention of potential bulletin readers by having a weak cover design or image. The cover of your bulletin is your first impression to potential readers, so it must look good! You can save time on designing your bulletin cover by using one of the many professionally designed and liturgically relevant cover images available in WeCreate, our library of Catholic digital art and content. WeCreate has options for full-page cover images designed specifically to make your bulletin cover look amazing, half page covers, and even quarter page covers to fit your needs. From Illustrations of the weekly Gospel message to saint quotes and more, there’s a cover image perfect for every parish community . In fact, we just added a new series to the many that we already have. Use images from the same series every week or mix and match to your heart’s content!

3. Update Your Masthead

Your masthead — the header of your bulletin — sets the tone for the entire publication. Is it outdated or cluttered? Consider rebuilding it with a clean, modern design that includes your parish’s name, logo, and contact information. Need help making it perfect? Our design team offers free bulletin redesigns for all of LPi’s bulletin customers, ensuring your masthead represents your parish beautifully while communicating key details at a glance. We have worked with parishes across the country to design new bulletin templates that perfectly represent their unique community.

4. Stick to Consistent Branding

Consistency is key to building a recognizable parish identity. Limit your fonts to one or two families and use your parish’s colors throughout the bulletin. Avoid overwhelming readers with too many styles. If you don’t already have a brand guide , LPi’s team can help you establish one that includes fonts, colors, and even a refreshed logo tailored to your parish’s unique identity. In fact, here’s an article on parish branding that can help you determine if it’s time for a new logo and brand for your parish! You can also dive into some of our favorite church logo examples to get some fresh inspiration.

5. Use Engaging, Relevant Content

Your bulletin isn’t just about announcements — it’s a tool for evangelization and community engagement. Include high-quality, relevant content like weekly Gospel reflections, saint biographies, educational Catholic content, and children’s activities. A Catholic content library like WeCreate can make this easy. For example, every Sunday, WeCreate users get access to written content specific to the Sunday’s readings collected into a single document to easily copy-and-paste into their bulletin. We even have original Catholic comics that are both funny and formational!

6. Embrace Clean, Reader-Friendly Designs

A cluttered bulletin can overwhelm your readers. Opt, instead, for a clean layout with plenty of white space to make the text easy to navigate. Break up long columns of text with images or use a two (or three) column format for better readability. Avoid stretching images or using outdated clip art. High-quality visuals make a huge difference. To see some examples of great reader-friendly designs, check out our recent article: Visual Ministry — Discover the Strongest Parish Bulletin Designs of 2024!

By implementing these ideas, your parish bulletin can become a more effective tool for communication and community building. Remember, if you want help taking your bulletin to the next level, LPi serves thousands of churches nation-wide with expert design services, digital solutions, beautiful printing, fast delivery, and a wealth of content to make your bulletin as vibrant as your unique parish community. Contact us today to get started!

For more inspiration, tools, and tips check out our complete guide to parish bulletin design, editing, and printing or head over to the “Church Bulletins” section of our blog.

LPi Sets Record-Breaking Week: 42.1 Million Pages Printed!

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 20:37:42 GMT

We have some incredible news to share — recently, our production teams achieved a record-breaking milestone , printing an astonishing 42.1 million pages in a single week! This achievement surpasses last year’s holiday record of 39.2 million pages, representing a remarkable 7.4% increase.

Ken Hause, Operations Director, shared his pride in the team’s accomplishment:

“This reflects the incredible hard work and dedication you all bring to the table. Your hard work, collaboration, and commitment continue to drive us forward, one page at a time.”

The record-breaking numbers highlight the exceptional teamwork across all six production facilities.

Joe Luedtke, CEO, weighed in on this historic achievement, emphasizing how it reaffirms the vitality of print:

“Occasionally, you hear that statement, ‘print is dead.’ Nope! Our customers, through their actions, are telling us the exact opposite. Last week, we printed more pages than ever before in LPi’s history. It wasn’t easy — it took a lot of late-night work and weekend work — but you did it. Thank you for serving our customers so well!”

This milestone is a testament to the dedication, hard work, and collaboration of every team member at LPi. Congratulations to everyone on the production team — your efforts continue to make LPi shine!

Who’s Reading Your Church Bulletin? 10 Types of People in Your Congregation

Wed, 11 Dec 2024 20:09:24 GMT

When creating your church bulletin, it's essential to consider the diverse needs and interests of your congregation and the 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.

Church Demographics: Meet the Parishioners in Your Pews

Catholic church demographics show that your parish is made up of people at different stages of life and in different stages of their faith journey. 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 they might be seeking in your parish’s bulletin.

1. Seniors and Longtime Parishioners

Longtime parishioners have been faithful church members for 40+ years. They value tradition and connection, never miss Sunday Mass, and often volunteer for various church activities year-round. Senior Susan is part of the 58% of U.S. Catholic adults who are ages 50 and older , one of the largest groups today.

What Longtime Parishioners Are 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 Visitors and Newcomers

Church visitors are new to the area and exploring local churches to find a spiritual home. They reflect 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 Church Visitors Are 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

Church teens are often juggling school, sports, and social life. They attend Mass with their families or youth groups. High School Hannah 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 Church Teens Are 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

Spiritual Seekers are not Catholic but intrigued by the faith. They might be attending with a friend or exploring spirituality on their own. Including spiritual seekers like Curious 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 Spiritual Seekers Are Looking For:

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

5. Faithful Families

Faithful families are church members seeking opportunities to grow in faith together. Grace and Greg are a young couple with two kids in grade school who want their family to stay connected to parish life. Many parents who return to church do so because they want their children to have meaningful religious experiences .

What Faithful Families 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 adults are church members in their 20s and 30s who are often seeking deeper formation and a strong sense of community. Young Adult Alex represents this group, someone looking to connect with other young adults while growing in faith. 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 Adults Are 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 parishioners are often working parents or professionals with limited free time. Busy Brenda skims the bulletin for essentials. She is one of the many churchgoers who admit that being too busy often gets in the way.

What Busy Parishioners Are 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

Some readers, like Online Oliver, prefer digital formats and engage 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 offer digital options.

What Digital Bulletin Readers Are Looking For:

Interactive 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

Multilingual parishioners are church members who speak English as a second language and often look for ways to stay connected to their faith and community. Bilingual Betty is 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 Multilingual Parishioners Are 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

The youngest members of the church are often the first ones in the family to dive into the bulletin looking for… you guessed it! The kid’s stuff! Elementary Emerson is often found paging through 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 of faith that can grow with them.

What Parish Youth Are Looking For:

Kids’ coloring pages and puzzles
Comics and cartoons

Tips For Crafting a Bulletin For All Church Members

When planning your church bulletin , consider organizing content into separate sections tailored to different church members. 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.

How Church Bulletins Help Grow Church Membership

Your church bulletin is a powerful tool that strengthens church membership by connecting with every member of the 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 that 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.

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

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Updated 03-26-2026

LPi Pressroom Pulls Together this Hurricane Season

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 16:13:41 GMT

When Hurricane Milton hit this past October, it was a big test of teamwork at LPi. With our employees, though, there was no doubt that we would pass it with flying colors.

The operations team started preparing as soon as they saw hurricane Milton heading toward Florida. They had been through a few of these storms in past years, so they kind of knew what to expect. However, this one had a much bigger impact. The team developed a plan to send jobs to Cleveland and contacted our local Florida couriers to deliver some publications early.

LPi proactively closed the Florida plant Wednesday and Thursday so employees could stay safe. We kept sales up to date on all activity that we were aware of with the churches in the area, and possible issues that many were facing with the storm. The plant lost power on Wednesday evening, and we didn’t get all power back until Sunday afternoon. We’re thankful that all our employees were safe and had minimal damage to their homes.

That eventful week, we only ended up with eight churches that did not submit a bulletin, and only six deliveries were missed due to our inability to get through the floods and power outages. Fantastic results when you understand the devastation the storm left in its path!

A huge thank you to the Cleveland press team for printing all those additional publications for Florida, and the prepress teams for helping to move those jobs to Cleveland so we could get them printed. Also, thanks to Jeanne Krien, Ken Hause, and Louie Elahi who met every day to work on the successful plan. One last shout out to Rob Kennedy for offering to deliver bulletins that week. Although we were unable to take advantage of his generous offer, it's still a wonderful example of how everyone works together at LPi. What a great example of POSITIVE TEAM SPIRIT!

Best Kept Secret – Your Parish’s Social Media Lifesaver Is Here

Wed, 04 Dec 2024 15:23:50 GMT

“LOVING the content! Thank you for saving me so much time!!!”
-Parish Social Media Coordinator

It’s been a year since we introduced our monthly Social Media Content Calendar to our parish WeCreate customers, and the results have been fantastic. For parishes looking to stay active and engaged on social media while also saving time, this resource has become a game-changer.

“I love the social media resource in WeCreate and the ability
to download each week’s content all at one time.”
- Sandy, Ministry Coordinator

When we launched the content calendar, our goal was simple: take the stress out of managing your Catholic church’s social media accounts. Parishes across the country are now using our liturgically relevant, curated content every week — simplify their posting schedules while keeping their faith communities connected and inspired.

Why is this tool so beloved?

The calendar provides:

Professionally designed Catholic graphics and captions tailored to the liturgical calendar, updated five days a week.

A copy-and-paste format , making both daily images and captions accessible and user-friendly from any device.

The ability to download an entire week’s worth of content all at once.

Monthly content planning at-a-glance, so users can focus on their ministries without worrying about daily posts.

A quick-guide video tutorial for those new to the resource.

Monthly emails for subscribers announcing when each month’s content is posted so users never miss a beat.

Whether you’re sharing a reflection, promoting an upcoming event, or engaging followers with a tidbit of Catholic education, LPi’s social media content calendar ensures that your parish always has something meaningful to post.

If you haven’t explored this resource yet, it’s time to dive in!

Log in ( or subscribe to ) WeCreate today to see why parishes nationwide are calling LPi’s social media content calendar their “best-kept secret.”

Want more tips to help your parish navigate the world of social media? Visit the Web & Social Media section of our blog or head straight to our Complete Guide to Catholic Church Social Media Management.

Remembering Advent

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 12:15:00 GMT

It always makes the laugh a little, these apocalyptic Gospel readings that come at the beginning of Advent.

What a funny juxtaposition — all of us stringing twinkle lights and wrapping presents, with Jesus thundering on about the end of the world. It’s Christmas! Don’t be a downer. Pour me some more eggnog and turn up the Nat King Cole.

Well, except it’s not Christmas. It’s Advent.

There’s nothing wrong with the cultural accessories that have developed alongside this religious holiday. There’s nothing wrong with the twinkle lights and the eggnog. But here’s the thing: when Satan knows we’re watching the front gate, he slips in the back door. And something I’ve found is that one back door he likes to use in my life is Cultural Christmas.

I love Cultural Christmas. I tend to overdo Cultural Christmas. I overschedule, I overdecorate, I overgift. All this “over” leads to — you guessed it! — overwhelm. “The anxieties of daily life,” as Jesus describes in today’s Gospel, make my heart drowsy. My spiritual Christmas joy, time and time again, is diminished — all because I embrace Cultural Christmas and ignore Advent. Satan sneaks in with the twinkle lights and the Christmas carols and he snatches The Present like the nasty little Grinch he is. He photobombs my experience of the religious holidays with the anxieties I so willingly embrace because of the production that is Cultural Christmas.

So, remember to rest this Advent, folks. Rest your heart. Rest your hands. Watch the back door and the front. Remember that this is the perfect time to be thinking about the state of your soul and not just the state of your house.

(Even though, yes, I know, the guests are coming any minute.)

©LPi

Our Favorite Faith Graphics this Year!

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 21:21:45 GMT

Each year, our LPi multimedia team pours creativity and passion into the thousands of designs that fill our WeCreate library with fresh Catholic content for parishes everywhere. Whether the images are used for bulletins, social posts, parish websites, or other communications, they’re here to help bring your ideas to life.

As 2024 wraps up, we asked our talented designers to share the projects they most enjoyed creating this year. Here’s a sneak peek into what inspired them and why. We hope you enjoy their favorites as much as they enjoyed making them!

Heidi —

This piece stood out to me because of how the message mixed so well with the colors I used. The combination made it so that the image invokes hope. I also love the details on the chalice and the subtle texture and brush strokes. The result feels both timeless and vibrant — perfect for churches aiming to uplift and engage their communities.

Kristen —

I appreciate this image for its softer color palette, which is perfect for representing Guadalupe. The use of textural elements and a layered appearance evokes traditional styles while offering a modern twist through the vibrant colors associated with the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Kristen —

As a compilation of images, I truly admire this final design for a social media story. It radiates vibrancy and energy, focusing on the priests who serve their communities — an excellent way to honor Priesthood Sunday.

Kristen —

I appreciate the traditional aspect of this design, which features classical Renaissance artwork of Mary. Moreover, I like how the Spanish elements of this celebration are prominently highlighted, while the English text is included intentionally as a secondary focus within the design.

Tim —

This design was outside the box of what I typically do. The rich, earthy tones of brown and yellow evoke a warm and welcoming feel. The mix of symbolic images — a chalice and bread, a classic depiction of Jesus, and an image of joyful praise — invites viewers to connect personally with the message. The bright yellow arrows guide the eye and create a sense of movement, making it an engaging piece for bulletins or social media posts that need to stand out.

Tim —

This defines simplicity, evoking a sense of peace. The combination of elements gives it a vintage feel that is both comforting and timeless. It’s a reminder that simple graphics, when thoughtfully composed, can have a profound impact on the viewer.

Tim —

This one really feels gentle and beautiful. The soft colors — pinks, blues, and greens — along with the simple floral accents, make it feel peaceful and full of love, just like Our Lady. The bold, textured font of "Guadalupe" adds a contemporary touch, making it both classic and fresh.

Kyle —

Using a monochromatic color palette can be challenging at times, but I really enjoy the simplicity of this piece. The off-white background creates great contrast and draws your attention to the familiar variety of oranges we also see during the fall season.

Kyle —

Gospel Meditations are some of my favorite WeCreate projects to work on. They typically feature powerful language relating to the Gospel which offers the opportunity to pair it with imagery just as powerful. This design, for example, showcases someone in darkness looking to the light with open arms, welcoming their redemption that is soon to come.

Make sure you are subscribed to our WeCreate library if you want access to all of the graphics featured here, along with thousands of other pieces that we have available. Your parish communications will never be the same!

If you’re an LPi bulletin customer , you are already subscribed and have access to WeCreate! Remember, our customer support team is always ready to assist you if you need help accessing these tools. You can contact them here.

Six Catholic Parish Website Trends

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 19:42:22 GMT

Is it time to update or completely redo your parish 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 easily applied using our church website builder WeConnect .

Catholic Parish Website Trends to Watch:

Clean Layouts
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.
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 ."
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.
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.
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!
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!

Get Yourself a New Website!

Now it’s your turn! Be a trendsetter and start implementing these features into your parish website for an updated look! 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 our "10 Best Practices for Church Websites" "and the " Web and Social Media" section of our weekly blog!

Updated on 09-24-2025

Visual Ministry — Discover the Strongest Parish Bulletin Designs We've Seen!

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 19:32:10 GMT

A well-designed Catholic bulletin is a strategic tool for outreach. When parishioners pick up a bulletin that is visually compelling, organized, and aligned with the church’s mission, they’re more likely to read, remember, and respond to it.

Our designers create custom parish bulletin designs for Catholic churches across the United States. We asked them to reflect on the standout designs they have created over the past year — the ones they feel did the best job of inspiring connection, engagement, and faith. Below, we highlight their choices for the best bulletin designs they've seen along with the thoughtful design elements that help bring each of these parish’s messages to life. After exploring these designs, head over to our free comprehensive guide to Catholic bulletin design, editing, and printing to learn more.

Top Catholic Parish Bulletin Designs

The images shared in this article are from each parish’s custom bulletin design template. A complimentary bulletin design template is included when parishes sign up for our free ad-supported parish bulletin service . The examples below come from the templates delivered to each church, complete with filler content in them that each parish replaces weekly with their own content. Enjoy!

1. Holy Redeemer Church in New Bremen, Ohio.

Notes from the designer:

This bulletin design is one of my favorites for its clean, structured layout that makes editing and organizing content so much easier. The minimalist aesthetic keeps the focus on the most important sections, while subtle color accents naturally guide readers through each page. This format is ideal for bulletin editors looking for a layout that is both functional and inviting, perfect for keeping parishioners engaged and informed.

2. St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Boise, Idaho.

Notes from the designer:

This bulletin was designed for a bilingual parish (Spanish/English) so it needed to include a lot more text than a single-language bulletin normally would. I really enjoy this design because I feel that I was able to incorporate both English and Spanish into a really clean and easy-to read layout. Both languages are present and legible. This allows the church to communicate their information effectively to their entire community, drawing each member into the whole regardless of what language they are native to!

3. St. Vincent de Paul in Omaha, Nebraska.

Notes from the designer:

This bulletin’s cover design is a good example of how to successfully mix content and imagery. Too much content can be overwhelming to the reader, while too many images and clip art can make the pages appear to lack substance. In this bulletin, the inside pages are filled with content but still broken up with color and images to keep the reader's interest. It’s also well branded, keeping the fonts and colors of their branding throughout for a unified, consistent look.

The branding is extra important in this case because this particular bulletin actually represents a family of parishes . This parish family recently decided to develop a whole new brand for their collective faith community to unite all three parishes under the same banner. We were proud to assist them in this endeavor, as our designers are skilled in working with parish families to help each parish contribute their ideas to brand design while providing a brand that the whole family can be proud of!

If your parish family is ready for a logo and brand design that's carefully curated to unite your members, learn more about our branding services on our website or check out our f ree guide to creating the best parish brand possible!

As for parish bulletins, learn more about our bulletin service and get in touch today .

Updated: 09-24-2025

New in WeCreate for 2025!

Tue, 05 Nov 2024 21:17:30 GMT

Our team is excited to unveil our latest additions to WeCreate, our Catholic digital art and content library. This year, we're bringing a new cover series, bilingual pieces, weekly devotions with graphics, and so much more! If you’re not yet part of WeCreate, click here to discover everything this comprehensive Catholic resource has to offer. Let’s explore the latest additions and see how WeCreate can elevate your parish communications in 2025.

New Bulletin Covers: The Vintage Series

Aptly named The Vintage Series, our newest weekly bulletin cover series is designed to showcase more “traditional” looking Catholic art. Each piece’s decorative frame uses colors from the artwork featured and gives a nod to hymnal designs of the past. This series starts in Advent (December) and includes three different image size options, full page, half page, and square, in both Spanish and English.

Devotions, Explained!

This year, we unveil a brand-new weekly content series to replace our previous Saint of the Week collection. The new series focuses on explaining a different Catholic devotion or prayer practice. Each week, we’ll include an image, a short-form copy option (short enough to be used as a social media caption), and a long-form copy option that goes more into depth about each week’s devotion. These can be used inside bulletins, on parish websites, as supplemental teaching material, and even as a post on your parish’s social media.

Bilingual Pieces

Many parishes we partner with have both English- and Spanish-speaking communities. Although we already have an extensive library of Spanish graphics, we heard you when you asked for images that incorporate both languages for your bulletin, website, and social media profiles! Bilingual graphics save space in a parish’s communications and convey to your parishioners that there is unity among the different populations at the parish. For this reason, we will continue to add Spanish/English bilingual content every month in many different formats. Currently, WeCreate users can find bilingual content for:

Quotes
Banners
Social media square posts
Social media story posts

Text Treatments
Vertical and horizontal images
Catholic and secular holidays
Liturgical events and more…

Clip Art Icons

If your bulletin already feels too jam-packed with content and you are looking for smaller, simpler graphics to give it a design-boost, look no further! For 2025, WeCreate is greatly expanding what we are calling our “Clip Art Icons” collection. To find graphics of this type, users simply need to set their search to “All of these terms,” then type “Clip Art Icons” into the search bar. Every month, we’ll create new groups of images based on the liturgical needs of a parish throughout the year. Each graphic is available in color and in black and white.

New Abbreviated Written Content Perfect for Social Media

This year we are expanding the options WeCreate users have for written social media content. We have started including a “mini reflection,” always under 280 characters, that can easily be used for your parish’s X (Twitter) account or on any of your other social media platforms. This abbreviated content also fits well on websites or as an insert into your bulletin content if you are unable to use the long-form reflection available. Users can also find weekly short-form content for both the (Practicing) Catholic series, as well as the Devotions, Explained! series.

Updated: 09-24-2025

Announcing New Church Bulletin Covers — The Vintage Series

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 18:19:41 GMT

We are THRILLED to announce this new cover series, one that features vintage images for a nostalgic flair. This week, we sit down with LPi’s brand and content director, Danielle, to give our viewers a first look at this inspired series before we start releasing them into WeCreate .

Q. Hi Danielle, can you introduce this new series to us?

A. The Vintage Cover series is a full-cover series featuring vintage images with a nostalgic flair. Each Sunday’s design includes English and Spanish options. These are perfect for print or digital use for your parish’s bulletin but can also be used independently for other communications — including websites, social media, and more!

Q. Are these cover graphics available in different size options?

A. The covers are available in multiple sizes so that parishes can use the images with more flexibility when it comes to their bulletin layout. Users will find a full-page option, a half-page option, and a square option for each cover design.

We’ve found that including multiple sizes and orientations for every design gives parishes the ability to also use these images on their website, social media platforms, and other communications if they want.

Q. What was the concept behind this cover series and how did you approach the design?

A. Over the past couple of years, we’ve heard a lot of great feedback from the churches we partner with across the country. While every church is different, many have expressed interest in historic interpretations of religious art when polled about their preferences for bulletin covers. This cover series directly addresses their desire for a more “vintage” feel.

Q. Who are these covers for?

A. One thing that we heard in our research is that people were drawn to art that reminded them of the holy cards and other religious depictions that they remember from their childhood or their grandparents’ homes. We wanted to honor that nostalgic experience with this series. The Vintage Cover Series is for parishes whose communities might also resonate with this more “vintage” form of art.

Q. What is something you’d like our parishes to know about these covers?

A. Our designers looked to old hymnals, devotionals, prayer cards, and the like to inspire their designs. The resulting series is reminiscent of an earlier era of popular Catholic art, utilizing a large graphic surrounded by a decorative scrolling border. We are very proud of this series and are eager to introduce it to our audience!

Thank you, Danielle, for letting us know more about this new upcoming cover series.

To stay in the know about when LPi releases new content for vibrant parishes — like new bulletin cover series, digital images and templates, stock photography, and more — make sure to subscribe to our monthly new release emails! Don’t have access to this content but want it? Get all our relevant and reverent Catholic content inside WeCreate.

For a deeper dive into the world of the weekly bulletin, view our c omplete guide to Catholic parish bulletin creation. It's free!

Updated 09-24-2025

20 Ideas for Merch with a Mission — How Strong Branding Strengthens Your Parish

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 22:00:50 GMT

Church merchandise can be a fantastic way to foster community spirit, celebrate parish milestones, and make visitors feel welcome. But, before you rush into creating a collection of branded items, it’s crucial to ensure your parish's logo and overall branding are polished and professional. A well-designed logo is the visual identity of your church. Your logo is what people will associate with your mission, values, and community. Without an intentional brand, any merchandise you create may fail to leave a lasting impression.

Why Branding Matters for Your Parish

Your church’s brand represents the story you tell and the connection you create with your parishioners. It goes beyond the logo, encompassing your color scheme, fonts, and overall visual style. When your brand is consistent and professional, it becomes more meaningful to your community. Parishioners are more likely to proudly wear or use “merch” that looks thoughtfully designed rather than rushed or, even worse, outdated.

Before printing your logo on mugs, t-shirts, or any other items, ask yourself: does your brand reflect the values and mission of your parish? Is it appealing and modern? If not, it might be worth refreshing your logo to ensure it resonates with your current and future community.

Our design team can help you create or refine a logo that feels intentional and speaks to who your parish is today. Once you’re confident in your brand, you’re ready to create church merchandise that truly makes an impact!

How to Create Customizable Church Merch

Leverage Local Resources — First, check if any local businesses in your parish community are involved in custom printing — maybe they are already advertising in your bulletin. Building relationships with nearby vendors not only strengthens your ties with the local economy, but also allows you to collaborate with people who understand the spirit of your parish and community.
Choose Ethical Partners — It’s important to select companies that align with Catholic Social Teaching . Ensure the products you’re purchasing are ethically sourced and produced by workers treated fairly. Consider the environmental impact of your choices as well — sustainable materials and practices reflect your commitment to stewardship for the Kingdom of God.
Make it Meaningful — Remember, parish merch isn’t just about slapping a logo on random objects. Choose items that reflect your parish’s mission, events, and community involvement. Personalized and thoughtfully selected merch fosters deeper connections between the people who call your community home.

Now that you’ve refined your branding, let's dive into 20 fresh merchandise ideas that can help you share your parish’s mission with pride:

Top 20 Parish Merchandise Ideas

Branded Apparel (T-shirts, Hoodies) — A timeless classic that offers parishioners something cozy and stylish to wear.
Reusable Tote Bags — Perfect for carrying books or a change of clothes for the gym, these are a sustainable alternative to plastic bags.
Insulated Coffee Tumblers — Keep your drinks hot or cold while you’re on the go, all while sporting your parish logo.
Ceramic Mugs — For the morning coffee or tea drinker who wants to start the day with a reminder of their faith community.
Baseball Caps or Beanies — Great for outdoor events and parish picnics.
Eco-Friendly Water Bottles — Promote hydration and sustainability with stylish, reusable bottles.
Keychains — A small, practical token that parishioners can carry with them daily.
Custom Candles — Crafted from repurposed Paschal candle wax, these candles can be used for home prayer spaces.
Prayer Cards & Bookmarks — Beautiful, faith-centered designs that parishioners can use in their prayer books.
Christmas Ornaments — Unique, faith-filled decorations for families to add to their Christmas trees.
Calendars — Featuring key dates for parish events, feast days, and inspiring messages for the year ahead.
Lawn Signs — Great for promoting church events or supporting community initiatives.
Reusable Grocery Bags — Durable and eco-friendly, perfect for church members who love shopping local.
Custom Journals, Notebooks, or Devotionals — Encourage parishioners to reflect or take notes during sermons.
Dog Bandanas — Fun, personalized bandanas for parishioners’ pets, celebrating all creatures great and small!
Canvas Art Prints — Scripture quotes or beautiful church images to brighten parishioners' homes.
Socks — Keep it fun with cozy socks featuring faith-inspired designs or parish logos.
W indow Decals — Subtle yet effective, these removable clings can be placed on car windows or home windows to show parish pride.
Car Flags — A fun way for parishioners to display their church pride on the go. These can be used for special events, processions, or simply to show ongoing support while driving around town.
Custom Aprons — Ideal for parish events like picnics, bake sales, or any occasion where meals are shared.

Remember, when it comes to church merchandise, the key is to stay true to your parish’s identity. Make sure your branding is intentional and professional, and select items that reflect the heart of your community. Whether for fundraising, gifts, or outreach, these items will keep your parish’s mission front and center while building connections that last.

For more branding ideas, check out the “Art & Design” section of our blog or dive right into our free guide about how to make parish branding simple!

Don’t know where to start? Feel lost when it comes to design? We can help!

We offer parish brand and logo services to help you tell your parish’s story.

Updated: 09-24-2025

Prep Your Parish Website for the Upcoming Holy Days

Thu, 10 Oct 2024 14:00:47 GMT

Creating and maintaining a professional and excellent looking website shouldn’t have to take all your time. In fact, if you are part of a parish staff, it’s possible you feel like your work hours could be better spent on countless other tasks to serve your community. However, keeping your parish website up-to-date not only nurtures the spiritual journey of your community, but also acts as a digital beacon, casting a warm, inviting glow across the vast sea of online distractions for newcomers and parishioners alike.

Luckly, LPi has everything parishes need to save valuable ministry time while still providing stand-out content on their websites. With WeConnect , LPi’s church website builder, parishes can easily create beautiful websites using pre-designed sections that are ready to drag, drop, and publish quickly. Our team regularly designs and releases seasonally relevant website sections to meet various holiday needs — from decorative banners shouting out the next feast day to graphics for Mass times and event announcements. These sections are optimized to look stunning on mobile devices, too!

Leading up to this year’s winter season, parishes using WeConnect will see a number of new options available for the holidays. We’ll share a few of the newest offerings for Advent, Christmas, and New Years below. To view the entire collection, contact us for a WeConnect demo today!

WeConnect Holiday Sections Sneak Peek:

Advent —

Christmas —

New Year —

Want to learn more about WeConnect? Check out some of these before and after images of parish websites built with it here.

Looking for more website inspiration for your parish staff? Head over to the “ Web and Social Media” section of our blog or dig into our complete guide to Catholic church websites .

Updated: 09-24-2025

The Best Parish Logos Revealed: Here's Why We Love Them!

Thu, 03 Oct 2024 15:01:40 GMT

At LPi, we truly enjoy helping parishes create impactful logos and brands! Whether a church is refreshing an existing logo or starting from scratch with a new design, our talented designers work closely with parish staff to bring their ideas to life. Recently, we had the chance to sit down with a few of our designers to discuss the logos they've crafted for parishes. But before we dive into these exceptional church logos and explore why each is so effective, let’s take a moment to break down the key elements that define a strong parish logo.

Logo Characteristics Worth Noting

According to our design team, an effective and memorable logo should include these characteristics:

Clear composition at any size: The logo should be easily recognizable, whether viewed from a distance or up close, and at large or small scales.
Strong brand identity: It’s important that a church’s logo is distinct — if your logo is similar to those of neighboring churches, this could create confusion for parishioners and the wider community.
Colors that reflect the church’s identity: Whether a parish leans toward a more traditional or modern feel, the logo’s colors and style should align with the church’s unique atmosphere and mission.
A timeless look: The logo design should be one that will remain relevant years down the road and not become quickly outdated.
Intentional simplicity: Overly complex logos can be difficult to interpret, remember, and even recognize. The design should be simple and clear enough to make an immediate impact and be recognizable at a glance.

Our Favorite Catholic Church Logos

Our team has been blessed to work with parishes all over the country to craft unique and lasting brands for their faith communities. Here, three of our designers chose a logo and share their thoughts on why they believe it stands out as a strong, successful design.

Heidi’s Choice:

What, in your opinion, makes this a strong logo?

Many of our church customers are interested in an updated logo that can bring their parish a more modern look, while at the same time keep some sense of the traditional — which is very important in the Catholic Church. The very traditional colors with a more simplified icon and a mix of serif (traditional) and sans serif (modern) fonts creates an overall feel of seamlessness between modern and traditional.

What were some of the goals that the parish had going into this design and how did the design satisfy those goals?

The customer wanted an iconic and updated version of a previous logo that was based on a stained-glass window at their church. They also wanted to use a couple of existing colors so that they could continue to utilize staff shirts already in existence.

What do you personally like about this logo and why?

I really like the mix of strong and soft colors, the very appealing contrast, and the overall balance of the layout. It’s a very clean, easy to read logo.

Kristen’s Choice:

What, in your opinion, makes this a strong logo?

This logo is powerful, creating a distinctive identity that leaves a lasting impression. The inviting wheat gold evokes comfort, while the tranquil lake blue adds calm. Together, these colors enhance the logo's visual appeal and foster a sense of harmony.

What were some of the goals that the parish had going into this design and how did the design satisfy those goals?
The aim of the parish was to unify both church locations under a single brand that did not show preference for one parish over the other. The iconic design of St. Brigid’s woven cross was thoughtfully crafted. The tagline also played a crucial role in the design, and it was divided into four quadrants to symbolize a commitment to their mission.

What do you personally like about this logo and why?

I appreciate this logo for its simplicity and iconic design. The intentional line weight enhances its appeal, while its inspiration from the baptism font symbol connects well. Creating a unique design that effectively represents the church resonates with me in building a brand.

Tim’s Choice:

What, in your opinion, makes this a strong logo?

There are many elements that contribute to the strength of this design. I particularly like its simplicity, clarity, and color palette. The use of white for the church structure paired with soft greens and browns emphasizes peace, reverence, and tradition. The logo feels modern due to its minimal and stylized shapes, but still preserves a traditional aesthetic. It’s approachable for all age groups while still reflecting the parish’s heritage.

Overall, this is a strong logo because of its versatility, emotional impact, and the fact that it can function across various platforms and media.

What were some of the goals that the parish had going into this design and how did the design satisfy those goals?

The parish wanted a nature-based, soothing color palette, so we used soft, calming greens and browns that reflect the parish's scenic, natural surroundings near a lake.

The parish also hoped for a welcoming and informal feel. To accomplish this, we created a design with clean lines and intentional simplicity for an informal and relaxed vibe. Wishing to convey their community’s generosity and hospitality, we achieved this by creating a design with a balanced and harmonious layout. It feels open and approachable.

Lastly, they wanted the design to reflect the fact that they are nestled within a summer vacation/retirement destination. The relaxing color scheme and clean design feel appropriate for that setting.

What do you personally like about this logo and why?

What I personally like about the logo is its simplicity combined with meaning. The design successfully mixes a sense of peace with a modern, clean execution, making it both timeless and versatile for a range of applications. Its palette aligns beautifully with the parish's identity as a welcoming, informal, and serene spiritual environment.

Like what you see? Browse several other samples of church logos we’ve designed on our website . If your parish is ready for a logo refresh or a complete rebranding, get the process started today!

Dive into more in the "Art and Design" section of our blog.

Updated: 09-24-2025

5 Steps to the Perfect Logo for Your Mission-Driven Parish

Wed, 25 Sep 2024 19:42:49 GMT

A logo is often the first impression someone has of your parish community. For Catholic churches, your logo and brand is not simply just a design — it’s a reflection of your members, values, and purpose. Creating a logo that resonates with both parishioners and the broader community will strengthen your church’s identity, attract new members, and help communicate your mission effectively.

What Makes a Great Catholic Logo?

Over the years, our team has created incredible logos and brands for Catholic parishes across the country and mastered the art of capturing the essence of a church's mission with a logo that also resonates deeply with its community. So, what makes a great logo for a Catholic church deeply rooted in its faith and mission?

Let’s get into it!

1. Simplicity and Clarity

A great logo should be easy to recognize and remember. Simplicity doesn’t mean stripping down the message — it means distilling it into its most potent form. For your parish, this could mean focusing on key religious symbols like the cross, a dove, or a likeness of a saint your parish is named after. Any symbol you incorporate should be immediately recognizable and convey deep meaning.

A simple logo also ensures that it works well in various contexts. Whether on a bulletin, website, or even embroidered on apparel, your logo should be clear and impactful. Busy, overly detailed logos can lose their meaning in smaller formats, which could dilute the impact of your church’s message. In fact, we recently published a blog highlighting how and where to use your parish logo if you want to learn more about this topic.

2. Incorporating Religious Symbolism Unique to Your Community

Catholic communities, by nature, are rich in symbols that carry deep spiritual significance. When designing a logo, integrating your parish’s own religious symbolism allows the church’s mission to be visually communicated at-a-glance. The cross, perhaps the most central Christian symbol, is an obvious choice, but it’s not the only one. Consider including other elements, sacred and specific to your parish, such as:

An identifying aspect of your church or location: Some parishes find success in implementing a recognizable part of their church’s building or campus into their branding — be it a unique steeple, statue, or natural location. For example, if your parish is next to the ocean, having ocean waves as part of your logo might be particularly meaningful.
An image of your patron saint or an element that represents them: Many churches are named for a patron saint and many saints have several symbols or imagery associated with them. An actual portrait of the saint may be the perfect thing to incorporate into your logo. However, maybe your church is named after St. Francis of Assisi, so you decide to include the Franciscan Tau Cross into your logo and branding, instead of a likeness of St. Francis.
A symbol representing your community’s charism: Is your community particularly charismatic? Consider using symbolism that brings to mind the Holy Spirit, such as tongues of fire or a dove. Or, if your church is known for its multi-cultural membership, consider a globe or symbol of human unity or collective prayer that reflects that.
An image that represents your mission: Ask yourself: What is the core mission of your parish? Are you focused on outreach, social justice, worship, education? Your community might benefit from a logo that visually communicates these priorities.

Using religious symbolism in a balanced way ensures that the logo aligns with your unique Catholic identity without feeling overly complex or cluttered.

3. Meaningful Color Choices

Colors carry emotional and spiritual significance, especially in religious settings. For Catholics, specific colors evoke important elements and seasons of the faith. Choosing the right color palette can subtly but powerfully reinforce your church’s mission and help deepen the emotional and spiritual connection people have with your church and its mission.

Don’t take your color choices lightly! Be sure to discuss the liturgical colors, as well as what colors might perfectly describe your community, with your parish leadership team and community before committing.

4. Timeless Design

If you want your parish brand to represent your parish for years to come, a church logo should have a timeless quality. Churches are institutions that endure over centuries, and your logo should reflect that longevity. A timeless design speaks to the enduring nature of faith and the unchanging truths of the Gospel. Classic fonts, enduring symbols, and clean lines tend to age well. Your church’s mission is eternal — your logo should reflect that same sense of enduring purpose.

5. Scalability and Versatility

Your logo will need to work in a variety of contexts — on your website, in print, on social media, and potentially even in physical locations like signage or apparel. A great church logo is scalable, meaning it looks good whether it’s large or small, presented horizontally or vertically, and both in color and black and white. A clean and simple design is more likely to retain its clarity in all these different applications and varieties.

The LPi Design Team Loves Bringing Your Vision to Life

Don’t know where to start? Feel lost when it comes to design? We can help!

We offer parish brand and logo services to help you tell your parish’s story. Our team can get help you update your current logo to look more professional and vibrant or help you design a whole new brand to better represent your community.

Check out what our designers have to say about their favorite parish logo designs in our recent article, Divine Designs: Successful Church Logos Our Designers Loved Making and Why , or, if you are ready to get started, contact us today !

Updated: 09-24-2025

LPi Joins 2024 Amazing Parish Summit as Sponsor, Reveals Major Giveaway

Thu, 19 Sep 2024 20:03:53 GMT

This past August, LPi was THRILLED to attend as a sponsor of the 2024 Amazing Parish Summit in San Antonio. This annual event is an incredible summit for pastors and their parish leadership teams to receive training and support for their ministries. Over the course of the three-day event, more than 700 people attended talks and workshops, and joined together in faith for Mass and adoration.

As a proud sponsor, LPi was on-hand to meet customers from across the United States and give them the opportunity to enter a very special LPi-sponsored giveaway: a brand-new website and complete branding package from our expert team, valued at $3,495! Throughout the course of the event, we were continually inspired by all who stopped by our table to enter the contest and share their stories of faith.

This year, our lucky parish winner is St. Francis Xavier Parish from Sikeston, MO, entered by their pastor, Rev. Colby Elbert. Congratulations St. Francis Xavier! We're so excited to begin our collaboration with your amazing parish to create a new brand and parish website.

Introducing Catholic Bilingual Graphics for Parishes

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 15:42:26 GMT

Guided by customer feedback, LPi has introduced new graphic images into WeCreate, our library of Catholic content, which incorporate both Spanish and English in the same piece.

LPi’s incredible digital content library for Catholic parishes, WeCreate, is already an excellent resource for Spanish content, iLPi’s incredible digital content library for Catholic parishes, WeCreate, is already an excellent resource for Spanish content, incorporating thousands of options for Spanish imagery and text. This content is ready to be dropped directly into parish communications. Parishes looking for Spanish content for their communities can curreLPi’s incredible digital content library for Catholic parishes, WeCreate, is already an excellent resource for Spanish content, incorporating thousands of options for Spanish imagery and text. This content is ready to be dropped directly into parish communications.

Parishes looking for Spanish content for their communities can currently find Spanish options for:

Reflections
Saint Biographies
Holiday Images
Catholic Q&A’s
Social Media Images

Quote Images
Flyers & Templates
Weekly Readings
Bulletin Cover Art
All sorts of other graphic images

Alongside these Spanish-specific resources, however, we have begun incorporating a new kind of digital image into our monthly new releases to WeCreate — graphics with BOTH English and Spanish incorporated into the design.

To be fair, we were already doing this with some of our cover series. Covers like the Saints series, Vibrant Diamond series, and Nature Series all have options with both English and Spanish text all in the same image. Now, however, we’ve expanded this practice into other graphics for parishes to use across all types of communication needs.

Why Have Bilingual Graphics?

Many parishes have both English and Spanish speaking communities, and in their bulletin, website, and even social media profiles, it is helpful to have imagery that isn’t just one language or the other but, instead, incorporates both! This saves space in a parish’s communications but also communicates to parishioners that there is unity among different populations at the parish.

Find These Graphics Inside WeCreate!

The simplest way to search for the combined English and Spanish graphics inside of WeCreate is to type “bilingual” into the search bar. Every new graphic that includes both languages inside the design can be found under this unique tag. New bilingual graphics are being created and uploaded every month for use in your bulletin, social media, website, flyers, and however else your parish needs them.

If you aren’t already getting our WeCreate monthly new releases emailed directly to you, make sure you are on our Catholic Art & Content email list!

Need access to WeCreate and these new bilingual pieces for your own parish’s communications? Head over to our website to learn more .

Updated: 09-24-2025

Bring Your Church Bulletin to LIFE with Stock Photos

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 17:59:36 GMT

In the realm of parish communications, visuals play a pivotal role in conveying messages effectively. Whether it's crafting church bulletins, engaging social media posts, or promoting upcoming events, the right imagery amplifies the impact of your message. Integrating stock images into your strategy, especially when you might not already have a library of professionally taken images of your parish members, events, and celebrations, is a smart and valuable way to save time while simultaneously ensuring that your efforts stand out and capture your desired audience.

The Value of Using Stock Photos

First and foremost, imagine a poster for a parish event that contains images of people in prayer or participating in an event like the one being advertised. Consider how much more inviting and effective that poster might be than a poster for the same event that only features words and no images. Flyers and other communications with images of people in them help your audience see themselves inside the event or the community being advertised. This advertising strategy is effective across digital and print communications!

Stock images offer a vast reservoir of high-quality visuals catering to a myriad of themes and occasions. From serene landscapes to diverse communities in prayer, stock libraries provide an extensive array of images suitable for various Catholic contexts. Accessibility to a Catholic stock photo library allows parishes to find imagery that resonates with their congregation's values and the message they aim to convey, enhancing the overall effectiveness of their communications.

Moreover, utilizing stock images ensures professionalism and consistency across different communication channels. Whether it's updating the church bulletin, posting on social media platforms, or creating event advertisements, cohesive visuals aid in a parish’s efforts to create a unified brand identity for their church. Consistency like this fosters trust and recognition among parishioners, reinforcing their sense of community and belonging.

Practical Benefits of Stock Imagery

In addition to aesthetic appeal, stock images also offer practical benefits such as cost-effectiveness and time efficiency. Unlike commissioning custom photography, which can be expensive and time-consuming, access to a library of Catholic stock images provides a budget-friendly alternative without compromising quality. This allows parishes to allocate resources more efficiently, directing funds towards other essential aspects of ministry and outreach.

By leveraging the power of stock imagery, parishes can enhance their outreach efforts, strengthen engagement, and ultimately nurture a deeper sense of belonging among their members.

Find Catholic Stock Photos Now

WeCreate is a digital library dedicated to providing high-quality, liturgically accurate Catholic content that can be used across your communications platform: bulletin, web, social media feeds, and more! Parish staff and volunteers with access can find an extensive and ever-growing selection of Catholic stock imagery inside as well as pre-designed graphics and written content for every liturgical celebration and Church-specific event imaginable. Find content ready to be dropped directly into your communications for holidays, sacraments, faith formation, Catholic education, prayers, parish events like yard sales and parish picnics, announcements, office needs, Catholic humor, and more!

If you want to learn more about the stock photography options inside WeCreate and dive deeper into how to leverage stock photography for your parish, read our article “ 7 Ways to Use Stock Photography in Your Church’s Communications .”

For more visual parish communications inspiration, visit the “ Art and Design ” section of our blog.

Updated: 09-24-2025

Irresistible Cover Art: Church Bulletins You’ll Want to Read

Tue, 11 Jun 2024 20:53:11 GMT

Every week inside WeCreate, our library of Catholic graphics and content , we provide a selection of different styles of cover art for parishes to use in their bulletins. Each unique style is collected into a series and each series is created by our LPi design team with the liturgical seasons and weekly Mass readings as guides. Including a beautiful and intentional cover image as part of your bulletin design maximizes the reach of a parish’s communications efforts. It can also give first-time readers and visitors that influential, good first impression needed to lend credibility to your organization.

Join us as we explore the many cover series currently available in WeCreate and the best ways to use them in your own weekly publication.

Cover Art Options for Size and Language

Each cover series is available in both English and Spanish as well as in three different sizes to fit the unique needs of your parish’s bulletin design. To find each cover image’s size and language options inside WeCreate, select the cover design you are interested in and, once opened, options for each image size and language can be found on the right side of the window, next to the image preview.

Here is an example of full size, square size, and half size formats, that can be found all for the same cover design:

The LPi Catholic Bulletin Cover Art Weekly Series

The Vibrant Series

The Vibrant series is a popular series that we’ve reimagined for this year’s liturgical calendar! This series features a scripture quote from the weekly Mass readings, the liturgical calendar date or celebration, and an exquisite sacred art piece — all combined together inside a design bursting with color! It’s no wonder we named this series “Vibrant”!

Jump to this series in WeCreate.

The Immerse Series

The Immerse cover series is designed to have a macro-focus on the Gospel message heard at Mass each week, paired with beautiful photography specifically selected to reference that week’s readings. These covers often feature images of the Holy Land and other locations specific to each week’s Gospel message. Read an interview we recently published with this series’ designer to learn more.

Jump to this series in WeCreate.

The New Traditional Series

Like the Vibrant Series, we reimagined our Traditional Series for 2024 as well! The 2024 Traditional Cover Series features a lithograph-style image alongside a snippet of scripture that directly correlates to that week’s Gospel message. These visually appealing pieces combine traditional and modern aspects of art and design, perfect for a multigenerational parish! We love that the Sunday of the year is incorporated into the halo inside each graphic and that the lithographic part of the image is repeated subtly within the background color. To learn more about these covers and the artist behind them, check out this article .

Jump to this series in WeCreate.

The Gospel Illustrations Series

This stunning cover series is a little different from the others in that it is only available in a square format. Each illustration is carefully hand drawn to reflect each week’s Gospel message. These pieces incorporate incredible colors and, often, a perspective that invites the viewer directly into the story as either an observer or direct participant. For example, in fourth image from the left, the perspective is that of someone standing in line to be baptized by John the Baptist, possibly witnessing the Baptism of Jesus! To learn more about the creation of this series, meet the illustrator here.

Jump to this series in WeCreate.

But Wait, There’s More! Cover Series Still Available from Past Years

The following series were completed in past years but are still available every week inside WeCreate!

The Saint Series

This series features quotes from Catholic saints alongside photos or illustrations of those saints, words briefly describing who they were, and a small focus image that helps tell the story of each individual.
Jump to this series in WeCreate.

Past Vibrant Cover Series

Our Vibrant Covers used to have a totally different look! We keep the old covers available to our WeCreate subscribers because their combination of traditional art with a splash of modern design continues to make this a popular series.

Jump to this series in WeCreate.

Past Traditional Cover Series

Before their redesign, our Traditional Cover Series looked like the above examples. This series incorporates historical art with a clean design and shares a longer-form selection of scripture from each week’s Gospel message.
Jump to this series in WeCreate.

Get Access to All of These Covers in WeCreate

Do you need access to WeCreate so that your parish can make use of these incredible bulletin cover series? Learn more about WeCreate here.

Parishes who already partner with LPi for their bulletin services already receive free access to WeCreate! If you need help navigating the resources inside WeCreate, check out our short online tutorial video series or reach out to us!

To take a deeper dive into weekly parish bulletin design and publishing, check out our total guide to Catholic bulletins.

Catholic Church Website Trends We're LOVING!

Tue, 28 May 2024 18:42:31 GMT

We design (and redesign) websites for parishes across the country and, through this work, we get to see every type of church website design, layout, and content that you can think of. Using this experience, we recently put together our ten best practices of parish websites if you want to know everything we've learned over the years. Or, continue reading and take a deep dive into some of the best trends we're seeing among parish websites today!

Does Your Parish Website Include These Fantastic Features?

Here are some favorite trends we’ve come across that make parish websites more inviting, effective, and beautiful.

1. Homepage Video:

Video of a church’s parish community front and center, pre-scroll, on the parish’s homepage is a powerful way to connect with visitors to your page. This video can be part of the homepage’s headline, incorporate a tagline or mission statement, or stand alone. Opening a website with a beautiful video of the community to welcome the visitor creates a “wow” experience and sets a strong first impression, showing visitors to your site that you care about being tech-savvy and value giving your website’s visitors an engaging, welcoming experience.

Some examples of parish sites that do this well are:

St. Augustine
Their website shows multiple clips of their community engaging in Mass, sacraments, and community events as well as video of their campus. They feature different age groups as well so that visitors to their website get a great picture of who they are as a community.
Christ the King
Christ the King has a unique video worth sharing. It shows what it is like to walk into the front doors of their sanctuary and then shows a wide view of the sanctuary from above using a drone. Very cool!

2. Font Hierarchy:

One trend that helps websites immediately look more professionally made is the use of font hierarchy, also known as typographic hierarchy. This technique uses different fonts, sizes, and typographical emphasis (like bold and italics) to highlight the most important information first, then second, then third, and so on. Churches with the most successful designs incorporate their parish branding’s font hierarchy and colors right into their website.

Examples of parish websites that do this beautifully:

Saint Michael the Archangel
Here’s an example of a parish beautifully using their brand colors alongside good font hierarchy throughout their website. Visitors to this site will be more likely to remember this parish than parishes with sites who don’t present one unified message with their branding like this.
Church of the Redeemer
This parish also does an incredible job of incorporating their brand into their website. You can see their brand logo at the top right corner of their website and they continue the same colors, fonts, and clean, modern, design throughout the rest of their website.

Is your parish in need of a defined brand and font hierarchy? Have a brand but it’s old and doesn’t include special colors and fonts? Reach out to us ! Our design team loves helping parishes create the perfect brand for them. See some examples here. Or, if you simply want to learn more about parish branding, we published a free guide !

3. Simple Animations:

Animating certain features of your website brings a polished look to the finished site. They can also help direct attention to items you want to show, influencing visitors’ engagement with your content. This adds to the overall user experience people have when visiting your site.

Some sites that do this well are:

St. Mark the Evangelist
Immediately upon opening up St. Mark’s homepage, three circular icons toward the bottom float up, directing the visitor’s eyes to their most important homepage callouts: Bulletins, Online Giving, and Registration. Their hero image also features a welcome message that zooms into place, immediately highlighting that they are a welcoming community!
Saint Michael the Archangel
This parish features a simple but smart and creative animation on their homepage that contributes well to their user experience. Upon opening their homepage, as soon as a visitor starts scrolling, their logo at the top shrinks down to make room for the content on the page. Brilliant!

4. Special Welcome Pages:

Lastly, we wanted to highlight some content that we found inspiring. St. Mark the Evangelist has an incredible page that is linked on their homepage under their “Our Parish” heading in their menu called “I’m New Here.” This page is dedicated to answering basic questions a visitor might have when visiting the parish, a “FAQ” type of page.

It might cover questions like:

What should I wear?
Where should I park?
Where do my children go?
What times are Masses?
Am I expected to donate money?
and more.

The page also includes a link to their easy-to-fill-out online registration form.

Pages with content like this one act to create an incredibly inviting environment for visitors and those discerning the faith. Great work, St. Mark!

LPi Makes Church Communications Easy!

We hope that these website trends help guide you toward the best website possible for your unique and vibrant church community! For help designing a website or a brand that best represents your parish, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We love assisting Catholic communities tell their story through beautiful and intentional design! Find our parish website service here and our branding services here.

Happy designing!

Updated: 09-24-2025

The First Things Visitors Look for on Catholic Church Websites

Tue, 21 May 2024 19:54:29 GMT

When someone visits your church’s website, their expectations of your parish in real life can be influenced by your site’s usability, content, and design. To make sure that you get people’s attention and don’t lose potential visitors, read on!

The First Things People Look for When Visiting Your Parish Website

1. Mass Times, Locations, and Live Stream Options

The most sought-after information on a church website is often the Mass schedule. Visitors want to know when and where your services take place. Make this information prominent on your homepage, ideally near the top, ensuring it's easy to find quickly. Include details about different services, such as worship styles, languages, and live streaming options.

2. Your “About Us” and Contact Information

People want to learn about your church's mission, values, and beliefs. Create an engaging "About Us" section that tells your story. Share the history of your church, your mission statement, and what sets your community apart. Don’t forget to make it easy for visitors to get in touch with you. Provide clear contact details such as phone numbers, email addresses, and even photos of staff members and ministry leaders. Consider also including a contact form for inquiries or prayer requests.

3. Events and Liturgical Calendar

People are interested in what's happening in your church community. Showcase upcoming events, classes, or special Mass times on a dedicated events page with an easy to find link on your homepage. A regularly updated calendar helps visitors plan their involvement with your community beyond just Sunday services.

4. Ministries and Programs — Especially Sacramental Preparation

Highlight the various ministries and programs your church offers in a prominent place. This could include children's programs, youth groups, community outreach, adult education, charitable offerings, liturgical roles, and more. Provide descriptions, schedules, and contact information for each ministry to help visitors get involved. We find that one of the most common reasons people visit church websites is to learn about marriage, baptisms, and funerals, so be sure to direct people to information about these topics in a prominent place on your homepage.

5. Your Weekly Parish Bulletin

Including a digital copy of your bulletin that is easily accessible from your website’s homepage is a strategic way to make visitors to your website feel valued and informed. For those parishes who already partner with LPi for their bulletin service, including your bulletin in your website is as easy as using the included bulletin widget . Every week, when your bulletin editor submits your bulletin to print, your bulletin will automatically be sent to your church’s listing on Parishes Online . When you use the bulletin widget on your website, it will always display your newest bulletin, updating your website for you so that you don’t have to do anything extra to keep things up to date!

Get the Parish Website Help You Need

If your parish's website doesn't look professionally designed with clear and easy-to-use navigation or if it's not optimized to work on mobile devices, all the hard work you’ve put into making sure your homepage is useful to visitors will be wasted.

If you need help designing an awesome parish website or giving your current design a more professional look, we’ve got you covered! Our team creates effective Catholic websites for parishes across the country and our easy-to-learn website builder , WeConnect, has everything you need to ensure that visitors to your site become visitors to your parish!

Check out some examples on our “before and after” page so you never feel lost when it comes to the world of web design again!

Discover More Inspiration

For more parish website inspiration, head over to the “Web and Social Media” section of our blog where you will find articles like:

...and more!

Updated on September 24, 2025

9 Easy Steps for Creating Your Parish Website Mood Board

Tue, 14 May 2024 23:36:59 GMT

Creating a mood board, also known as a vision board, for a parish website can be an exciting and creative process. A mood board serves as a visual tool that helps to establish the overall look, feel, and tone of the website you plan to create. It's a collage of images, colors, typography, and design elements that capture the essence of what you envision for your parish's online presence in a way that allows you to easily communicate those elements to others. Not sure where to start?

Here’s how to Create Your Parish Website Mood Board:

Step 1: Choose a Platform

Decide how you want to create your mood board. You can use digital tools like Pinterest, Canva, or Adobe Spark. You could, instead, go the traditional route and use a physical board that you paste images to.

Step 2: Define Your Vision

Before diving into design elements, take time to define your vision for the website. What message do you want to convey? Is it modern and welcoming or traditional and formal? Understanding your goals will guide your mood board creation process. If you don’t feel like you have a great direction for your vision yet, skip ahead to Step 3 to help you narrow it down.

Step 3: Gather Inspiration

Collect inspiration from various sources. Look at other parish websites, church-related imagery, and even non-religious websites that inspire you. Consider colors, textures, photography styles, and typography that resonate and make sure to capture images of all these elements to include in your board so that you are easily able to point to each thing you have drawn inspiration from.

Step 4: Select Visual Elements

Start curating images, colors, fonts, and any other visual elements that align with your vision. Include photos of your parish, faith symbols, your branding fonts and colors, and anything else that reflects the tone you want to set. If your parish already has a professionally made brand, be sure to use that branding as a baseline for your overall design. If you don’t have a brand that includes specific fonts, colors, and imagery, or you need a brand update, our design team works to help churches nationwide with their brands! Learn more and see examples in the Logos and Branding section of our website . Not totally sure if your parish brand needs a refresh? The article, “ Is it Time For a Church Branding and Logo Makeover ” might help!

Step 5: Organize and Arrange

Arrange your chosen elements onto your mood board. Group related images and experiment with layouts. Consider the hierarchy of information you plan to exhibit on your website, including the menus, and how you want visitors to navigate the site visually, when arranging your images on your board.

Step 6: Focus on Usability

Ensure your mood board reflects usability. Emphasize user-friendly design elements such as clear navigation, accessible text sizes, and appropriate contrast between text and background. Remember, also, that over half of the visitors to most websites navigate to the site via their mobile device. Keep mobile layouts front and center in your mind when dreaming up website design ideas.

Step 8: Review and Finalize

Review your mood board to ensure it accurately represents your parish's identity and values. Make any final tweaks before moving on to the website design phase. Be sure to get feedback from staff members, ministry leaders, and your parishioners and don’t be hesitant to make changes accordingly!

Step 9: Build Your Website!

Share your mood board with those who will be building your website! Mood boards make it so much easier to communicate with the designer(s) who will be working on your site and go a long way to ensure that you are communicating your parish’s unique ideas and desires thoroughly.

By following these steps to create your parish website mood board, you'll be well on your way to crafting a beautiful and engaging online web presence for your parish.

Happy designing!

Use Your Mood Board to Communicate With Your Designers

If your parish is using LPi’s website builder WeConnect, your mood board will help our website design team create the best website for you! In fact, here are some great before and after examples of parish websites we’ve designed that might have some elements you’d want to use as mood board inspiration.

Want more parish website inspiration? Visit the “Web and Social Media” section of our blog! We also have a free guide available that includes everything you need to know about building your parish's website!

Updated: 09-24-2025

LPi Celebrates Employee Accomplishments in Mexico

Fri, 03 May 2024 17:54:19 GMT

This April, 165 LPi employees and guests spent four nights at The Iberostar Grand Paraíso all-inclusive resort near Cancún, Mexico celebrating their outstanding accomplishments!

A record 82 employees earned recognition as part of LPi’s “Circle of Excellence” by achieving their annual sales goals in 2023. They were awarded a stay at the resort with a guest of their choice.

During their stay, guests had the option to participate in activities like a sunset cruise, snorkeling,

visit to the Tulum ruins, a spa treatment, golfing, and more!

Jon Becker, Area Sales Director for LPi, and main organizer of the Circle of Excellence trip, shared that this year’s event was a fantastic experience. “We were really fortunate— the weather was great, and I was thrilled!” he said. “From the Welcome Cocktail Reception to the Awards Banquet and beyond, we had a wonderful time.”

Every employee who achieved the Circle of Excellence award is recognized by name at the Awards Banquet by LPi CEO Joe Luedtke, and celebrated by members of the leadership team and their peers. This formal banquet serves as the pinnacle point of the week-long event and everyone shows up in style!

As for any employee who might want to attend next year’s event, Becker explained, “We don’t cap attendance — anybody can earn the trip based off their team’s criteria! We want as many participants as can make it!”

During the Awards Banquet, an announcement was made that next year’s Circle of Excellence trip will take place in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic! We’re looking forward to hearing even more employees say “¡Ganamos! ¡Hurra!” (Hurray! We Won!) next year.

*****

Interested in learning more about sales opportunities and how you can land a spot at next year’s Circle of Excellence? We’re expanding our team! Learn more about our open careers here: https://www.4lpi.com/careers

The Tools Every Catholic Church Needs for Their Social Media

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 16:42:57 GMT

You spend valuable time on your parish’s social media presence, so, naturally, you want to use the best tools for the job! Whether you're aiming to enhance engagement, streamline content creation, or amplify your impact, the following resources will equip you. Let's dive in.

The Best Tools Available For Catholic Church Social Media Managers

The Complete Guide to Catholic Parish Social Media Management: This free guide covers everything you need to excel as a parish social media manager. It also links you to all sorts of articles and resources to help you master your craft and share the Good News online!

WeCreate: This online subscription is an incredibly valuable resource for parish social media managers! WeCreate is filled with thousands of Catholic graphics, photos, written pieces, and other content that is perfect for use in your parish’s social media efforts. New material is constantly being updated every month to keep up with the liturgical calendar and parishes’ seasonal needs. Find graphics for everything from liturgical celebrations, faith formation, event needs, announcements, Catholic education, and more. There is even a template feature so that you can put your own information inside professionally designed graphics and fully customize content to your parish’s unique needs.

WeCreate is free for churches who print their bulletins with LPi but there is also a stand-alone subscription. In addition, the WeCreate team curates and shares an assortment of practical liturgical graphics each month, completely free of charge to give parishes a try-before-you-buy option to test out WeCreate. Find this free, monthly WeCreate content on the LPi Free Catholic Art page .

LPi’s Social Media Calendar: Speaking of WeCreate, with access to this digital library you get a curated monthly social media calendar . This calendar, designed specifically for Catholic churches, has an entire month’s worth of content suggestions (both an image and a caption) laid out in an easy-to-navigate visual calendar format. Parishes can simply download the images and/or captions to use as their own social media content directly from the resource! Check out the image below to see how it works. Get access to this spectacular resource with a WeCreate subscription.

Buffer
Buffer is a one-stop-shop social media management platform that parish staff can use for all of their social media scheduling, publishing, campaigns, and even engagement. Imagine being able to do all of that for your church’s Instagram, Facebook, X (Twitter) and more all from one centralized website —That’s what Buffer is for!

In short, that means you can create one post and Buffer will post it to all of your different social media profiles for you instead of you having to spend lots of time logging into and creating a post for each profile individually. Buffer also collects all private messages and comments into one place so that parish social media managers can engage seamlessly with their community all from a single application.

Their easy-to-use platform offers a FREE plan and three options for paid plans. Learn more about Buffer on their website.

Linktree
Linktree enables you to design a personalized link page. A link page is a webpage where you can gather and organize essential links that you want to share with your followers. It's a versatile solution for managing link shares on social media platforms like Instagram, who don’t allow links to be live and clickable inside post captions.

Parishes can easily set up their link page through a free Linktree subscription , then simply post one single link in their Instagram profile which directs visitors to all of the other links you want to make available. With Linktree, all you’ll have to do to share important navigational information is say “link in bio” and your followers will have everything organized right there!

Bonus, they even have templates ready for parish social media managers to customize, with designs that speak to parish specific needs!

By incorporating these tools into your social media strategy, you're not only optimizing your workflow but also amplifying the impact of your ministry. Embrace these tools, experiment with their features, and watch as your social media outreach flourishes!

Are you following us on social media? If not, you can find LPi on Facebook , on Instagram , and on X (formally Twitter) . Let’s connect!

For more articles to inspire your online ministry work, dive into the web and social media section of our blog.

The Best Catholic Art & Content for Instagram and Facebook Stories

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 19:15:36 GMT

Our designers have been working hard to create beautiful and engaging content inside WeCreate for parishes to use in their Facebook and/or Instagram stories ! Hundreds of story slides are available for parishes to download and use in the story feature of their social media feeds. Our collection in WeCreate is ever-increasing and includes some stand-alone story slides as well as story slides which make a series.

The series slides are meant to be posted sequentially to your parish’s stories, prompting a viewer to swipe though and engage with your account. New story content is added each month! Let’s dive into some of our favorite pieces!

Use These Facebook and Instagram Story Graphics for Your Parish Social Media Posts

Catholic Educational Story Content

WeCreate has a plethora of story slides about the saints, feast days, special devotions, Sacraments, and all sorts of other Catholic educational content. For example, our artists have recently been creating amazing story content with a special focus on the Eucharist in preparation for the National Eucharistic Congress coming up in July, like the ones featured above.

Catholic Prayer Story Content

With the many choices of story slides that share prayers in WeCreate, you can frequently share special prayers and prayer ideas with your community. Be it for Lent, a special saint’s feast day, the Month of the Rosary, or another special liturgical occasion, these slides are a great way to engage your parishioners and invite them into a deeper relationship with God. Featured above is a story series that shares a prayer written by St. Ignatius. We thought the designers did a fantastic job creating a striking title slide that draws the viewer in to engage with the rest of the prayer!

Stories for Parish Programs, Information, and Events

This type of stand-alone story slide includes space for parishes to insert their own, unique content. You might include dates and times of where to attend an event, information about your ministry leaders, links to registration forms, and anything else your heart desires! These four examples encompass the range of options you can find inside of WeCreate for stories that point to parish programs, events, and more.

Stories for Special Liturgical Celebrations and Holidays

WeCreate includes a number of story slides perfect for circulating information about when your Mass times and other liturgical events are taking place. Simply use this type of slide as a background and then type in your own information on top of it to keep your community in the know! We thought we’d share these two examples because they are particularly beautiful yet sensibly unbusy — perfect for parishes to include their own information!

Here is the All Saints Day story slide with customized information:

Stories for Cultural American Holidays

There are story slides inside of WeCreate for all sorts of holidays and special cultural celebrations including Black History Month, Mother’s & Father’s Day, Asian American Pacific Islander History Month, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, Earth Day, Juneteenth and so many more! This special Mother’s Day series and stand-alone slide caught our eye to share. The series calls all of those who might feel left out on Mother’s Day into ministry and community while the stand-alone slide is elegant, yet modern.

LPi Has New Monthly Catholic Social Media Content Available

What’s the best thing about LPi’s Catholic WeCreate story content? We keep making new story series and stand-alone slides every month! Subscribe to our Catholic art and content new release emails to be notified every month when we release new story slides along with hundreds of other new, monthly pieces into WeCreate.

Excited about this story content and ready to learn more about how to strategically use Facebook and Instagram stories to increase engagement at your parish? Check out these additional articles, found on the Web & Social Media section of our blog:

Updated 11-05-2025

Your Parish Social Media Questions Answered

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 14:35:26 GMT

Over the years we have helped thousands of Catholic churches across the country by providing art and content perfect for use in social media posting and resources like our Complete Guide to Catholic Church Social Media Management . This week, we’ve gathered and answered some of the frequently asked questions that our Catholic social media experts encounter. Read on for some parish social media advice and strategies!

Common Parish Social Media Questions

Should our parish be on social media platforms ?
Yes! Forbes recently reported that 84% of people between the ages of 18 and 29 use at least one social media site while the average amount of social media accounts someone living in the United States has is seven! They also found that Facebook is the most visited social media site in the U.S. and that, out of all adults in the country, over 74% regularly communicate via social media! You can read even more amazing recent social media statistics in their report here.

How can we ensure that our social media presence aligns with the teachings and values of the Catholic Church?
Allowing only a dedicated social media staff member or a trusted volunteer access to your parish’s social media profiles will help keep your messages aligned. Don’t forget to have regular meetings with parish staff and ministry leaders to create a calendar of content which best represents your parish. If you need help with this, consider this article on how to create a parish content calendar.
How often should we post on social media? Should we post every day?
When creating your monthly social media calendar, consider the quality of your social media posts instead of your quantity . It’s also important to take your communication goals into consideration. Your parish can have a very healthy social media presence without having to post something every day so, simply post as frequently as you desire in order to accomplish your goals. If, however, your entire social media account is made up of posts that don’t seem like they are aiding you with any of your communication goals, it might be time to dial those in and become more intentional about what you’re sharing.
What type of content should we share on social media to effectively communicate with our parishioners and the wider community?
If one of your social media goals is to share information about upcoming events and how to participate or register, then simply post whenever an event is coming up and don’t forget to use a flyer for the event in your post !

If your primary desire is to livestream Mass, you might decide to create weekly posts a couple days before the livestreamed Mass to remind people when to tune in!

If your aim is to educate people about the faith, you might consider posting daily about the liturgical season, traditions, saints, and more! We have a tool inside WeCreate , our library of Catholic art and content, that provides daily liturgical content for churches to use in their social media profiles. This parish social media content calendar comes with professionally designed, curated images and captions that you can simply copy and paste into your own parish social media feeds to give your weekly content a boost or to help when you don’t know what to post!

Don’t forget to share parishioner posts that might be important to the community. Did a parish member recently post about getting married in your parish? Repost their post or pictures! Did a parishioner tag your parish in a story ? Consider reposting it to your own stories on Facebook or Instagram!

What strategies can we use to grow our social media following and increase engagement?
Something very important to remember is that engaging with people on social media isn’t only about posting things to your profiles. Use your social media profiles to answer questions, like and comment on parishioners’ posts, and generally engage with your parishioner “followers” and “friends.” The best way to build community online is to engage with each other, after all.

Aside from building frequent engagement into your strategy, don’t forget to regularly remind your parishioners at Mass and at other in-person events about how to find your community on social media. Sweeten the deal by telling them what kind of content they can expect if they follow you. Make sure there is a QR code in your bulletin with links to your socials for easy access or, at least, have your social media handles printed with the rest of your contact information in your bulletin and on event flyers, registrations, and other communications.

Who should be in charge of posting?
Be sure that someone on the parish staff or a trusted volunteer has the distinct roll of social media coordinator and is available to check your parish’s social media at least once a day to interact with parishioners. The social media coordinator should have guidelines and best practices for how to represent your parish online, agreed upon by parish leadership, in place ahead of time. This coordinator should also have regular oversight so that the parish is being consistently represented appropriately. Holding a monthly social media calendar planning meeting can be a great way to make sure that social media engagement remains in line with your parish’s goals!

Creating new and engaging Catholic social media content every month that churches can use to accomplish their communications goals is something we pride ourselves in! Learn more about how to access this content in WeCreate, our library of Catholic art and content, here!

Updated 04-05-2025

The LPi Toasmasters Celebrate Their First Anniversary!

Thu, 04 Apr 2024 20:23:03 GMT

According to the official Toastmasters website, Toastmasters International is a 100-year-old nonprofit educational organization that builds confidence and teaches public speaking skills through a worldwide network of clubs that meet online and in person. There are currently 14,200+ Toastmaster clubs in 148 countries around the globe and one of those clubs is at LPi!

“I initially did Toastmasters on my own as part of a different club back in 2014 and I had a great experience so, I thought ‘ok, this is something that could work at LPi,’” said Rob Witte, one of the founding members and current president of the LPi chapter. “The club took around 5 months to get started. First, we did a pilot group with a couple mentors provided by Toastmasters International and when that was successful, we began the official LPi club in 2023. We’ll be celebrating one year of meetings on April 4!”

The club meets online via video chat on the first and third Thursdays of every month, at 12 p. m. Central. Keeping the meeting virtual has made it possible for employees living in different parts of the country to participate. Anthony Gurak, VP of Public Relations for the LPi Toastmasters, shared that getting to know other people inside the company from other locations and departments has been one of his favorite benefits of joining the club.

“It really helped me get to know a lot of other people in the company who I otherwise wouldn’t have ever met or talked to. It helps me grow as a person and employee to build these connections and, as a bonus, everyone involved is really cool!”

Witte agreed, “I likely would have never met Anthony, or worked with him on a regular basis like this, if not for Toastmasters because we live in different states and work in totally different departments.”

The Toastmasters club is paid for by LPi so membership is free and open to any employee who wants to participate. The club plans to continue meeting and hopes to grow in participation. Currently there are around 20 members who meet regularly including a team of executive officers who are elected for a year-long term to help guide the club.

When asked what his favorite thing about being in the Toastmasters club has been, Witte said “I love that people take it seriously and are engaged. Sometimes members even take the opportunity to open up about personal things when they give their speeches. This provides us members a unique opportunity to bond and get to know each other on a more personal level.”

Congratulations to the LPi Toastmasters club on one year of success and a huge thanks to president, Rob Witte, and the LPi Toastmasters executive officers, Jeff Tallman (Secretary), Anthony Gurak (VP of PR), Bridget Balbier (VP of membership), Amanda Carroll (VP of Education), Maureen Weber (Treasurer), and Cathy Walsh (Sergeant of Arms) for getting Toastmasters rolling at LPi!

If you are interested in joining the free Toastmasters club at LPi, reach out to Bridget Balbier.

Step by Step Guide to a Parish Bulletin MAKEOVER

Wed, 03 Apr 2024 17:48:21 GMT

Parishes who print their bulletins with LPi receive a free professional bulletin redesign as part of their contract. These fully customized bulletin templates are made by our in-house multimedia design team to represent each partnering parish and aid them in best communicating their mission, news, and more.

New customers automatically receive this service as part of their print and digital bulletin onboarding but, long-term customers have this option available to them as well. If you are an established customer and have been partnering with LPi for your parish bulletin but have never taken advantage of the free redesign service offered, get in touch with your Communication Consultant and let them know you’re ready for your free bulletin redesign!

Interested in learning more? Here’s a short step-by-step outline of what to expect when working with LPi to update your parish bulletin design.

LPi Church Bulletin Redesign Process:

Our Creative Services Administrator will first reach out to your parish staff via email.
Parishes are sent a questionnaire to fill out so that our design team can learn about your community and your desires for your bulletin. This questionnaire includes questions about what design or lay out program your bulletin editor is using, your parish’s brand requirements, the community demographics and charisms, and more.
Along with the questionnaire, parishes are asked to send the admin any logos or other images they would like to include in the bulletin template. Churches can also send in examples of other parish bulletins or newsletters that they like for inspiration. Knowing what designs stand out to you can be very helpful when designing your dream bulletin! If your parish doesn’t have a logo or your logo is outdated and needs a refresh, we can help with that too!

Our multimedia design team receives your parish’s questionnaire and other content and reviews it.

Note: According to the design team, sometimes parishes skip or don’t fully fill out #5 on the questionnaire — “What are five descriptive words that describe your parish?” So, here’s a list of words to consider that might be helpful when trying to describe your parish.

active

contemporary

traditional
welcoming

bright

solemn

contemplative

prayerful

young

aging

charismatic

sunny

involved

energetic

extroverted

introverted

progressive

conservative

gentle

compassionate

faithful

dynamic

missionary

joyful

reserved

pro-active

modest

laid-back

educational growing

unique

bilingual

modern

historical

beautiful

engaging

friendly

Now, our design team creates your cover and interior page templates. They use the branding information and images given to them to create a cohesive design. Continuity of identity is the goal so we try to honor the elements that are important to your parish that can be found in your previous bulletin design. For example, if your fourth page is always dedicated to your youth ministry, we do our best to incorporate that into the new design! Or, if you always include a full spread of calendar items, we can work that in, too.

Next, we place your bulletin’s ad pages directly into the template, so you don’t have to worry about that part! We handle all of it for you by setting up the margins and determining where each ad will go.

Lastly, our Publishing Support Specialists deliver your new bulletin template to you! After you receive your final design, you get an option to attend a free customized training session on how to best use the template! This training involves topics like understanding master pages and how to use them, uploading for weekly publishing, color schemes and fonts, how to make best use of WeCreate, our library of Catholic content , and more. Once your bulletin editor is trained, it’s time to start publishing!

To see some particularly successful bulletin designs, check out the before-and-after examples on our website !

Want more parish bulletin inspiration? Visit the "Church Bulletins" section of our blog or dive into our free parish bulletin guide.

Updated 11-05-2025

LPi Celebrates New Sales Office in Washington State

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 17:17:25 GMT

LPi is proud to announce the opening of our newest sales office, in Washington state! Located near the state’s capital, Olympia, just minutes away from the beautiful, wooded campus of St. Martin’s Abbey, the office is already a thriving central hub of support for our customers along the West Coast.

Olympia is located on the very southern end of the Puget Sound, a group of interconnected marine waterways flowing from the Pacific Ocean and reaching inland into Washington state. Puget sound is home to an incredible variety of marine life like the pacific giant octopus and pods of orcas. It is surrounded by landscapes of lush, green, moss-covered forests, and is only a couple hours away from both Mt. Rainier, the tallest Volcano in the Cascade Volcanic Arc, and Mt. St. Helens, famous for its eruption in 1980.

As far as the interior design of the office is concerned, Crites and the team used all of the LPi colors in the painting and art around the office. They even used the same carpet as the main office in New Berlin, just with a different coloration.

“I worked with Louie Elahi to get all the furniture and everything in place — he just knew what to do,” said Crites, “and Tim Potrikus [LPi Chief Revenue Officer] and I had a lot of the same vision during the whole process so getting everything finally up and running was a great experience!”

To celebrate the completion of the new office and the new West Coast sales team being built, LPi CEO, Joe Luedtke, flew out to meet the Olympians and toast to their hard work! Team members and their spouses gathered for a meet and greet reception that included LPi members from multiple departments living in both Washington and Oregon to hang out and get to know each other in the new office space.

Cheers to the new Washington team!

Effective Church Bulletin Designs We LOVE!

test@4lpi.com (Web Team) — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 15:45:49 GMT

Your parish bulletin is more than just a collection of event announcements. It is a powerful means of engagement. Your bulletin provides a weekly, foundational opportunity for your church to communicate your mission, beliefs, and the spirit of the day-to-day life and ministry happening in your community within a convenient, take-home mechanism that studies show parishioners still greatly value!

In fact, according to this 2023 research study on Catholic Media Use by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate from Georgetown University , the best way, by far, to reach Catholics, both in the pews and outside of them, is still through the parish bulletin. This study found that:

90% of weekly Mass attendees read their parish bulletin — most often in print (46%).
61% of respondents had read their parish bulletin in the three months prior to being interviewed.
40% of those who attend Mass only a few times a year, or less often, read the bulletin — both in print and online.

Your Sneak Peek Into the Best Parish Bulletin Designs

Recently, hand-picked some of the most effective bulletins that we print for parishes across the country to share with you. We hope you find some inspiration, new ideas, and enjoy them as much as we do. Remember, if you are one of our partner parishes and we already print your bulletin , you can receive a free re-design of your bulletin with our in-house designers as part of your contract! No need to go it alone if you don’t want! Take advantage of the perks of printing with LPi and create an updated, intentional, and effective bulletin design that best represents and communicates with YOUR unique community!

Beautiful Bulletin Example: Our Lady of Lourdes, Pittsburg, Kansas

This bulletin’s design is so professional looking! The cover is easy to navigate, the colors are inviting yet eye-popping, and it includes all the most pertinent information a visitor might need without feeling like the design is overcrowded.

The QR code on the front leads directly to the portion of the parish website that explains online giving and there are multiple options on how to stay up to date right there on the cover.

We simply love the logo and overall parish branding and how it, as well as the beautiful cover image, are incorporated into the design. The whole package makes the reader want to turn the page to see more. If you want to turn the page to view the rest of this bulletin or see more weekly bulletins, visit the Our Lady of Lourdes Parishes Online profile to view more! They might give you some great ideas on how to incorporate different colors into the cover design every week to match with the cover image while still staying within their branding guides.

Great work Our Lady of Lourdes!

Bilingual Bulletin Star: St. Vincent de Paul, Rogers, Arkansas

Like many parishes today, St. Vincent de Paul in Rogers, Arkansas, serves a multi-lingual community. To best communicate with their members in both English and Spanish, they have opted to use both languages in their bulletin design.

This bulletin tackles the challenge of using two languages seamlessly throughout the bulletin very well. We only show two example pages here but, to see how they display their events and more with two languages, check out the inside of this edition of their bulletin by flipping through the pages digitally in their Parishes Online profile.

The cover of this bulletin focuses primarily on one image that conveys the focus of the community that week. They then use the inside pages to welcome newcomers and guide readers through the week’s readings, Mass schedule, events, and more.

The pages never feel crowded even though almost 100% of the content inside is printed in both English and Spanish and the parish’s use of QR codes maximizes the space they do have by sending readers directly to their website to expand upon the content.

Great work St. Vincent de Paul!

¡Gran trabajo San Vicente de Paúl!

Great Color and Branded Bulletin: St. Patrick’s, Elkhorn, Nebraska

We love how St. Patrick’s uses our LPi bulletin cover art so boldly! The cover image featured here is part of our bulletin cover series called the Vibrant Series, found weekly inside WeCreate .

Every week in WeCreate, we provide our partner parishes with several different bulletin cover image options. Customers can also find cover images designed specifically for feast days and other liturgical celebrations inside WeCreate to help make their own parish bulletins as beautiful as St. Patrick’s!

St. Patrick’s keen eye for design doesn’t stop there, though. Inside every page of their bulletin, the reader will find professionally-designed pages created to help effectively communicate a great deal of information in a way that doesn’t overwhelm the viewer. Their use of imagery, color, and columns, creates the space needed to be able to digest the text without getting lost on the page. In fact, inside their bulletin, readers will find lots of supporting imagery to give the eye a rest from reading so much copy as well as a predictable format so that readers can find exactly what they are looking for right away.

Lastly, we love how they use their branding to make the whole bulletin feel like one complete design. They stick with the gold and green colors of their beautiful logo throughout, creating a concise and compelling design.

Curious about a updating your bulletin design for you own church? Check out some of the before-and-after images of bulletins we’ve redesigned for some more inspiration or view our free total guide to everything you need to know about Catholic parish bulletins .

Visit the "Church Bulletins" section of our blog for even more!

Updated 11-05-2025

How to Harness the Power of a Parishioner Spotlight Article

test@4lpi.com (Web Team) — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 14:55:21 GMT

Recently, our team at LPi did a research project together. We examined a selection of hundreds of the different church bulletins that we print every week in order to learn about current trends in parish bulletin design and content. One piece of content that stood out to us as a super-engaging addition to a parish’s printed bulletin was a parishioner spotlight article.

In fact, last year we interviewed Daniela, the social media coordinator at St. Augustine Parish in Coral Gables, Florida for an article about parish social media success and she spoke with us about why they include parishioner spotlights in their church’s bulletin and social media content. She also explained why parishioner spotlight articles were so important to their community.

“We want to know who our parishioners are so we can create a stronger community. We have a lot of parishioners who attend Mass every Sunday, and we know who they are, where they sit, who their kids are, but we might not know their names. The Parishioner Spotlight posts bring a little more information about our lovely community members to the church as a whole. We sometimes like to highlight parishioners who are especially active in a certain ministry so that we can shine a light on that ministry as well.”

How to Craft a Parishioner Spotlight Article

Step 1: Determine Who to Interview.

Make a list of some of the people, couples, or families you’d like to include. Consider starting with some people who are ministry leaders at your parish, volunteers, people who have recently received a sacrament, or members who contribute something unique to your community. Feature a single member or an entire family in one article! If you aren’t sure who to feature, ask around at Mass to see who others might nominate for the spotlight.

Step 2: Build Your Questionnaire

Most churches seem to ask the same questions to each spotlight recipient. This way, readers know what to expect from the interviews. Don’t be afraid to step outside the box, though, and ask some follow up questions if your subject has a special interest or something particularly interesting to share!

Some examples of questions you might include are:

Where are you from originally?
How long have you been part of the parish community?
What are some of your hobbies/interests?
Do you serve with any specific ministries and why? How has your experience been?
What keeps you coming back to the parish?
What is one thing you would tell a visitor to the parish about the community?
What is your favorite type of prayer?
Is there a special Catholic tradition that you love?

Step 3: Create an Image

Make sure to get a nice, high-resolution image of the parishioner(s) that you’ll feature. Most smart phones are perfectly adequate to use for this task! You could photograph them with your pastor or photograph them while they are engaging in a church event or ministry.

Another option is to ask them to share a recent photo that they like with you. If you are interviewing a couple who recently got married at your parish, they might want to use an image of them at their wedding or if you are interviewing a family who recently baptized their child, you could use a photo from the baptism. The sky’s the limit!

You might consider taking an extra step and creating a template to use with each image like St. Augustine does:

They include a little design flare with each photograph to tie them all in together and include their parish logo, the words “Parishioner Spotlight,” and the names of those featured. Adding these elements to their photographs makes the images used for their parishioner spotlight content look more intentional when printed and shared online.

Don’t forget to use your own parish branding when creating these images. For example, you could use your parish colors as alternating backgrounds for the images or use the same font that you have in your logo. If you’re reading this and thinking, “oh boy, our logo and brand feel outdated,” reach out to us ! We specialize in helping Catholic parishes redesign or simply refresh their logo and branding!

Last Step: Share Your Content

You can share your parishioner spotlights in many ways! Remember, we got the idea for this article in the first place from seeing content like this shared inside church bulletins so, don’t forget to include your spotlights in your printed bulletin !

Parishioner spotlight articles are also great for digital communication spaces. Consider creating a special place on your website’s homepage where people can read about those featured and see their photos. Include your spotlights in posts on your social media profiles like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and your parish’s blog. Don’t forget to tag the people being featured so they can share it on their own social media profiles!

Get Extra Parish Bulletin Help from LPi

If you read this article and thought to yourself, “a parishioner spotlight feature would be great in our bulletin or on our website, but it simply won’t fit into the design,” we can help! Our print and digital bulletin services come with a free professional redesign of your parish bulletin template!

If it’s your website design you’re more worried about, we have a solution for that, too, with WeConnect — our easy-to-use, yet powerful parish website builder . We also have a team of multimedia designers who can design an incredible website for your incredible parish, all with space to include your parishioner spotlights! Learn more about our web services here.

Want more parish bulletin inspiration? Visit the "Church Bulletins" section of our blog or dive into our free guide to creating effective parish bulletins!

Updated 11-05-2025

4 Common Church Logo Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

test@4lpi.com (Web Team) — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 17:18:44 GMT

So, you’re considering redoing your parish’s logo or, maybe you’ve never had an official church logo and your community is ready for a design all your own . Whatever camp you’re in, we’ve collected the top four mistakes our parish logo designers frequently run into when working with parishes on the new logo design process .

Avoid these common mistakes to make your new church logo the best that it can be!

Church Logo Mistake: Trying to Incorporate too many elements.

Often communities want to incorporate lots of distinguishing elements into their logos all at once. We have encountered parishes who want their logo to include their patron saint, their building outline, a cross, a dove, their church name, church location, and church tagline, with a brilliant sunset in the background, all in the same logo.

Although it is important to consider including one or two of your community’s distinguishing elements into your design, having too many design components will lower the effectiveness of your logo. Your parish logo should be simple enough to be recognizable from a distance as well as uncomplicated enough to be able to still look nice when printed on a small item like a business card or a parish gift like a mug. Having a logo packed with too many elements (and words) can also confuse first time viewers and, in fact, busy designs are known to actively discourage viewers from looking at them.

Best Practice: Consider choosing just one or two elements to include into your design along with your church name.

Church Logo Mistake: Using clipart.

Clipart may have been new and novel 25 years ago but, these days, the use of basic clipart-like designs inside a parish’s logo unfortunately gives off the impression that the parish is outdated or simply doesn’t care about how it represents itself to the world. This can discourage newcomers, especially from the middle aged and younger generations, who are accustomed to seeing professional logos used for everything — their sports clubs, schools, online communities, and even their friend groups and one-off special events — from considering your parish as their new home.

If your parish is still using a logo with a piece of clipart alongside your parish’s name, it’s time for an upgrade! Not sure where to start? We have the new church logo design process down to a science and can help!

Best Practice: Use a graphic design professional to create a church logo that is as vibrant and awesome as your community is!

Church Logo Mistake: Making the font too complex or too small.

Sometimes church communities fall in love with different fonts that might not be the wisest choice for inside their logo. Having a complex font or too many different fonts inside one logo can make it difficult for people to digest your logo as a whole. Consider that all ages and all abilities will need to be able to read your logo easily and clearly. This goes double for any logos that include a tagline . Using very complex, swirly, cursive, tiny, or poorly spaced letters can cause confusion.

It’s a great idea to test out the readability of different font ideas for your logo with a variety of people at your parish before making your final decision.

Best Practice: Choose just one or two fonts to communicate your parish’s name and tagline if you are incorporating one. Make sure the font is clear and easy to read both from a distance and when printed small on a business card.

Church Logo Mistake: Using too many colors.

Human beings naturally start to feel anxious when encountering too many colors at once inside a design. To avoid this common mistake, our team can help walk you through the process of intentionally choosing the best colors for your community! If you aren’t going with a professional designer to create your new logo, however, consider what colors might be important to your community, which colors best represent your parish values, or how you would want someone to feel when they see your logo.

In fact, we recently wrote an entire article on the concept of color theory when designing for your parish to help you with this process — take a look ! Don’t forget that your logo may frequently get printed in black and white so designing your colors with a black and white logo variation in mind is important!

Best Practice: Choose only two or three complimentary colors for your logo that best represents your community.

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Need some inspiration? We have samples of fantastic church logos on our website as well as a free everything-you-need-to-know guide for designing the very best parish brands and logos and number of articles about church branding on the Art & Design section of our blog .

Happy designing!

Updated 11-05-2025

Parish Logos — How and Where to Use Them

test@4lpi.com (Web Team) — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 00:06:35 GMT

In the realm of branding, logos serve as a crucial element in conveying an organization’s identity, values, and messaging. For churches, a well-designed logo not only represents the congregation but also embodies the rich history, traditions, and faith that define a Catholic parish. This week, we explore the significance of your parish’s logo and provide insights on how and where to use it for stronger messaging.

The Importance of a Professional Logo for a Catholic Parish

Identity and Recognition: A distinctive logo acts as the face of a parish, allowing members and the neighboring community to easily identify and connect with the church. Whether it's displayed on signage, printed materials, or digital platforms, a well-crafted logo reinforces the parish's identity and fosters a sense of belonging among parishioners.
Symbolism and Tradition: Catholic symbols such as the crucifix, dove, monstrance, chalice, and more, are deeply rooted in tradition and hold significant meaning to the faithful. Incorporating imagery and sacred symbols that are specifically important to your parishioners into your logo not only honors your community’s heritage but also communicates its core beliefs and values to both members and newcomers. Our design team is well-versed in walking parishes through the process of choosing what symbols, colors, and designs best represent their community when creating a new logo. Reach out to us if you want help with intentionally approaching the process of designing a new logo or updating the logo your parish already has to better reflect your vibrant community.
Consistency and Unity: A cohesive visual identity, anchored by a consistent logo design, helps maintain your parish’s brand integrity across various communications. Whether it's on letterheads, websites, or social media profiles, a unified logo strengthens the parish's brand presence and reinforces its message in the minds of the community.

How to Use Your Logo for Stronger Parish Branding

On Physical Assets: Utilize the parish logo on physical assets such as signage, banners, bulletin boards, flyers, on the cover of your church bulletin, and on any special programs you may print for weddings, funerals, or special events. These tangible items serve as primary points of contact for parishioners and especially for visitors, making them ideal touchpoints for showcasing your logo and reinforcing the parish's brand identity.
Digital Platforms: We all know how important an online presence is for engaging with parishioners as well as for reaching a broader audience. Incorporate your logo into every page of your parish’s website. Use it as your profile image for all of your social media profiles. Make sure it’s visible in any email newsletters or digital advertisements for events to maintain consistency across platforms and enhance your brand visibility.
Merchandise and Apparel: Create branded merchandise and apparel featuring the parish logo, such as t-shirts, mugs, tote bags, and keychains. Not only do these items serve as tangible reminders of the parish's identity, but they also offer an opportunity for members to proudly display their affiliation and foster a sense of community spirit. In fact, we recently published 40 ideas for the best church merch — each of which would be a perfect place to include your logo!
Event Promotion: Whether it's a fundraiser, community service project, or special liturgical event, leverage the parish logo in promotional materials such as flyers, posters, and even on Facebook event invitations. By incorporating the logo into event branding, you not only create a seamless visual experience but also reinforce the parish's involvement and presence within the community.
Your Church’s Stationary: Use the parish logo in all forms of your parish’s official written communication. Make sure your logo is visible on letterhead, envelopes, registration forms, and on your parish staff business cards. Consistent use of the logo in communication materials reinforces the parish's authority and credibility.

Additional Resources For Parish Branding

To learn more about the process of creating a new parish logo, consider these resources:

Parish Branding Made Simple — A free guide with everything you need to get you started!
Divine Designs: Successful Church Logos Our Designers Loved Making and Why — We interview designers about the strongest church logos they’ve created for parishes and why those logos stand out.
How One Catholic Parish Designed Their Perfect Logo — Our design team created three different logo options for St. Clare of Assisi parish. Which one do you think they chose?

Did we pique your interest? Check out a few of the recent church logos we’ve designed on our website . If your parish is ready for a logo refresh or a complete rebranding, you can learn more and get the process started with this brochure .

Updated 11-05-2025

Is it Time For a Church Branding and Logo Makeover?

test@4lpi.com (Web Team) — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 14:50:41 GMT

At its core, branding is the art of crafting a distinct identity that resonates with a parish’s local community — both in design and action. A brand identity is encapsulated in a variety of elements, with a parish’s logo at the forefront. A logo is not merely a symbol. A logo is the visual representation of a church's ethos, beliefs, and mission. It serves as the face of the community, instantly recognizable and ingrained with symbolism.

How Your Logo Tells Your Parish's Story

In the context of church branding, a well-designed logo holds immense potential in conveying your community’s rich tapestry of faith and tradition. Whether it includes the image of a saint, depicts your campus art or architecture, or is a blend of imagery sacred to your community, your logo encapsulates the essence of your church's story.

When considering a new logo, a parish should take into account some of the following design questions:

What color(s) are important to the parish?
What font is easy to read from a distance but also looks nice?
Is the parish named for a particular saint that you may want to depict?
Are there any special symbols or sacred imagery that may be important to include?
Do you have a specific tagline that should be include d?
Is it important to your parish to include any architectural or natural feature of your particular location?
Is it important to you that you reflect your parish mission into the design?
What are the feelings that you want to convey to people who see your logo?

For example, below are two logos that we designed for two different churches with the same name, St. Vincent DePaul. Although the churches share a common name, their logos couldn’t be more different! Each parish logo conveys a distinct message and illustrates the unique identity of the parish to which it belongs. Both are very different, but each is perfect for its respective parish.

On the left is the logo we designed for St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church in Los Angeles, CA. This logo conveys the parish’s mission to serve those in need both with the words incorporated into the logo and with the image of St. Vincent DePaul depicted alongside those he is ministering to. The parish decided to choose a single color for their logo and the overall effect of the whole piece is one of stability and service to those in need. A visitor to this parish might see this logo and feel calm and at peace, while also easily receiving the message that this church is a place that won’t leave anyone behind.

On the right is a logo that we designed for St. Vincent DePaul Parish in Milford, PA. This logo is bursting with colors and show the hands of God holding up the light-house-like tower and cross that is part of their real-life church architecture. The message “All Are Welcome” is highlighted brightly inside a red banner, front and center, ensuring that anyone who looks at this logo knows that they belong! A visitor to this parish might see this logo and be inspired to understand that this parish community is a beacon of hope and welcome for anyone who needs a place to lift their spirit.

TheBest Uses for Your Parish Logo and Brand

Remember, there are many places a parish can make use of their logo to secure a fantastic first (or 20 ^th ) impression. Don’t forget to use your logo on:

Business Cards
Signs
Banners
Church Merch and Gifts
Posters
Bulletins
Letterhead and Envelopes
Website and Social Media Profiles
Mailers
Special Event Programs

Branding Beyond ChurchYour Logo

Although logos are part of an overall brand, branding goes beyond simply a logo. The power of branding extends far beyond aesthetics — it permeates every facet of the church's outreach efforts. From the warmth of a welcoming smile to the sincerity of a heartfelt homily, branding is embodied in every interaction your community engages in, shaping perceptions and forging connections. Thus, while a logo may serve as the initial point of contact, it is the collective actions of the community that ultimately define the brand.

For a Catholic parish, a brand might include your mission statement, how welcoming your website is for visitors , you social media profiles and what you choose to share , and the programs you provide for your community to participate in. The beauty is that all of these things become part of your considerations when it comes to designing the perfect logo for your parish to represent your brand, too!

Get Help With Your Parish Brand Design

Is it time for a church “makeover” in your materials? If so, check out our parish logo and branding solutions . We have examples of many different styles of church logos we’ve created to inspire you on our website !

Not sure yet? To help parishes investigate if their current logo might benefit from a redesign, we recently published an article called Church Branding for Beginners. This article includes some questions church staff can ask themselves to help decide if a new logo and church brand might be in their future.

If, instead, you are interested in some more inspiration on how to tell your unique story through design, check out these successful church logos our designers loved making and why or browse our complete guide to parish branding (it's free)!

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.”

— Matthew 5:14-16

Updated 11-05-2025

Free Catholic Easter Graphics for You and Your Parish

Thu, 08 Feb 2024 21:51:05 GMT

It’s true! Every month, we release FREE graphics from WeCreate, our extensive library of Catholic art and content, for parish staff to use inside their church’s communications. This collection can be found on our Free Catholic Art page. We update this page with new liturgical art and graphics every single month. There’s also an option to sign up to receive an email reminder each month when our new designs are released!

The Types of Catholic Graphics Available for Free from LPi’s WeCreate

If you’ve been searching for free Catholic art and graphics to use in your bulletin and other parish communications, LPi’s free Catholic art page often provides a variety of the following types of graphics for the Church’s liturgical season and feast days:

Graphics
Quotes
Facebook Banners
Bulletin Covers
Social Media Graphics
Social Media Story Graphics
Photography
Flyer and Graphic Templates
Illustrations
Paintings

These pieces can be downloaded for free and used in your parish communications. Common ways parishes use our free Catholic art and graphics are inside their:

Weekly bulletin
Parish Website
Social Media
Email Newsletters
Presentation Slides
Flyers
Posters
Educational Pieces

When your goal is to spread the Good News of Jesus, there’s no wrong way to use the graphics found inside our free art page!

Free Easter Graphic Examples From WeCreate

Every year, we update our free Catholic art page with new graphics for Easter. Here are some examples of what was offered in the past to parish staff looking for free Easter graphics. Visit the LPi Free Catholic art Page today to see what’s current!

Bulletin Cover:

This Easter bulletin cover is from our Immerse Series , one of the many Catholic bulletin cover series available in WeCreate. These cover graphics often come in multiple image size options and are offered in both English and Spanish. This way, you can always find an option to fit whatever design parameters your parish may have for your bulletin. These images can also be used in other ways, like on your parish website, to support educational material, or however else you need!

Flyer Template:

WeCreate has flyer templates for all sorts of occasions, professionally designed to save you time! To customize this Easter flyer, all you have to do is select the flyer in WeCreate, insert your parish’s information in the text boxes provided, and voilà! You have a beautifully designed flyer advertising your Easter Mass schedule.

We don’t stop at flyer templates, though! We also have hundreds of templates for graphics, bulletin covers, bulletin layouts, and even postcards/mailers (see below) that you can easily customize for your church’s needs!

Postcard/Mailer Template:

To be fair, any flyer or image can technically be used in the mail, but we design templates that fit the size of a standard postcard perfectly, so you can easily toss it in the mail! These templates can also be customized to say whatever you want through WeCreate. USPS’s Every Door Direct Mail Quick Reference can get you started, and our tips on how to reach every household in your neighborhood with mail campaigns can give you ideas on how to make this Easter a season of invitation and community!

General Graphics:

Along with the templates and cover art, we also often offer general Easter graphics inside our free art page. Here are a couple from past years. These are perfect for social media or including in an email newsletter!

Social Media Stories:

Another great resource we have in WeCreate is a plethora of Catholic content to use in your parish’s Facebook and/or Instagram story feeds! We even have a guide on using story graphics to boost your parish’s engagement online, which you can peek at to get you started. These Easter story graphics, offered for free last year, feature Easter traditions from Catholics around the world and are a great way to share in our global Catholic identity!

Get Access to the Full WeCreate Collection of Catholic Art and Content

If you’re inspired by our free art and want even more — including thousands of Catholic graphics, templates, bulletin articles, and additional resources like custom illustrations and even exclusive Catholic comics — you can unlock it all by printing your bulletin with LPi. Churches who partner with LPi for their bulletins gain full access to everything inside WeCreate, along with hundreds of new Catholic art and content options added every month — far beyond the limited releases available on LPi’s free art page.

We hope you love these images from the past and all the other graphics currently available in our WeCreate Catholic Free Art Collection . May you and your entire parish community have a very blessed Easter!

“Yes, Christ is truly risen, and we are witnesses of this. We proclaim this witness to the world, so that the joy which is ours will reach countless other hearts, kindling in them the light of the hope which does not disappoint.” — St. John Paul II, 2000

Updated 03-20-2026

14 Ways to Invite Your Neighbors to Church

test@4lpi.com (Web Team) — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 16:12:54 GMT

If you're looking for meaningful ways to extend an invitation to your local community, you're in the right place. From simple gestures to community-wide initiatives, here are 14 ways to invite your neighbors this Easter and make it a truly communal celebration!

Creative Ways to Invite Your Neighbor to Your Parish

First Thing’s First — The most important way to attract people from your community to visit or join your parish is to already have a welcoming parish environment. Consider how warm and welcoming your parish may, or may not, feel to a visitor . It’s also important to assess how inclusive your community is for people with disabilities and how accessible information about your parish is online!
Social Media: Parish Posts and Sponsored Ads — Don’t forget to put your invitations to Holy Week events, Easter Mass times, and Easter season events all over your social media profiles. Use beautiful imagery (check out WeCreate if you need pre-designed Catholic graphics), engaging copy, and links to event pages on your website to make sure everyone is looped into the opportunities at your parish. Consider boosting some of these posts on Instagram or sponsoring an ad on Facebook .
Social Media: Parishioner Invites — Be sure to make specific posts on your social media profiles that you invite parishioners to repost onto their own social media profiles. Considering telling parishioners at Mass during the announcements that you have posted a neighborhood invitation that you would love for them to repost! This is an excellent way to reach your extended community.
Your Website — Many newcomers will check out your parish website before they ever step foot inside your church. This is your opportunity to be sure that your homepage is designed to welcome outsiders into your parish. Check out this blog post on the essentials, 4 Tips to Make Your Church’s Homepage More Inviting .
Neighborhood Mailers — Do you know about Every Door Direct Mail by the USPS ? The USPS has a super simple way for you to create and send out mailers to everyone in your area right from their website! You can download one of the thousands of graphics available on WeCreate , or use a flyer template to get you started !
Parishioner Yard Signs — Create lawn signs advertising your Easter events for your parishioners to take home and put on their properties. Imagine having customized signs advertising your church or ministries wherever your parishioners live! Just be sure to include a large enough QR code that someone could scan it from their car to access more information from your church homepage.
Road Banners — If your city allows you to put up a banner along the road on your property, this is a great way to get visibility for your Easter events and a personal invite to anyone who drives by!
Flyers Around Town — Consider asking your local coffee house or grocery store if you can post a flyer advertising Easter at your parish. Don’t forget about our Catholic art and graphic library, WeCreate, if you need professional-looking graphics and flyer templates for Easter and other holidays.
Business Card Invites for Parishioners — print out small business cards with an invite to Easter and provide them after Mass so parishioners can hand them out to friends, neighbors, and whoever else they may want to invite!
Put an Invite in the Local Newspaper or Newsletter — Is there a local newspaper or newsletter that your community reads? Consider taking out ad-space in the paper and placing an invite to Easter at your parish there. Many non-profits, community and senior centers, and even specialty groups have newsletters that are supported by ads . This is a great way to show that you support the other people doing great work in your community as well as to invite your neighbors to join you for Easter.
Partner With Businesses Who Already Support You — Speaking of taking out ads, do you have businesses who support your parish by advertising in your bulletin? Be sure to invite them to your Easter services! These people already support your parish so getting a personal invite to join your community for the Easter season is a lovely gesture! If you are scratching your head at this suggestion, here’s some information on how to get a weekly ad-supported church bulletin printed for free with LPi .
Nextdoor.com — Encourage your parishioners to post about your Easter events on the neighborhood community app, Nextdoor . It is almost guaranteed that there is a Nextdoor community for your zip code and many people use this social media platform to post about neighborhood events.
Community Facebook Groups — Do your ministry leaders or parish staff belong to any local community Facebook groups? If so, invite them to create a post in the group inviting members to Easter at your parish! Don’t forget to include an image in the post like your flyer or an image of your parish community during Easter.
Local Radio Ad — Yes, people still listen to the radio! Consider paying for ad space at your local radio station and advertising a welcoming invite to Easter at your parish!

Remember, you don’t have to wait for a holiday or special occasion to intentionally focus on establishing an inviting parish community for your neighborhood! Consider our past blogs “ Common Mistakes Churches Make About Visitors to Their Parish (and how to fix them!) ” and “ 4 Tips to Make Your Church’s Homepage More Inviting ” and get started today.

Updated 11-05-2025

Catholic Ministry Tips from the Field — What I Wish I’d Known

test@4lpi.com (Web Team) — Thu, 25 Jan 2024 16:12:26 GMT

This week we speak with some professionals from the field, a parish priest, a youth minister, and a pastoral assistant for stewardship and evangelization, about what they’ve learned so far during their time in Church ministry. They also offer personal, spiritual, and time-saving tips. Let’s dive in!

Ministry Tips from Catholic Professionals

Fr. Derek Peterman — Parish Priest

Hi, I’m Fr. Derik Peterman, priest in solidum at Our Lady of Refuge Parish in Orchard Lake, Michigan, in the Archdiocese of Detroit. The in solidum part just means that I work with a team of priests who serve a group of parishes in the area but, my primary responsibility is at Our Lady of Refuge.

1. Is there anything you have learned over your years in ministry that you wish you knew when you first started?

One thing I’ve discovered is how difficult it would be to keep up a discipline of prayer. Priests have to sacrifice other good things in order to keep this highest good. Another is that, when Jesus said, "Without me you can do nothing," He meant it literally. Anyone in ministry absolutely needs a deep friendship with him. Lastly, you can't help everyone. Even young, zealous priests have their limits!

2. What are some tips you would impart to someone new in your position at another parish?

Two tips I’d specifically like to impart are first, be generous with those who interrupt you.

Secondly, don’t forget to take time to be a father to the young.

Chel Wilde — Youth Minister

My name is Chel Wilde and I worked for 14 years as a Catholic youth minister at a number of churches, most recently St. John the Baptist in Covington, Washington .

1. Is there anything you have learned over your years in ministry that you wish you knew when you first started?

One thing that would have saved me hundreds and hundreds of hours over my 14 years in youth ministry is the online Catholic library of graphics and content called WeCreate . Youth ministers execute tons of events, create updates for the bulletin, make flyers, posters, and parent packets, create marketing emails, post on (and sometimes run) social media accounts, and often need to find or design unique graphics for ALL of these tasks. WeCreate does the work for you — simply navigate to WeCreate online, search a topic, holiday, or whatever you need graphics for, to find lots of professionally designed graphics to choose from which can be saved to your computer and used any way you like. There are even graphic and flyer templates so if I wanted to change the words in the pre-made design to be whatever I want, I could. I can’t even explain how many hours I spent on designing flyers that I could have saved using the church flyer templates already made in WeCreate.

What’s crazy to me is that the church I most recently worked for had a free subscription to WeCreate because they were an LPi bulletin customer , and I just never realized it! Churches who use LPi to print their bulletins have access to up to five WeCreate accounts, and if your parish doesn’t print with LPi, you can still subscribe to WeCreate independently !

2. What are some tips you would impart to someone new in your position at another parish?

Invest in learning a digital project management tool . I suggest something like Asana or Monday.com . I have no idea how I survived before I learned how to use these tools for myself and my volunteers.

Anne Frederick — Pastoral Assistant for Stewardship and Evangelization

Hi, I’m Anne Frederick. I’m the Pastoral Assistant for Stewardship and Evangelization at St. John the Baptist Parish in Covington, Washington . In my role, I welcome new parishioners and encourage everyone to become engaged with ministries and programs in our church. One way we do this is through the Living Your Strengths program . This particular program helps us identify and connect people’s talents with activities at the parish that fit their gifts, giving our parishioners the ability to be involved at St. John with faith filled purpose.

1. Is there anything you have learned over your years in ministry that you wish you knew when you first started?

One thing I’ve learned is how important it is to frequently pause and to pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance and the wisdom to be present for those I am called to serve.

2. What are some tips you would impart to someone new in your position at another parish?

A tip I’d give is that, in ministry, it is essential to attentively look for the presence of Christ in each person that is placed in front of you. This is especially true for the person who may interrupt your schedule and might need someone to listen to all that is in their heart. The gift of presence is the soul of authentic ministry!

We’d like to extend a big heart-felt LPi thank you to everyone who offered their sage wisdom for this blog! We know that working in ministry comes with lots of challenges, blessings, surprises, and more, so we at LPi are grateful for all of those we work with at the churches we partner with on a daily basis. God bless you!

Updated 11-05-2025

Introducing Jocelyn O’Leary — the Artist Behind LPi’s Gospel Illustrations

test@4lpi.com (Web Team) — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 20:15:00 GMT

Of all the content that is available to parishes inside of WeCreate , our weekly Gospel illustrations continue to be a heavy favorite for both print and digital communications. These masterfully crafted pieces are made exclusively for LPi by an artist named Jocelyn O’Leary who was kind enough to sit down with us this week to discuss her work on the Gospel illustrations, her faith experience, and more. Allow us to introduce our Weekly Gospel Illustration artist, Jocelyn O’Leary.

Q. Hi Jocelyn, where are you from and what is the name of your home parish?

A: Hi, I’m originally from a suburb south of Minneapolis, Minnesota but I currently live in Detroit, Michigan with my husband. I am a parishioner at St. Aloysius Church in downtown Detroit, where I try to be active in the parish community as much as I can by attending events and singing in the choir.

Q. Tell us a little something fun about you.
My most interesting hobby outside of the art I make is indoor rock climbing. My husband and I climb together at a gym in Detroit. It’s a lot of fun and a great way to stay active!

Q. How did you get into illustration? Do you do any other art?

I’ve been drawing and doing creative projects for as long as I can remember. Art has always been something I’ve loved. I started taking it more seriously and considering it as a career, though, when I was in high school. At that point I knew I wanted to go to an art college and pursue a degree in art, so I attended The College for Creative Studies in Detroit which is what originally brought me to Michigan. I earned my degree in illustration and have been doing freelance illustration and other creative work ever since!

I primarily love drawing and painting, but anything that is creative and hands-on can capture my attention. I’ve dabbled in printmaking, sewing, music, and all sorts of other creative endeavors. I think that if I had all the free time in the world and didn’t have to worry about money, I’d probably have a thousand hobbies. It’s not just the creative component that I love, but the process of learning new skills that I find really rewarding.

Q. Do you have a favorite piece you’ve made for this series?

There are two that really stand out to me. One is the image of Jesus walking on water. I’ve always enjoyed that Gospel reading, so much so that I have the original piece I created for that week hanging up in my dining room. The other one I really like is the illustration I did for Christ the King. It is loosely based on a Leonardo DaVinci painting called Salvator Mundi . Fun fact, that painting is apparently the most expensive painting ever sold at public action. It was sold for $450.3 million!

Q. What has been an unexpected blessing that has come from your work on the Gospel illustrations?

It’s always rewarding seeing how people react to my work. I love hearing their different interpretations and seeing the different ways parishes are using the illustrations. In fact, this past summer I was camping in the Black Hills of South Dakota with my family, and I’ve gotten into the habit of checking out the bulletin when I visit a new church to see if they use LPi or not. Anyway, I looked at the bulletin from this tiny parish in South Dakota and one of my illustrations was printed in it! It is awesome to know that churches are using my illustrations all over the country! There’s also a certain peace in knowing the pieces take on their own lives once they are published — I’ll probably never know the full impact they’ve had on people.

Q. Why do you think art is important?

I think creativity and artistic expression is so essential to just being human. In art history classes you look at cave paintings as the first ways that humans communicated, even before language. Art still allows us to express our humanity in ways that might be hard to communicate by other methods. Personally, I love looking at art. It makes me feel less alone in my experiences and it moves me in ways that not many other things or experiences can.

Q. What is a special Catholic tradition that you love?

I especially love the liturgy of the Catholic church. I love the Mass, especially on special feasts and holy days. My favorites are Ash Wednesday and all of the Holy Week services — there is something really impactful about the ritual and community aspect of them. During Holy Week, it really feels like the events of the Gospels are coming to life in the different liturgies.

Q. What are some ways you live out your faith?

I love being involved in the parish and connected to the liturgy. I think the sacraments are so important. I try to go to Mass and Eucharistic Adoration during the week, and I go to Confession pretty regularly. Another unique way I live out my faith is by painting paschal candles for various parishes. The pascal candle at my church right now is one I painted for last Easter!

Q. What do you hope to pass along to our customers?

Specifically with my illustrations, I want people to be able to place themselves in the scene I’ve created. A lot of times I’ll illustrate figures with their backs turned in order to inspire the viewer to feel like they are standing right there in the scene with them. I also try to be very intentional about how I show Jesus interacting with people. My main hope is that people who use or see my illustrations gain a better understanding of the person of Jesus and the way he looks at us and interacts with us as his followers. Since we aren’t living at the time of Jesus, it can be hard to imagine him as a person and connect with him. I hope that I can shed some light on that with my illustrations and help people connect with him on a more personal level.

If you love Jocelyn’s Gospel illustrations as much as we do, you might want to check out more of her work. You can find her at www.JocelynReiter.com .

Beyond the Bulletin: LPi's New Trailblazing Social Media Resource for Parishes

Thu, 04 Jan 2024 16:58:27 GMT

With our social media content calendar inside WeCreate, parishes get to say goodbye to social media stress forever!

What is Inside LPi's Social Media Content Calendar for Parishes?

The online content calendar, included in a parish’s WeCreate subscription, contains:

Catholic graphics and captions appropriate to the liturgical calendar five days a week.
A simple copy-and-paste format that can be accessed from any computer or mobile device.
An entire month’s worth of content available all at once for easy planning.
A quick-guide video tutorial to master the resource.

Now our partnering parishes can easily access our content pre-packaged as social media posts. This calendar can be used to engage church communities on a parish’s Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or however else they choose to engage socially online.

Our hope is that this resource will allow those who manage parish social media profiles to save time by having a curated calendar of content easily accessible to them through WeCreate for all of their posting needs!

Below are some screen-captures of the online resource.

Updated 11-05-2025

Priests Talk Eucharistic Revival: An Interview with Fr. Joseph Jean-Louis

test@4lpi.com (Web Team) — Thu, 04 Jan 2024 15:00:07 GMT

In anticipation of the National Eucharistic Congress in July 2024, we have been working to generate a library of Eucharistic themed content for our church partners. One thing we are most excited about, though, is the people involved in the Eucharistic Congress, so we asked Fr. Joseph Jean-Louis, currently of Florida, to speak with us about his work as one of the 50 National Eucharistic Preachers .

This special group of diverse priests have been commissioned to be the “boots on the ground” to help prepare the nation for the Congress by traveling to dioceses and churches preaching and guiding Americans to individual conversion.

Allow us to introduce Fr. Joseph Jean-Louis:

Q. Hello! Please introduce yourself and what your ministry is/ministries are.

A. Hi, my name is Fr. Joseph Jean-Louis. I was born in Haiti on February 14, 1972. After my studies at a secondary school, I entered the Pre-Novitiate for the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate in September 1995. I made my first religious vows on September 8, 1997, in Blanchard Port-au-Prince, Haiti. I continued to first formation at Oblate Community in Port-au-Prince where I completed my studies in philosophy. My provincial then decided to send me to Colombia as a missionary before beginning my studies in theology. After my time in Colombia, I was sent to Bolivia where I continued my formation and obtained my bachelor’s in theology at the Universidad Católica San Pablo. That same year, in February, I made my perpetual vows in Cochabamba, Bolivia. At this point, I was already ordained to the transitional Deaconate.

After my ordination to the priesthood in Haiti on November 8, 2003, I returned to Colombia, where I worked as the director of a seminary. During that time, I also became the vocations director for my congregation and served in that capacity for seven years. My congregation decided to further my training and sent me to Madrid, Spain. At the Universidad Pontificia Comillas de Madrid, I obtained a degree specializing in family psychotherapy.

I arrived in the Archdiocese of Miami in 2012. I have served as an associate Pastor at St. Timothy Catholic Church in Corpus Christi, at Sacred Heart, and as the administrator of Christ the King Catholic Church where I have been since June 2022.

Q. How did you become one of the National Eucharistic Preachers? What are your goals for that role?

A. I received the invitation to become a National Eucharistic Preacher from my Archbishop. I was honored to accept the invitation to join the team and to serve as a National Eucharistic Preacher in dioceses across the country throughout the Revival. I believe this decision is one that the Lord has ordained me for, and I’m humbled to be chosen to serve the Church in this manner. I know it’s a demanding mission. It’s requiring preparation and dedication, and, at the same time, it is part of my mission as a priest.

As a Eucharistic Preacher, my goal is to bring people directly into the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist in this difficult time that we are living in. It is a great opportunity for me, as a priest, to motivate people about the value and the meaning of the Eucharist in the life of the Church as well as in our lives as Christians and followers of Christ. The pandemic brought us a new reality that we must deal with as a Church. It is a crucial moment to help our communities to grow in love with the Eucharist and understand that we believe in the Real Presence of Jesus, not just the virtual presence of Jesus.

Q. What do you hope are the graces that come from the Eucharistic Congress event?

A. I’m confident that the Congress will open the hearts of the people of God to a deeper understanding of the Holy Mass and what receiving Christ in the Holy Eucharist means. The congress will help the people to see the Eucharist with new eyes, but also to embrace the mystical body of Christ in a very powerful way. We will see thousands of Catholics who love the Eucharist gathered together in Indiana and I think that we all will take great courage and strength from such an encounter. I’m hopeful that it will produce great fruits and will lead the people to a deeper encounter with Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.

Q. What has been the most meaningful part of being part of the EC?

A. Being part of the Eucharistic Preachers brings me joy as I love to celebrate Mass and preach. Being part of this great project helps me to fall in love more and more with the Eucharist as the center of my life as a priest. I would also say that is has made me stronger than ever in my daily devotion for the Eucharist.

Q. What Should Catholics do to prepare for the event?

A. The Eucharistic Revival will be a key element in the renewal of the Church. To respond to this great invitation and holy moment, prayer should be the key. We must prioritize prayer in our daily lives.

Q. Please share a story of how the Eucharist has affected your life.

A. I came to know of the incredible power of the Eucharist personally during my first Mass on November 9, 2003. It was a powerful experience. When I joined my hands and extended them over the Body and Blood of Christ, and showed the consecrated host and chalice to the people as Body and Blood of Christ, I could not believe that God had allowed me, a sinner, to touch his Body and Blood. Now, every time I celebrate the Eucharist, I still feel the same attraction for my Lord. This is one of the reasons I decided to open our parish’s daily adoration chapel perpetually, 24 hours a day, this year — to help my community stay in touch with the Eucharistic Jesus.

Thank you so much, Fr. Joseph, for giving us some insight into your life and experience!

Want more inspiration for the Eucharistic Congress? You can find our collection of Eucharistic themed graphics, social media stories, quotes, photography, and more under the Eucharistic Congress 2024 pin inside of WeCreate , our library of Catholic content.

Priests Talk Eucharistic Revival: An Interview with Fr. Patrick Hyde, OP

test@4lpi.com (Web Team) — Thu, 21 Dec 2023 15:30:00 GMT

Leading up to the National Eucharistic Congress in July 2024, we have been working to create a lot of Eucharistic themed content for the churches we partner with including weekly saint biographies about saints with Eucharistic devotions, digital and print graphics, photography, and more! One thing we are most excited about, though, is the people involved in the Eucharistic Congress, so we asked Fr. Patrick Hyde, OP, to speak with us about his work as one of the 50 National Eucharistic Preachers .

This special group of diverse priests have been commissioned to be the “boots on the ground” and help prepare the nation for the Congress by traveling to dioceses and churches to preach and guide Americans to individual conversion.

Allow us to introduce Fr. Patrick Hyde, OP:

Q. Hello! Please introduce yourself and what your ministry is/ministries are.

A. Hi, I am Fr. Patrick Hyde, OP. I am the pastor of St. Paul Catholic Center, the Newman Center at Indiana University, in Bloomington, Indiana.

Q. How did you become one of the National Eucharistic Preachers? What are your goals for that role?

A. I was encouraged to consider being a part of the National Eucharistic Preachers by my provincial leadership.
I have two major goals for my work as a National Eucharistic Preacher. First, I want to help Catholics deepen their love of the Eucharist. I hope to remind them of how much God loves and desires them and how He is present to them in the Eucharist. I pray that this manifests in deeper Eucharistic lives. Second, I want to share how a Eucharistic revival, both personal and in a parish, has changed me and my parish. Over the past ten years, the Newman Center I serve as pastor (and many other Newman Centers across the country) have experienced tremendous growth by simply putting the Eucharist and our encounter with Jesus in the Eucharist at the center of everything we do. It is a source of hope and joy for the Church.

Q. What do you hope are the graces that come from the Eucharistic Congress event?

A. The National Eucharistic Congress is a unique moment in the life of the Church in the United States. To my knowledge, we have not had a national event that is meant to serve and attract all Catholics in a long time. Simply having an opportunity for the various groups and cultures of our Church to gather as one in prayer and at the Eucharist is an immense grace. My biggest hope, though, is that the good news and good work of evangelization and discipleship formation that is going on in so many areas of the Church will become more mainstream in our parishes and amongst the faithful. For instance, I think of the many Catholics I know who love the Lord, His Church, and the Eucharist with all of their heart but also feel great sorrow that so many of their loved ones have walked away from the Church. By bringing these people together with those who are doing such great work in the mission field, I have great hopes that the National Eucharistic Congress will set the Church on fire with God's love and presence.

Q. What has been the most meaningful part of being part of the EC?

A. In every place I have visited, I have been absolutely astonished at the beauty and power of so many people's faith in Jesus and in the Eucharist. Ours is such a divided and contentious culture, but the Eucharist, because it is Jesus, has the power of bringing together all people and transforming them. The faith of the people in the pews in the Eucharist is inspiring. The Revival has provided people more opportunities not only to worship the Eucharist more ardently but also to walk together with other faithful, ardent Catholics.

Q. What Should Catholics do to prepare for the event?

A. 1. Spending time with Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament should be a greater priority for all of us. Sign up for a Holy Hour at your local Eucharistic Adoration Chapel or simply drop in on Jesus in the tabernacle at your local parish.

2. Work with your pastor and fellow Catholics to move toward more reverent and more beautiful worship.

3. Serve the poor.

Q. Please share a story of how the Eucharist has affected your life.

A. When I was in college, I made a solo trip through Europe for four weeks after a semester abroad. The first stop of my trip was Krakow, Poland. My first day of the trip was quite emotional primarily because I experienced a bit of home sickness. The next morning, I woke up early and went to the closest parish for Sunday Mass. I was a bit thrown off at first because I do not speak a word of Polish. However, the Gloria was chanted in Latin, which was familiar to me. In that moment, I realized the power of the Mass and the Eucharist. No matter where we are in the world, Jesus is there for us in a real way.

Thank you so much, Fr. Patrick, for giving us some insight into your life and experience!

A Warm Welcome: Follow These Steps to Attract Visitors to Your Parish

test@4lpi.com (Web Team) — Thu, 14 Dec 2023 15:00:01 GMT

Many of us have been there — looking for a Mass to attend while we’re traveling, or new to town and nervous about what parish might welcome us home. Holidays provide a unique opportunity to connect with visitors to your parish seeking community, solace, and spiritual fulfillment. If your parish wants to provide a warm welcome for those new to your community and make it easy for visitors to access everything your parish has to offer, consider our holiday visitor checklist:

How to Help Visitors Easily Find Your Parish

Update your website, bulletin, and any outdoor signs with accurate Mass times and office hours.
Prominently feature images on your website that include people in them. Having photos with parishioners engaging in your community on your site, instead of images of your buildings and empty interiors, helps those interested in visiting envision themselves as part of your community. For some ideas, check out these 5 examples of photos every parish needs .
Be sure that your parish website is optimized to be mobile-friendly. Need help with this? Our web design team can help. Remember, over 50% of people searching for a church to attend are using their phones, tablets or other mobile devices for that search!
Clearly mark areas like your parking lot, sanctuary entrance, bathroom, nursery, office entrance, and anything else you think a visitor may find important.
Be sure your website is easy to navigate so that information about your ministries and services are easy for visitors to find when looking you up.
If your parish uses social media, be sure that your profile information is up to date and that your profiles include images of your parishioners engaging with the church community to showcase how warm and welcoming you are.

Do This Once a Visitor Walks Through Your Parish Doors

Place welcome cards in the pews for visitors to fill out if they want to receive more information about the parish directly to their email or via a phone call.
Display information about your faith formation programs for youth and adults in a place visitors can easily see when they enter your parish.
Are your buildings, including your sanctuary, disability friendly ?
Provide tools for families with small children like a coloring page that corresponds with the readings and some crayons, or directions to the nursery if they have an infant and need a quiet space. We have resources available for these in our WeCreate library of Catholic content for you to use!
Have extra bulletins ready to be passed out to accommodate larger crowds around the holidays.
Be sure any Mass announcements include information on how to register or how to gather more information about the parish and what your community has to offer.
Consider having gifts for visitors like a gift bag with some church merch , a pamphlet about your parish ministries, and a letter from your pastor or staff inviting them to register.
Update your parish bulletin design to be modern and professional looking if it isn’t’ already. If your bulletin is outdated and looks home-made, visitors may think your parish is also outdated. Need help with a bulletin refresh? We provide this service for free for our bulletin customers ! If your design is locked in but you need more professionally designed, royalty free Catholic imagery, we have you covered with our content inside of WeCreate .

How to Make Mass More Visitor Friendly

Your pastor could invite everyone to introduce themselves to their neighbors at the beginning of Mass.

Invite those attending to share a prayer request with their neighbors before Mass.
Include a printed program or handout that explains the parts of Mass for visitors to reference.
Train greeters and ushers with knowledge about the parish ministries so they can connect interested visitors.
Provide a prayer team to pray with those who feel in need of prayer after Mass.

Remember, folks may be visiting for a short period of time to be with friends or family, in town for work, just passing through, new to the neighborhood and looking for a church home, or simply exploring Church for the first time. Regardless of the reason, we hope that visitors will feel welcome and blessed by your vibrant community with this guide.

“Welcome one another, then, as Christ welcomed you, for the glory of God.” – Romans 15:7

Updated 04-05-2025

LPi Designers Weigh In — Our Favorite Designs of 2023

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 15:31:59 GMT

At LPi, we are so proud of the multimedia design team responsible for the thousands of graphics, cover designs, templates, and more that we release every year into our WeCreate library of Catholic content . These images are created for our parish partners to use in their bulletins, websites, social media posts, flyers, and any other way that they may need!

As 2023 winds down, we asked our designers to share the pieces they most enjoyed making over this past year and why. We collected their answers for your viewing pleasure — Enjoy!

How to Avoid Burnout in Church Ministry and Faith Related Jobs

test@4lpi.com (Web Team) — Thu, 07 Dec 2023 12:30:00 GMT

Working in ministry, especially as a church staff member, is a deeply rewarding but often also a deeply demanding experience. Those who serve in this capacity often find themselves juggling numerous responsibilities pertaining to the spiritual and emotional well-being of a congregation. Amid caring for others, it's easy to overlook self-care. However, to effectively serve others, it's essential to prioritize caring for yourself. This week we explore the importance of self-care in ministry and share some strategies to avoid burnout.

What is the Ministry of Self-Care?

Ministry is all about giving, serving, and helping others. In this process, though, it's crucial to remember that you can't pour from an empty cup or, to put it plainly — if you aren’t healthy, you can’t expect to be able to properly care for the health of others. Yes, in the ministry world we are referring to health that may be spiritual, physical, mental, or a combination. Neglecting oneself leads to burnout, affecting not only your own well-being but also your ability to effectively minister to others.

It might be that you are falling back on teachings you’ve been raised with like, “to serve God you must lay down your life for your friend,” “put yourself last,” or to “offer it up” when it comes to suffering and sacrifice. Without a wholistic view of these teachings, though, it is likely that you will not be able to continue in ministry for long if you don’t prioritize your own health. You will quickly find out that you are burnt out and dropping out when, sadly, burnout could have been avoided! Prioritizing self-care is not selfish or sinful, in fact, it is an act of stewardship .

How to Achieve a Healthy Life Balance When You Work a Ministry Job

1. Set Boundaries

Ministry leaders often feel the pressure to be available around the clock. While your commitment is admirable, setting healthy boundaries is essential for your ability to continue to serve those to whom you minister. Clearly defining your working hours and days off, and communicating these boundaries to your team and congregation is one of the strongest steps you can take to safeguard yourself and give yourself the ability to work in ministry long-term.

Remember, when you respect your boundaries, others are more likely to respect them too. For a twist on how to think about this, think about another member of your parish. Would you expect them to have no boundaries or human limitations around the ministry work that they do for your church? Should they simply be a “yes person” and never have any agency over their own spiritual, mental, and physical health? Of course not, so what makes you any different?

For some resources and tools on how to set healthy boundaries, consider the book Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No To Take Control of Your Life by Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend. Remember that Jesus was a master of setting clear boundaries and there are examples of him exercising his boundaries throughout the Gospels. In fact, the Bible app, YouVersion has a short Bible reading plan called The Boundaries of Jesus that can get you started in learning more about how Jesus prioritized self-care while ministering to others.

2. Seek Support

Don't hesitate to lean on your support network. Ministry can be emotionally taxing, and it's important to have people to confide in. Whether it's a mentor, colleague, a family member, or a trusted friend, having a safe space to share your thoughts and feelings can help you process and prevent emotional burnout. You may consider joining a support group for people in the same ministry as you. Many dioceses have youth minister’s groups, pastor’s groups, and more!

We suggest taking a moment and writing down the names of five people in your life who you can talk to about the challenges of ministry and putting that note somewhere easy to access that is always with you like your wallet or as a note in your phone. This way, when times get tough, you don’t have to use even more brain power to think about who to lean on — you’ll already have your list of folks in your support network handy!

3. Use Time-Saving Tools

Sometimes the right tool can make all the difference! Chances are, if you are a ministry leader, you might also be in charge of creating communications like advertisements for the programs and events that are part of your ministry. You might also be required to create or update a social media platform, website, or newsletter for that ministry. Instead of spending hours on design work and sourcing images on your own, you can save valuable time using a tool like WeCreate, our library of Catholic content . Inside of WeCreate you can find ready-to-use graphics, stock photos, social media images and story slides, flyers, posters, mailers, and more, designed by our professional team specifically for use in Catholic communications. There are even templates that are available for a large variety of church and ministry events and programs that you can simply plug your own information into and, voilà! The design is done quickly and looks great!

4. Delegate and Collaborate

Recognize that you don't have to do everything yourself and, in fact, you probably shouldn’t. Don’t forget that Jesus had 12 men with him, almost all the time, that he regularly delegated ministry tasks to! Delegating tasks and collaborating with other staff members and volunteers helps distribute the workload and prevent burnout. Encourage a spirit of teamwork and shared responsibility within your ministry and you might be surprised at the fruit that comes of embracing collaboration.

Burnout in ministry is a real concern, but it can be avoidable with the right strategies. Remember that caring for your well-being is not selfish! Your own health is essential for the effective and sustainable care of others. By putting your well-being first, you're ultimately putting the ministry and its members first too. So, go ahead, take that vacation, and come back refreshed!

Updated 04-05-2025

Flyer Designs that WORK — Best Practices for Effective Church Flyers

test@4lpi.com (Web Team) — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 17:28:08 GMT

Flyers are a versatile and cost-effective tool for promoting your parish events, programs, fundraisers, and more. Designing an effective flyer is crucial to ensure it grabs your audience's attention and effectively delivers your intended message.

How are Flyers a Versatile Tool?

Once you design a flyer, you can use it for so much more than just a bulletin stuffer! Flyers can be repurposed as:

Posters — simply print the flyer on larger paper to create posters that you can put around your property.
Website announcements — use the flyer you designed on your parish website to announce an upcoming event! It could also be used as an image for an event’s online registration.
Email newsletter attachments — does your parish have email newsletters that go out to parishioners? Attach the digital event flyers for the programs highlighted in the newsletter!
Social media content — post your flyers digitally on your Facebook feed or your Instagram and Facebook stories.
Mass announcement slides — If your parish has screens inside the sanctuary that you use to show images during Mass and announcements, use the flyer you designed to digitally accompany the Mass announcement for that event or program.

With all this in mind, it’s safe to say that you are going to want the best design possible for any flyer that you create. To help you achieve this goal, we’ve chosen two flyers from our Flyer Templates section inside of WeCreate, our library of Catholic content , to help explain the design elements that make a parish flyer truly effective.

Tips to Consider When Creating an Effective Flyer

An Eye-Catching Headline

Your headline should be attention-grabbing and reflect the core message of the flyer. Use a large, bold font that stands out. The headline should capture the reader's interest and entice them to learn more.

Engaging Imagery

Choose high-quality images or graphics that are relevant to your message. Visuals can speak louder than words and draw the reader's attention. Make sure the images complement the overall design and message of your flyer. Use a source like WeCreate to access thousands of professionally designed, royalty free graphics to make this process easy! For example, the flyers featured in this article were chosen from our extensive library of flyer templates that parishes can make their own through WeCreate.

Color Palette

Use a limited and cohesive color palette that aligns with your parish’s brand or the event's theme. Don’t forget to ensure good contrast between text and background to make sure that your content is legible. Too many colors can cause people to naturally want to look away from your flyer, so keep it simple.

Consistent Typography

Select fonts that are easy to read and maintain consistency throughout the flyer. Use different fonts for headlines and body text to create a hierarchy and emphasize important information. Don’t be tempted to use more than 2 or 3 fonts!

Negative Space

Give your content room to breathe by using negative space effectively. In design, negative space is the empty space around and between the subjects of an image. Flyers crowded with too many images and words are overwhelming and can deter or even confuse readers. Adequate negative space makes the content more digestible and the design more aesthetically pleasing.

Call to Action (CTA)

Effective flyers often include a clear and compelling call to action (CTA). Whether it's "Register Today," “Learn More,” "Call for More Information," or something else, the CTA should be prominent and guide readers on what to do next. Consider including a QR code if your flyer is suggesting people visit a website link.

Contact Information

Include essential contact information such as your parish’s phone number, email, website, physical address, or all four! Ensure that it's easy for potential customers or attendees to get in touch and find your location.

Proofread and Edit

Don't let typos or grammatical errors undermine your flyer's professionalism. Carefully proofread the content and, if possible, have others review it as well.

By following these best practices, you can create flyer designs that effectively capture attention, convey your message, and drive the desired action from your audience. So, when you're ready to create your next parish flyer, keep these principles in mind to ensure your flyer works to its full potential.

For more parish art and design inspiration, head on over to the "Art & Design" section of our blog. See you there!

Updated 04-05-2025

Introducing Joshua Masterson — the Artist Behind LPi’s Faithful Funnies Comics

test@4lpi.com (Web Team) — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 16:19:14 GMT

“Grant me, O Lord, a sense of good humor. Allow me the grace to be able to take a joke to

discover in life a bit of joy, and to be able to share it with others.” -St. Thomas More

It’s not uncommon for us to hear from parishes that they love using the comics and cartoons available in WeCreate in their bulletins, so we though it high time we introduced our new comic creator, Joshua Masterson. We chat with him this week about his faith, inspiration, and how he became a comic artist. The pieces he draws for our Faithful Funnies series feature jokes coupled with facts about Catholicism, designed to appeal to a cross-generational audience.

Interview With Catholic Comic Creator, Joshua Masterson

Q. Why did you start drawing cartoons? Do you do any other art?

I have been drawing cartoons since I was very little. My dad is also pretty good with doodling cartoons, and he taught me the basics when I was young. Aside from cartooning, I’m occasionally commissioned to do digital art as well as fine art pieces. I make animations for a YouTube channel called Catholic Lofi and, aside from my comic work with the LPi Faithful Funnies series, I have my own Catholic comic series on Instagram called “ The Catholic Cartoon , ” also coming soon to YouTube ! I started The Catholic Cartoon in April of 2022 because I wanted to evangelize and share the faith that I love so much through cartoons and humor. It has grown a following really fast — I publish them mostly on Instagram and I try to publish a new cartoon every day.

Q. Where do you draw your inspiration from for the Faithful Funnies pieces?

Once I’m given the jokes and the facts we want to incorporate into the comics for this series, I just let my imagination take the lead. Usually, I get an immediate image in my head as soon as I read one of the jokes and go from there. I also draw visual inspiration from comics like Family Circus and another, lesser-known comic series that was made by Charles Schultz called It’s Only a Game that features single-panel comics about sports.

Q. Do you have a favorite piece you’ve made?

The Faithful Funny piece about the “movable feast” is one of my favorites. The visuals made me laugh as I was making it and the whole scene, in general, is chaotic and exciting. I really enjoy drawing all of the Faithful Funnies but that one stood out.

Q. What has been an unexpected blessing that has come from your work on these pieces?

The whole thing, in general, has been a huge blessing! To be able to do what I really love doing as a job is really awesome. Not everyone gets to do that and, when I was young, I would have never dreamed that the day would come when I would be making my living off of art and making cartoons. It is such a blessing to be able to make art and share it with such a large audience. I’m really grateful to be able to partner with LPi on this project — all praise be to God!

Q. Why do you think humor is important?

I love humor. I get my daily ab workout from laughing with my friends. I think that laughter, in general, has a way of bringing people together. If you are in a big group of people and everyone gets laughing together, it’s a great way to break the ice and connect people quickly. I love bringing a smile to someone’s face because a little bit of humor can give people a nice distraction from things that might be negative in their lives at the moment.

Q. What is a special Catholic tradition that you love?

I have a lot of things that I love about my faith but if I had to narrow it down just a couple, I’d say the first thing that comes to mind is Eucharistic Adoration. The fact that my own parish offers Eucharistic Adoration every Thursday is such a beautiful thing in my opinion. Being in the presence and spending time with Jesus is a way I love to build my faith and friendship with him.

Another big part of my faith-life is altar serving. I’ve been an altar server since I was 6 or 7 and I still do it to this day. I love it, there’s just something about it. I feel like I’m good at it and serving in that way helps bring me closer into the liturgy and more connected to the Mass, which I think is amazing.

Q. What are some ways you live out your faith?

Speaking of altar serving, I also help train the younger folks in my parish to become altar servers. It’s been a super honor to do that. I go to daily Mass, and I love to just help out at the parish. I also love being part of the community in my own home. We pray together as a family and that’s big and important in my life.

Q. What do you hope to pass along to our customers?

I hope people really do get a good laugh out of these pieces. I also hope they can be a way for families to be able to connect across generations while they learn and laugh together. I want to draw them closer to Christ and be able to provide a small distraction from all the craziness in the world and show them that truth and beauty can still be found — even in unlikely places like a comic strip.

Q. What’s next for you in the cartoon world?

I’m publishing a book on December 4 ^th called The Catholic Cartoon Collection #1 through Voyage Comics! It is a collection of all the best comic I’ve created for The Catholic Cartoon over the past year and I’m so excited to share it with the world!

Thank you, Joshua, for sharing your talent and insight with us! To see more of Josh’s work, check out his Instagram page.

The Faithful Funnies section of WeCreate continues to be one of our most popular sections! If you don’t already have access to WeCreate, our library of ready-to-use Catholic content for your parish communications, you can find it here .

Updated 11-05-2025

How to Announce News at Your Catholic Parish

test@4lpi.com (Web Team) — Thu, 09 Nov 2023 15:00:02 GMT

Announcing news and important information at your parish is crucial for keeping your congregation informed and engaged. To effectively communicate with your parishioners, you should utilize a variety of channels outlined here. Read on for ideas to spice up your parish announcements and reach a wider Catholic audience with the good news!

Creative Ways to Announce Your Parish News

1. The Parish Website

Your parish website is the digital hub of information for your community. Here's how to maximize its use.

News Section — Create a dedicated "News" section on your website where you can post updates, announcements, and other important information. Make sure it's easily accessible from the homepage.
Regular Updates — Keep the website up to date with your latest news and events. Set a schedule for posting updates and stick to it.
User-Friendly Design — Ensure your website is easy to navigate , so visitors can find the information they need quickly.

2. Social Media
Social media platforms are excellent for connecting with your parishioners in a more informal and interactive way. Consider these tips.

Official Accounts — Maintain official parish accounts on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and make sure to follow parishioners, community accounts, and diocesan accounts from each. Need some tips? We have a blog on Social Media Strategy 101 for your parish that's a great place to start.
Keep it short — Remember that social media content is usually visual-heavy. Keep your post copy short and sweet while relying on beautiful visuals like those that can be found in WeCreate to spark initial interest.
Links — Always link announcement posts to whatever extended information your viewers may need. It’s best to always link back to your parish’s website where news and announcements should be available in longer formats.

3. Church Bulletin
The church bulletin remains one of the most effective methods for communicating with your congregation. In fact, a 2023 study done by the Center for Applied Research at Georgetown University found that 90% of weekly Mass attendees read their parish bulletin!

Weekly Bulletin — Include important announcements, upcoming events, and contact information in your weekly bulletin. Ensure that your bulletin is easily accessible to all parishioners by making sure to use not only print bulletins but also digital copies of your bulletin that can be linked from your website as well as emailed out to parishioners.
Professional Format — A beautifully designed and professional-looking bulletin can aid your readers in finding relevant information like announcements inside of it. In fact, all of our LPi bulletin customers receive one FREE bulletin design refresh when they print their bulletins with us.
Relevant Images —Nothing helps announce your news like the right image. You can find professionally designed graphics for every occasion, perfect for you to drop into your bulletin (and other communications) inside of WeCreate, our library of Catholic content .

4. From the Pulpit at Mass

Speaking directly to your congregation during Mass is a powerful way to make announcements.

Clear Communication — Keep your messages concise and clear. Encourage your priests and speakers to engage parishioners in a friendly, welcoming manner.
Timing — Make announcements at a suitable point in the Mass to avoid disrupting the flow of worship.
Repetition — Repeat essential information a few times to ensure that it's absorbed. Consider making an important announcement two or three weeks in a row.
Visual Accompaniment — If your parish has a screen that projects slides and videos inside the sanctuary, be sure to accompany the announcement with a slide image. Remember, including visuals during announcements at Mass helps include those parishioners who may have a disability that can be assisted by visuals.

5. Press Releases

For major events, initiatives, and staff changes, consider sending out press releases to local media outlets.

Professional Approach — Write parish press releases in a professional and concise manner . Include quotes from church leaders and contact information for media inquiries.
Local Connection — Don’t forget to highlight in your press release how the announcement benefits the local community or shares a message of hope and faith.
Share — If local news agencies or others pick up your press release and publish it, be sure to share links to the press release on your social media accounts!

Additional Ideas and Considerations

Text Alerts — Explore using text messaging services for urgent news and last-minute changes to events. Often, it’s enough to send out a quick text with a link to the news on your parish’s website.
In-Person Announcements — Utilize gatherings outside of Mass, such as parish meetings, faith formation events, service projects, coffee and doughnuts, and more to make important announcements in person.
Multilingual Approach — If your parish is culturally diverse, make sure that you are offering news and announcements in every language spoken to ensure inclusivity.
Accessibility — Make sure all announcement communications are accessible to individuals with disabilities. Consider providing printed materials in large print, and always having audible announcements for important news, not just text announcements.

Remember, effective communication is key to keeping your parish vibrant and connected. By utilizing various channels and adapting to the preferences of your parishioners, you can be sure that important news and information reach everyone in your community.

How beautiful upon the mountains

are the feet of the one bringing good news,

Announcing peace, bearing good news,

announcing salvation, saying to Zion,

“Your God is King!” -Isaiah 52:7

Updated 11-05-2025

Church Graphics Our Designers Loved Making

test@4lpi.com (Web Team) — Thu, 02 Nov 2023 14:30:01 GMT

At LPi, we are so proud of the multimedia design team who is responsible for the thousands of graphics, designs, templates, and more that we release every year into our WeCreate library of Catholic content . These images are created for you to use in your bulletins, websites, social media posts, flyers, and any other way that your parish might need!

We recently asked our designers to share the pieces they most enjoyed making over this past year and why. We collected their answers for your viewing pleasure — Enjoy!

Catholic Art and Graphics Our Designers Loved Creating

If you want access to all of these graphics along with the thousands of other pieces that we have available, make sure you are subscribed to our WeCreate library . If you’re already an LPi bulletin customer , you are already subscribed and have access! Remember, our customer support team is always ready to assist you if you need help accessing these tools. You can contact them here!

Do you have your own favorite WeCreate piece that you’ve used in your church communications this this year? Let us know by sharing it and tagging us on Instagram , Facebook , or even Twitter . We’d love to see what has resonated with everyone this year!

Updated on 04-05-2025

LPi Revamps Blog Categories for Enhanced User Experience

test@4lpi.com (Web Team) — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 15:04:40 GMT

To better serve the over 35,000 readers of our blogs found inside www.4LPi.com, LPi is excited to announce a significant update to our company blog categories. Our commitment to providing high quality content and an improved user experience has driven this change.

Now, visitors to the blog will notice a streamlined and more intuitive category structure. Our goal is to make it easier for readers to find the information they need more quickly and efficiently. We've carefully reorganized our content into five distinct categories:

Web & Social Media — Discover the latest insights, strategies, and trends to enhance your online presence and engagement.

Parish Life — Build a strong parish community with ideas, best practices, and insights into all aspects of parish life.

Art & Design — Explore the world of design inspiration and discover new art pieces, practices, and applications that can enrich your parish's identity.

Faith Reflections — Engage with thought-provoking content that deepens your spiritual journey and understanding.

LPi News — Stay informed about LPi’s latest updates and current events.

With these revamped blog categories, we are dedicated to making it effortless for readers to access content that aligns with their interests and requirements. Our commitment to assisting parishes in their respective missions remains one of our top priorities and these changes are designed to enhance those endeavors.

Start exploring our updated blog categories today, and experience LPi content in a whole new way!

Introducing Our New Art and Content in WeCreate for 2024

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 14:00:00 GMT

Throughout the year, our team is constantly creating all-new liturgical content for our WeCreate Catholic digital art and content library. We are proud to share what’s new for 2024! Get ready for not one, but TWO, new cover art series, beautiful custom saint illustrations focusing on saints devoted to the eucharist, original Catholic comics, and more outlined below. If you don’t have access to WeCreate yet, click here to learn more about this extensive Catholic resource library . Now, without further ado, here’s what’s new —

Sharable Weekly Prayers

Every single week we include a short prayer in the Sunday text document. These prayers are short enough that they can be placed into spots with space constrictions, like social media or small spots in the bulletin. The prayers tie into the week’s readings but also can be used throughout the Church year. For example, the Corpus Christi Gospel prayer piece is a "Prayer on the Eucharist" which could be used for First Communion as well. In 2024 you can now find the prayers searchable by keyword in the Prayers Section!

Improved Search for More Findable Content

In 2024 we’re introducing a new section for Catholic Triva. These pieces, previously featured only in the Sunday text document will now be searchable by keyword. The Humor section will also get an upgrade in searchability, look for individual jokes and riddles, bulletin bloopers all searchable by keyword.

Every month we add hundreds of new pieces of Catholic art and content across WeCreate to help you create vibrant parish communications. The best news? All LPi bulletin customers receive full access to this resource library! Not a bulletin customer yet? Learn more!

We would love to see how you use this new content! Be sure to tag LPi in your social media posts so that we can see the incredible work you are doing in your community.

Announcing a New Bulletin Cover Series — The Traditional Series

test@4lpi.com (Web Team) — Thu, 19 Oct 2023 14:00:02 GMT

Guided by our customer’s feedback through surveys we’ve sent out over the past few months, we are proud to announce that we’re launching another brand-new bulletin cover series for the new cycle of the Liturgical Year, Year B, starting this upcoming Advent in December 2023. (If you missed the previous new cover series announcement, you can find it here ) The Traditional Series features beautiful traditional-style Biblical illustrations combined with modern graphic design and we love how they have turned out!

This week, we sit down with the talented designer of these new covers, Gaby, to give our viewers a first look at this beautiful series before we start releasing them into WeCreate .

Q. Hi Gaby, can you introduce this new series to us?

A. Hi! The new cover series I’ve been designing is called The Traditional Series. Each week these designs feature a lithograph style image alongside a scripture that directly correlates to that week’s Gospel message.

Q. Why are there multiple image size options for each cover?

A. The covers are available in multiple image sizes so that parishes can use the images with more flexibility when it comes to their bulletin layout. Parishes that have more room on their bulletin cover may want to use the full-page design, while those that have a more text-heavy publication will gravitate towards a half-page or square style design. Including multiple sizes and orientations for every design gives parishes the ability to use these images on their website, social media platforms, and other communications if they want.

Q. What was the concept behind this cover series and how did you approach the design?

A. I did my best to bring about a visually appealing piece that combines traditional and modern aspects of art and design. To do this, I introduced more movement into the pieces as well as a more collage-style layout.

I was inspired by images I’ve seen that use negative space creatively and asked myself, “How can I create a design that utilizes negative space, has a collage “feel” to it, and avoids the stagnant look that some traditional artwork has had previously?”

This led me to the design choice of having cut outs on these covers. What I mean by that is, once I am given the lithograph image and scripture for a particular week, I cut out the figure(s) that directly correlate to the Bible verse. That way the image and the verse are connected. It was also important to me that the image interacts with the text so that everything in the piece is harmoniously intertwined.

Q. Who are these covers for?

A. These covers can be used by any parish! Churches who value traditional imagery will enjoy them as well as those who might lean toward a more modern approach to their bulletin design. My hope is that the designs are also popular across different generations of viewers.

Q. What is something you’d like our parishes to know about the design or work you’ve put into these covers?

A. When our department is coming up with a new cover series every designer on our team gets to create a new concept. We are given the source material and what the covers should include but then we can be as creative as we want when we come up with our original designs. After a few iterations of each design following feedback from our leadership team, one design is selected as the new series going forward. It was a nice surprise when I found out my design was chosen!

I was motivated by a graphic style that I saw in a blog post that I actually used as inspiration for a WeCreate clip months ago. It was cool for me to take that one-time, digital graphic piece I created for WeCreate and develop it into an entire cover series!

Thank you, Gaby, for letting us know more about this new upcoming cover series!

To stay in the know about when LPi releases new content for vibrant parishes, like new bulletin cover series, digital images and templates, stock photography, and more, make sure to subscribe to our monthly new release emails! Don’t have access to this content but want it? Get all of our relevant and reverent Catholic content inside WeCreate.

Want more parish bulletin inspiration? Visit the "Church Bulletins" section of our blog.

Ideas for Church Bulletin Designs That Truly Stand Out

test@4lpi.com (Web Team) — Thu, 12 Oct 2023 14:00:00 GMT

What makes a church bulletin successful? What make it truly reflect your parish’s identity and mission? A well-designed bulletin welcomes new visitors, keeps parishioners engaged, and helps communicate the message of Jesus with clarity and beauty.

We’ve recently published a free guide to building the very best bulletin for your Catholic community. In this article, we’ll take a more thorough dive into what makes some bulletins more successful than others. Read on to see how your parish bulletin matches up. If you need help with a redesign, we’d love to assist!

Our Designer’s Favorite Church Bulletins

Our experienced design team has collaborated with parishes nationwide to create bulletins that effectively achieve this goal. Below, they showcase three top examples and explain why each one is effective. From layout tips to brand consistency, you’ll learn what to include in your bulletin to make it welcoming and engaging. Let’s get started!

Most Unique Design Layout

Epiphany Cathedral Catholic Church in Venice, Florida

Notes from the designer: This customer had a couple of pages that featured an image gallery, which is not something we see often in church bulletins. It’s easy for a gallery inserted into a bulletin design to end up looking very busy with a lot of photos overlapping, so creating a clean layout was important.

As it turns out, an image gallery inside your parish bulletin is an excellent way for visitors to get a sense of your church community, and it can also make parishioners feel engaged and eager to participate. Take a look at some of our favorite before-and-after bulletin redesigns for inspiration.

Best Use of Color and Branding

St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Huntingburg, Indiana

Notes from the designer: In general, I think what makes any bulletin design successful is cleanliness and organization. It’s important to utilize “white space,” which can be a drastic change for some parishes at first, but it allows for pages to breathe and for readers to be able to follow the information better.

Another component to having a successful publication is the customers’ overall branding (church name and imagery) and their color scheme. In this bulletin, St. Mary’s already had a beautiful logo and brand colors chosen upfront, which made the design portion much easier and enjoyable! Seeing their logo come to life through their bulletin makes a much greater impact than if the parish hadn’t had those elements established.

Most Striking Modern Church Bulletin Design

St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Wichita, Kansas

Notes from the designer: I almost always gravitate towards a more modern aesthetic for bulletin design projects. I love the endless possibilities that modern styles have. I also love seeing how I can push a design idea that was perhaps more traditional at the start, and give it a modern twist, while remaining true to the spirit of the parish the bulletin is being designed for.

You would be surprised at how many of our customers, who lean more toward being a traditional parish, end up loving our modern artwork and design. They never know what they might like until they see it! This bulletin has a great, clean, contemporary style that allows the parish to include the information they need while also expressing the traditional charisms of their parish.

Quick Ideas for Church Bulletin Designs

A thoughtful design for your parish bulletin not only conveys information more effectively but also contributes to fostering a welcoming atmosphere that can make visitors and parishioners feel more connected. Outstanding church bulletin designs that strengthen the sense of community and spirituality within a parish often include the following design elements.

Eye-Catching Covers

Display your parish’s brand identity (logo, colors, fonts) clearly. If you don’t have a concise brand identity yet, our team can help !
Use a bold, colorful image to grab attention and pull the audience in right from the start.
Include the most important information (Date, Liturgical Sunday, Mass Schedule, etc.) in an organized and concise layout.

Balanced Content and Visuals

Make sure each page continues to use your parish’s brand identity for consistency and professionalism.
Incorporate a good balance of graphics, photography, and text to keep the reader engaged. Churches can find a large selection of design-ready templates and images in WeCreate .
Use plenty of negative space (the area around and between an image) to make it easier to digest the information on each page.

If your parish is ready for a new bulletin design, get in touch with us . We’d love to help you create a bulletin that’s not only beautiful and vibrant, but also a true reflection of your parish community. Together, we can bring your vision to life and make your message shine.

For more art, design, and bulletin inspiration, check out the “Art & Design” section of our blog!

Updated 11-13-2025

LPi Ad Sales Managers Meet in Boston for Annual Summit

Mon, 09 Oct 2023 15:19:32 GMT

This past September 18-20, LPi ad sales managers, directors, and senior directors from across the country converged on Boston, Massachusetts for their annual summit. The group was joined by LPi’s senior leadership team this year and the theme for the meeting was “Back to the Future.”

“The primary purpose of this annual meeting is to foster collaboration among the sales manager team, directors, senior directors, and senior leadership,” said Bill Ames, the manager of the Coastal Raiders sales team at LPi. Ames, who also directed the logistical planning for the event, explained that “the goal is to share best practices, explore opportunities, and strategize for the year ahead.” The meeting also included breakout sessions covering topics like digital advertising and effective user reports, among others.

A highlight of the event was the guest speaker, Michael Allosso — an award-winning communications expert and self-awareness specialist who coaches CEO’s, teams, and individuals in leadership excellence. His selection was based on employee feedback, and his presentation centered on the importance of making everyone feel heard and seen in their activities and contributions to LPi.

Of the conference, Ames reflected, “You, on your best day, will always be determined by the company with which you choose to surround yourself. The Boston meeting provided a great opportunity to engage both our peers and the leadership team as we celebrated our wins, discussed our obstacles, and planned for our best days to come.”

In the spirit of the “Back to the Future” theme, this conference successfully catapulted LPi’s ad sales leadership teams forward with renewed vigor and a commitment to excellence. Our sincere appreciation goes out to everyone who contributed to the success of this event. Here's to many more fruitful gatherings in the years to come!

Parish Bulletins for Holiday Visitors — Tips to Consider for the Catholic Holiday Crowd

test@4lpi.com (Web Team) — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 14:00:07 GMT

Holidays like Christmas, Easter, and other special liturgical celebrations, often bring visitors into your parish. With this surge in visitors during special holiday seasons, it's crucial to ensure that your church bulletin effectively communicates your parish’s message to both regular attendees and newcomers. To guarantee that your bulletin is effective during the holidays, consider the following bulletin alterations to better communicate with those entering your community for the first time.

Four Ways to Help Your Bulletin Reach Visitors

1. Explain with Clarity

The first step in making your bulletin more accessible to visitors is to provide clear explanations of church acronyms and terms that you may consider common but could be unfamiliar to a newcomer’s eyes. For example, instead of stating, "OCIA meets on Tuesdays," consider providing a more informative description, such as:

"On Tuesdays, we meet to discuss what it means to be Catholic and the steps someone can take to join the Catholic Church. Our friendly, pressure-free environment encourages questions and open dialogue. These meetings are part of our OCIA program. OCIA means the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults.”

Don’t forget to share how people can register or learn more information about events and programs you may be inviting them to. By offering explanations like these, you ensure that all visitors, regardless of their level of familiarity with your church, feel welcome and informed.

2. Declutter and Freshen Up Your Design

A cluttered or visually busy bulletin can be overwhelming. Trying to pack too much information into your bulletin makes it hard for people to find the information they need. Consider decluttering your bulletin by removing unnecessary content and providing a cleaner, more user-friendly design. Not sure where to start? Reach out to our design team for assistance ! We have designed bulletin layouts for parishes across the country , assisting church staff in creating bulletins that effectively and professionally communicate their message and mission. Clean, visually appealing, and clearly well-designed bulletins not only enhance readability but also create a positive impression of your church to everyone who reads them.

3. Rearrange with Purpose

The order of information in your bulletin matters. Start by showcasing newcomer-friendly activities and events. For instance, highlight welcoming initiatives like coffee and doughnuts after Mass, newcomer gatherings, or community events you may have like sports leagues that invite visitors to socialize and engage with the community.

Transition gradually to spiritual growth opportunities that may require a bit more bravery, such as volunteering for specific ministries or joining your parish’s Bible study or faith formation programs. Organizing your content in this way helps visitors find activities that align with their spiritual journey.

4. Inject Some Humor

Humor can be a powerful tool to engage readers and create a friendly atmosphere. Consider incorporating humor into your bulletin through a dedicated humor series or by adding light-hearted touches to event descriptions. A well-placed joke, comic, or witty comment can make your bulletin more relatable and enjoyable for all. We’ve made it easy for you with our Catholic humor section inside of WeCreate. Every week, more original Catholic comics and funnies that are both funny and educational are uploaded for you to place into your bulletins!

We hope these tips help you prepare for the upcoming holiday season. Remember, a welcoming bulletin can play a significant role in making everyone feel at home in your parish.

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For more information on how to receive a free weekly print and digital church bulletin with LPi, head on over to our bulletin services page . Want more parish bulletin inspiration? We've got you covered over in the the "Church Bulletins" section of our blog. Happy holidays!

Updated 11-05-2025

The Best Ways to Welcome People Back to Church After a Long Hiatus

test@4lpi.com (Web Team) — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 14:45:00 GMT

Returning to Church after a long absence can be a deeply personal and transformative experience. Whether life's demands, doubts, or distractions pulled someone away, the journey back to a spiritual home can stir a whirlwind of emotions and thoughts. Fortunately, most parishes are filled with people excited to welcome those who have been absent back into the fold. In this blog we outline some common thoughts that individuals may have when returning to Church and discuss how parishes, through their staff, volunteers, and policies, can accompany and support them on this meaningful journey.

Common Thoughts Someone May Have When Returning to Church

1. Uncertainty: The first step through the church doors can feel like stepping into the unknown. Thoughts like, "Will I still belong here?" or "Have things changed too much?" may arise. This uncertainty can be alleviated by warm and welcoming greetings from church staff and volunteers. Make sure there are greeters at the sanctuary entrance, ready to offer a friendly smile and a helping hand with a bulletin ready to hand someone with information about ministries, Church customs, and how to connect further with the parish.

2. Guilt and Shame: Some returning parishioners may feel a sense of guilt or shame. These emotions can be overwhelming, but they're often a common part of the reason why some stay away from Church for so long. The parish can accompany those experiencing guilt or shame by acknowledging their return and reassuring them that everyone's faith journey has ups and downs. Does your parish offer support groups or ministries that might help? If so, having that information clearly available in your bulletin can be useful to battle these feelings in those who are experiencing them.

3. A Desire for Connection: Often, individuals return to Church in search of a sense of community and connection. Parishes can accompany this desire by hosting social events, small group gatherings, and volunteer opportunities to facilitate meaningful connections. You may even consider inviting those returning after a long absence to one of your newcomer gatherings to better reacquaint them with the parish and connect them to others who are also newly walking through your doors.

4. Spiritual Hunger: Returning parishioners may feel a hunger for spiritual nourishment, seeking answers to questions like, "What does faith mean to me now?" or "How can I deepen my relationship with God?" Direct these seekers to your parish’s Bible studies, faith formation programs, and other spiritual offerings to help meet these needs.

5. Reconciling Doubts: Doubts and questions about faith can drive some away from the Church. The parish can accompany those returning to seek answers by fostering an atmosphere of open dialogue, where questions are welcomed rather than discouraged. Encourage discussions in your programming, hold parish-wide workshops and retreats when you can, and invite guest speakers who can address challenging topics.

6. Balancing Commitments: Balancing Church with other life commitments can be a challenge. Returning individuals may ponder, "How can I make time for Mass?" Parishes can help people navigate this concern by offering flexible Mass times, virtual attendance options, and by recognizing the value of quality over quantity in participation.

Extra Tips for Parish Staff When Welcoming People Back

Your greatest tool for welcoming people back to the Church is COMMUNICATION.

Communicate Through Your Parish Website: The first place many considering a return to your parish will look is your church’s website. Is it up to date, inviting, and easy to navigate? Does it display photos of your parish community having fun and serving together instead of just empty buildings and architecture? We have lots of tools and tips for creating a more welcoming and effective website in the web and social media section of our blog . If you feel lost about websites, in general, or have hopes to update yours, reach out to our web design team or dive into our free parish website guide online! We work alongside churches all over the country to design effective websites that communicate how welcoming their communities are.

Communicate Through Your Church Bulletin: Capture the attention of anyone returning to the parish after a long absence by always having bulletins available. Better yet, have one of your greeters handing bulletins to people entering the church before Mass instead of after. This guarantees that those returning to your parish get your best, most welcoming communication directly into their hands to investigate immediately. Be sure to fill your bulletin with inviting content and images found in WeCreate, easy ways to get involved, and clear contact information for ministries and resources! If your parish is ready for a bulletin refresh or a totally new design, check out examples of what we’ve created for other parishes here and get into touch with us ! We also have a free guide for parish staff that includes everything you'd ever need to know about parish bulletins!

Returning to Church after a hiatus is a significant step on one's spiritual journey. By recognizing the common thoughts and emotions that returning parishioners may experience and implementing policies and practices that address their needs, parishes can truly be a place of refuge and growth for all who seek to reconnect with their faith.

Updated 11-05-25

Three Church Bulletin Myths Debunked!

test@4lpi.com (Web Team) — Thu, 21 Sep 2023 14:00:00 GMT

Church bulletins have been a staple of church communities for decades. While they serve as an important source of information and communication, there are several myths that have developed around them. Let’s debunk some of these misconceptions and shed light on the incredible value your parish’s bulletin brings to your community.

Myth 1: Print Bulletins are Irrelevant and Nobody Reads Them

This is an all-around FALSE statement. According to this 2023 research study on Catholic Media Use by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate from Georgetown University , the best way, by far, to reach Catholics in the pews or outside of them is the through the parish bulletin. This study found that:

90% of weekly Mass attendees read their parish bulletin — most often in print-only (46%).
61% of respondents had read their parish bulletin in the three months prior to being interviewed.
25% read their bulletin only in print. 11% read both print and online versions.
40% of those who attend Mass a few times a year or less often read their bulletin — both in print and online.

If you catch yourself thinking that your bull etin might be irrelevant, then make it relevant! We have timely and reverent content, ready for use in WeCreate , LPi’s digital art and content library. We also have loads of bulletin ideas on content and design inside our blog to help you out!

Myth 2: Bulletins are Just Filled with Announcements

While announcements are a part of most church bulletins, we hope your bulletin offers much more than that. If you need some ideas of what to put in your parish bulletin other than upcoming events and announcements, consider adding these content fillers. Some of these ideas are available in WeCreate .

Fresh Bulletin Content Ideas:

Weekly Gospel reflections and with LPi’s original weekly Gospel illustration (available in WeCreate)
Inspirational messages from your pastor or other church staff members
Educational/Catechetical pieces
Ministry activity recaps
LPi’s scripture discussion questions (available in WeCreate)
Calls to action and volunteer opportunities
Pictures from recent parish events like retreats, service projects, or youth group meetings
LPi’s original saint biographies and illustrations (available in WeCreate)
Parishioner spotlights highlighting different members of your parish (find an example here)
Special prayers for holidays and feast days (write your own, use the USCCB, or find them in WeCreate)
LPi’s Catholic trivia (available in WeCreate)
Catholic cartoons and comics — we have a large selection in WeCreate

Myth 3: Only Regular Churchgoers Benefit from Bulletins

Even if you're a visitor or an occasional attendee, church bulletins can be incredibly helpful. They often include details that can ensure that everyone, regardless of their familiarity with the church, can actively participate in your community and worship experience! Printed bulletins are also often sent home to those who are home-bound or hospitalized and provide a real, tangible bridge for those people to connect directly and still participate in parish life with the parish they love.

We hope these facts and ideas were illuminating and that you’ve c oncluded, like us, that church bulletins are far from the outdated, ignored artifacts they might be mistaken for! Interested in a free parish bulletin for your church? Learn more about our ad-supported bulletin service here.

Want more parish bulletin inspiration? We've got it all inside the "Church Bulletins" section of our blog. Or dive even deeper into everything you need to know about creating the best weekly bulletins possible with our free guide!

Updated 11-05-2025

Common Mistakes Churches Make About Visitors to Their Parish (and how to fix them!)

test@4lpi.com (Web Team) — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 14:00:01 GMT

“We want to be a welcoming community.” Sound familiar?

We work with churches all over the country and one of the most common things we hear from church staff everywhere is that they want their parish community to be welcoming, friendly, and accessible to visitors. This endeavor requires more than just open doors, however, and even the most well-intentioned churches can sometimes miss the mark when it comes to helping newcomers feel truly welcome and included.

Let's delve into some key aspects that might be easily overlooked in your parish’s collaborative quest to bridge the gap between established parishioners and visitors.

Welcome Visitors By Avoiding These Mistakes

Mistake — Lack of Information

Walking into a new place can be intimidating, especially when there's a lack of easy-to-access information available. How are visitors supposed to know where to park, where the bathrooms are, how to get access to ministries or services, if there is childcare available, about opportunities for those with disabilities, or simply that you pray the rosary together as a community after the 5 p.m. Mass? It can be scary walking into a new parish for the first time when you don’t know what to expect.

Fix it by —

Providing clear and concise literature and digital resources that introduce your visitors to the history, mission, activities, and other FAQ’s of the parish. A great way to do this is to include a menu item or a link on your website’s homepage that is front and center for visitors to gather this information. If the homepage suggestion already makes you feel lost, we can help! We assist churches all over the country with their websites and would be happy to get you set up for visitor success .

It’s also important to have a friendly point-person whose main job at Mass is to greet visitors and help newcomers get acquainted with the parish. Some communities have volunteer greeters at every Mass who play this part, while and others have a staff member who oversees community outreach or evangelization and is available to newcomers.

Another easy way to catch visitors’ attention is to have a table or area set aside near your entrance with a sign that clearly points visitors to printed resources. Don’t forget to have these resources available outside of your regular Sunday Mass times too! Weddings, funerals, and even programs like youth groups often have visitors who are looking to be included!

Mistake — Overwhelming Liturgical Jargon & Unexplained Traditions

While longstanding parishioners might be well-acquainted with your parish’s liturgical language and practices, newcomers can often feel lost in a sea of unfamiliar terms, rituals, and culture.

Fix it by —

Making a conscious effort to explain your church’s rituals, prayers, and customs in an accessible way. This could be as simple as your priest or lectors explaining parts of the Mass ahead of the events taking place when something new or complicated is coming up.

Educate visitors using the screens in your sanctuary if you have them. Display a slide explaining rituals, with prayers people can read, or even a schedule of what to expect out of the service so that newcomers can be more familiar with what is going on and what to expect.

Some churches also provide literature or brochures accessible to each seat in the parish that explain the main parts of the Mass and invite visitors to learn more by registering or attending a new-comer’s gathering. These are great ways to help people follow along and to invite them deeper into the parish community.

Mistake — Exclusive Social Circles and Inaccessible Leadership

Human nature often leads people to gravitate toward those they already know. This can inadvertently create exclusive social circles within the church.

Fix it by –

Creating space before or after Mass to actively encourage existing members to welcome and engage with newcomers (and each other). Some churches will even give parishioners a conversational prompt like “What’s your favorite local restaurant?” or “Do you belong to any of the parish’s ministries?”

Another strategy would be for your pastor, when greeting everyone at the beginning of Mass, to ask if there are any visitors who would like to introduce themselves. Often simply asking their names and where they’re from can inspire other parishioners to engage with them after the celebration.

Make sure you have the contact information for your church staff or ministry leaders on your parish website in an easy-to-find place. This simple step can go a long way toward taking the guesswork out of accessing leadership and finding resources for visitors!

Mistake — Neglecting Technology

Churches that neglect technology miss out on valuable opportunities to connect with visitors. Don’t forget, 90% of Americans communicate daily through social media and over 65% of website views are from cell phones instead of home computers!

Fix it by —

Maintain an up-to-date website and active parish social media presence ! These tools greatly help parishes distribute information, share stories, and showcase the warmth of their church community. Don’t worry, you don’t have to be a digital expert to achieve these two goals. We have a plethora of free resources for parishes on the Web and Social Media section of our blog to help you navigate this world!

We hope some of these solutions have inspired you! In the heart of every church beats a desire to embrace all who seek solace and belonging. By addressing these sometimes overlooked aspects of welcoming visitors to your parish, we sow the seeds of belonging and can ensure that your visitors feel valued, connected, and empowered.

Updated 11-05-2025

LPi promotes Tim Potrikus to Chief Revenue Officer

Thu, 07 Sep 2023 17:35:08 GMT

In September, 2023, LPi promoted Tim Potrikus from Vice President of Sales to Chief Revenue Officer. Considering his recent achievements, we thought we’d ask him a few questions about himself and his time at LPi to get a peek into the life of our newly appointed CRO.

Q. Hi Tim! How long have you worked for LPi and in what capacity?

A. My initial start was in 1992 as an LPi “Marketing Rep” (it was the old job title for today’s Communication Consultants) and then Marketing Manager. The job was to sign new accounts, retain renewals, and assist a team of five others in Hartford, Connecticut. From there, I took on a special project for LPi in Salt Lake City, Utah. When the project ended, I was offered jobs in Minneapolis and Milwaukee, but both were cities to which my wife didn’t want to move. LPi supported me through a search for a new job which I held for several years. I was invited back to LPi in 2004 when my original boss was planning on retiring as VP/Director for the Hartford location.

Q. Please tell us a little about yourself and what you do for fun.

A. My wife, Lisa and I spend the winter months in our RV in Florida with plans to travel across the U.S. particularly into the Southwest in a year or two. In the summer, we take it to any live music we can find, from Boston Symphony and their Popular Artists Series (think James Taylor, Brandi Carlisle, Train) in the Berkshires in western Massachusetts, to festivals like Green River with up-and-coming artists along with older bands. We love having all our stuff with us when we go, and we bring along the Jeep and our electric bikes for trips once we’re set up.

Q. Word on the street is that you come from a big Catholic family and belong to a small church that is an LPi customer?

A. I’m one of 11 kids, my wife is one of four, we have two of our own. Our two, Sarah and Eric, are both doing well in their own lives in Worcester, Massachusetts and Atlanta, Georgia. Our travel schedule/lifestyle means that I don’t participate in our local parish as much as I used to — I served several years on the finance council and as a trustee of the parish, but we’ve left that to the next generation of volunteers who are home year-round.

Q. Thanks Tim! Lastly, what’s your favorite thing about working for LPi?

A. I’ve always taken my roles at LPi to heart. I know the decisions that I and others on the leadership and management teams make affect the lives of 350 families who count on us to run the company successfully. I’ve enjoyed being part of a company that truly embraces its employees for all they are — all they can do — and all they can achieve. It is a GREAT PLACE to build a career!

Congratulations, Tim, on your new position. We’re proud to have you on our leadership team!

Interested in a career with LPi? Visit our careers portal here: www.4lpi.com/careers

Updated on 03-18-2024

Work Smarter, Not Harder — Our Bulletin Support Pros Solve Your Publisher Problems

test@4lpi.com (Web Team) — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 14:00:00 GMT

Do you use Microsoft Publisher to design your parish bulletin? If so, you aren’t alone! Our team works with church bulletin editors all over the country that use Publisher. We thought we’d collect some frequently asked questions about using Publisher for church bulletins and get our professionals on staff to offer their tips. This week, we spoke with Rhonda and Lynn, two of our LPi publication support representatives, who know Microsoft Publisher inside and out!

Between the two of them, Rhonda and Lynn have assisted hundreds of parish bulletin editors with getting their bulletins printed. Thanks, Rhonda and Lynn! Let’s dive in:

Parish Bulletin Microsoft Publisher FAQ’s:

Q. Why did my image go missing in my printed bulletin?

Rhonda: This is almost always caused by copy/pasting an image into your publication instead of inserting an image. When you download an image from WeCreate , or another source, first save it to your computer and then insert it into your Publisher document. This is the correct way to add an image to your document.

Lynn: Another problem could be that you’re uploading a Publisher file using the LPi Express desktop app and the file size for your publication is too large. When this happens, images can disappear when you upload.

To solve this, use the new weblink version of LPi Express at https://www.4lpi.com/file-upload and create a High Quality or Press-Ready PDF for upload by either selecting File -> Export -> Export PDF/XPS document OR Save As -> select file type PDF from drop down below the file name, depending on which version of Publisher you are working with.

Q. How do I upload to LPi Express?

Rhonda: Don’t forget to save your Publisher file into PDF format first. The LPi Express desktop app is being phased out so create your PDF first by one of the following methods (depending on your version of Publisher):

File -> Export -> Export PDF/XPS document
Save As -> select file type PDF from drop down below the file name

Then visit www.4lpi.com/file-upload to submit the file via your specific region. Your Publication Support Reps are standing by to help you create a shortcut or bookmark this page if you need help!

Q. How do I preview my PDF in LPi Express (and why is it so important)?

Lynn: Remember to use the weblink version of LPi Express at https://www.4lpi.com/file-upload . Click on the bright blue “Preview PDF” button to open the PDF in a new tab or download a PDF of your bulletin. The PDF you see should match exactly what you uploaded. If it doesn’t, what you are seeing in the preview is exactly what LPi is going to print so, try this: Instead of using “File -> Print” out of Publisher to create a file to upload, use “File -> Export -> Export PDF/XPS document” or “Save As -> select file type PDF from drop down below the file name.” This creates the High Quality or Press Ready PDF which is a “stable” document for uploading to LPi Express.

Rhonda: You can also open the PDF immediately after saving it, or you can click on the “preview my file” button during the upload process. Keep in mind that this is the file we receive. We never see your Publisher document, so it is always best to print, proof, and preview from your PDF document.

Q. What are layers in Publisher and how can they help me?
Rhonda: Layers are my most favorite feature of Microsoft Publisher. You can have a text box with an image on top and another text box on top of that. Working with layers can help you customize graphics. For example, if you want your church name on your bulletin cover, instead of the bible verse as it appears, you can just put a text box over the words on the graphic and type in your church name! This can work for the beautiful backgrounds and stock photography you find in WeCreate , too. But don’t forget that we also have many template graphics ready for your alterations as well.

Lynn: In short, layers allow you to add color or dimension to your bulletin without using page fill.

Q. Why don’t my colors look as vibrant in the printed bulletins as they do on my computer screen?

Lynn: Your colors sometimes don’t look as vibrant in print as they do on your computer screen because LPi prints in CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) colors and your computer screen uses RGB (red, green, blue). The good news is that if you are looking for a specific color, you can ask your Publication Support Representative to send you a color swatch sheet to help you match it! Another tip is to avoid colors like Navy that have a high “K” value in the CMYK values. Colors with a high “K” value may default to black when uploaded to LPi Express.

Rhonda: Another tip is that reds and oranges are sometimes more difficult to translate from your screen to a printed document. For this reason, I always recommend that if you find a good red that you think prints well, save the CMYK values so you that you can recreate it if need be.

Q. Why did my file fail?

Rhonda: There are a few reasons why a file may not make it through pre-press, but one of the most common reasons is being outside of LPi margins, which are .38”. There is a background tool in Publisher that allows you place a color on the entire page. The problem with that tool is that it applies the color literally to the entire page and the color bleeds off the page. We can’t use that tool for LPi printed documents due to the bleed, but a Publication Support Representative can show you how to create the same look within your margins if you need! Another item that could be causing problems is your page numbers. Page numbers on both headers and footers are sometimes the culprit for a document being outside of the margins.

Lynn: Are you copying and pasting text into your bulletin document straight from an email? If so, you may be bringing a font over into your publication that you do not have installed onto your computer. This can also cause problems. Try pasting the text into another program like Notepad and then recopying and pasting that text into your bulletin file to solve this problem.

Q. Can you fix my bulletin for me?
Rhonda: We can help you fix errors on your end, but we are not able to alter your PDF in any way. Should you find an error and need to resend your document to us, please call first. If we receive a duplicate file without a phone call, we have to put the printing of your document on hold until we speak with you for clarification. We want to make sure we print what you want us to print.

Lynn: Unfortunately, we can’t actually go into your file and fix anything specific for you, but we can do our best to assist you in making the changes yourself if you call us. The responsibility of making changes to the bulletin is the responsibility of the bulletin editor but we are happy to help guide you where we can!

Remember we’re just a call away.

Q. What if I have more questions?

We hope these Frequently Asked Questions help you with any Publisher problems you may encounter. If you are still having an issue, or feel stuck and frustrated, Publication Support Representatives like Rhonda and Lynn are ready to help you! You can contact them by visiting https://www.4lpi.com/print-customer-support .

Happy publishing!

Updated on 11-04-2025

All About the Catholic Bulletin Cover Series by LPI: The Immerse Covers

test@4lpi.com (Web Team) — Thu, 31 Aug 2023 14:00:00 GMT

Guided by our customer feedback, we've launched a cover series called the Immerse Series . This week, we sat down with the lovely designer of these covers, Kristen, to learn more about the series inside WeCreate! If you're looking for a complete guide to the other bulletin cover series found inside WeCreate, head over to this article to see them all.

THE Immerse Series for Catholic Bulletin Covers

Q. Hi Kristen, can you introduce this series to us?
A. Sure thing! The Immerse series is designed to have more of a macro-focus on the Gospel message of each week, paired with nature photography specifically selected to reference that week’s readings. This series starts in December for the new liturgical cycle and includes three different image size options in both Spanish and English.

Q. Why are there multiple image size options for each cover?

A. We have different sizes of cover images available because churches have different needs for their bulletin covers. Some parishes use a half page, some a full page, and some use these pieces of cover content inside their bulletins instead. We wanted to create a variety of options so that everyone can make use of this beautiful series in whatever way their parish needs.

Q. What was the concept behind this cover series?

A. Our concept for the Immerse series was inspired by the survey responses that we’ve received from Church staff across the country. We found, from these responses, that there was a significant request for more nature imagery paired with the weekly gospel for bulletin covers. Customers also indicated their need for designs with text that is larger and that stands out more boldly on the cover as its main focus.

Q. How did you approach the design?

A. First, I made three completely different design options to present to our team. All focused on the same image and Gospel passage but using different text treatments, colors, and design styles. One design element I wanted to be sure to incorporate into the series was a “focus word” that popped out as visually distinct in every cover. Once the three design options were completed, I sent them over to our LPi graphic design manager and our brand and art director for them to choose their favorite. The option that they chose just happened to also be my favorite of the three designs! Once we made the choice, I got to work. I’ll continue to design these covers throughout 2024.

Q. What do you hope churches get out of these covers?
A. My hope is to give parish communities great quality artwork to showcase on their bulletin covers.

Q. Who are these covers for?

A. These covers are for any parish that wants to try a more modern approach to design on their bulletins while also staying true to the traditional Gospel message of the Church. Although it’s not necessarily traditional-looking artwork, the covers do lend themselves more toward focusing on the Gospel which makes them the perfect blend of modern design and traditional messaging.

Q. What is something you’d like our parishes to know about the design or work you’ve put into these covers?

A. One thing I’d love people to know is that these covers often feature images of the Holy Land and other photography of locations that mirror each week’s Gospel message. For example, when the readings speak about Jesus in the desert, I chose imagery of the Judean Desert so that the image used was accurate to the message. Another example of this is a cover using a verse from the story of John the Baptist baptizing Jesus and the image I used for that cover is from the actual Jordan River where the event happened historically.

Q. What do you like about the Immerse series?

A. One thing I like about this series is the fact that we have three options for different sizes that parishes can fit into their bulletins however they want. Each size’s imagery is specifically curated to fit that size so that, no matter what image a parish uses on its bulletin cover, it looks professional, fresh, bright, and inviting.

Thank you, Kristen, for letting us know more about this gorgeous cover series!

Want more parish bulletin inspiration? Visit the "Church Bulletins" section of our blog or head over to our free guide to creating the best weekly bulletin ever for your parish!

Updated on 11-04-2025

Successful Church Logos We Loved Making and Why

test@4lpi.com (Web Team) — Thu, 24 Aug 2023 14:00:00 GMT

One of our favorite tasks to work on here at LPi is creating church logos and brandings ! Whether a parish is simply updating their old logo or diving into a completely new design, our team of designers is there to guide them until their new brand is perfect. This week, we had an opportunity to interview a few of our designers about the logos they’ve created for parishes that they consider to be their favorite designs. Before we reveal these strong church logo designs and why each logo is so successful though, let’s quickly review what makes a strong parish logo.

A Strong, Memorable, and Well-Made Church Logo Should Include:

A good composition that can be recognized at a large or small scale. It should be easily read and recognized from far away and up-close.
Strong brand-recognition. If there’s another church down the road with a very similar logo, it can cause confusion to the community and for parishioners.

Colors that represent the “feel” and “atmosphere” of the church, so if the church is more traditional or more modern, the style of the logo and the colors used should be a direct representation of that.

A timeless design. Choosing a logo that is too “trendy” can be an issue when, a few years down the road, it may end up looking off-trend or outdated.

Intentional design elements. Choosing a logo that is too complicated or includes too many elements can also make it hard to read and remember.

Three Examples of Excellent Catholic Church Logo Designs

Now, on to the logos that our designers chose to highlight! Three members of our design team chose a logo that they created and kindly answered a few questions about why that particular logo is a strong design.

Heidi’s Choice: Logo for Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish

What, in your opinion, makes this a strong logo?

This particular logo is strong for a few reasons. One is because it’s fully customized. You’re very unlikely to see another logo that is similar in the same region that Our Lady Queen of Peace is in or even beyond. Because of this, the logo is also more likely to be memorable and helps to create brand recognition and loyalty for the parish. Another thing that makes it a strong logo is that its design is simplistic enough that it can be easily understood at a distance.

What were some of the hopes and goals of the church going into this design and how did the design satisfy those goals?

The parish wanted to use Marian imagery and the University’s colors in their design. Their idea was that this would help tie their two church communities and their educational campus together. They also wanted to represent peace with a dove and/or olive branch. We were able to include all of these requests in the final design!

What do you personally like about this logo?

I like how when a viewer looks at the logo from far away, they immediately see a dove but when they look at it up-close, they see more — Mary, the crown, and the olive branch. This makes the logo unique and interesting. I also love the soft, calming color palette that matches well with the subject.

Evan’s Choice: Logo for San Juan Del Rio Catholic Church

What, in your opinion, makes this a strong logo?

This is a strong logo because of its unique use of negative space, and the fact that the primary text is integrated into the logo. It incorporates a water element which balances out the upper portion that features the architecture of the church. The two shades of blue are contrasted with a fresh green which together creates an engaging pallet, and an engaging feel for the parish.

What were some of the hopes and goals of the church going into this design and how did the design satisfy those goals?

The folks at San Juan Del Rio wanted to incorporate a river into the logo, so I included that in the design. The parish also wanted their logo to feel welcoming. One of the most welcoming colors psychologically is green, so I went with a friendly green that balanced out the blue hues.

What do you personally like about this logo?

When working on this logo I also wanted all of the line work inside the image to create movement throughout the logo. I also enjoy the modern colors. They are unique and I think they create a sense of excitement!

Gaby's Choice: Logo for Our Lady of LaSalette Catholic Church

What, in your opinion, makes this a strong logo?

I think the overall simplicity of the logo is what makes it so strong! It can be difficult for a designer to illustrate a religious figure, especially the saints. We often get paintings or stained-glass images as references that are complex and busy. We have to make sure to capture their likeness in our design as well as include any small details that are often associated with that figure and that can be challenging. For example, they might be seen with a flower, or a certain type of crucifix, and those elements can sometimes be hard to pull off at such a small scale. For reason, I think that this logo was a success — not only because is it recognizable as the figure, but it is so simple and iconic that a viewer is able to point out what each element is and the purpose each serves for the whole design!

What were some of the hopes and goals of the church going into this design and how did the design satisfy those goals?

For this branding, the customer specifically requested that the logo be done in an illustrative style of design. They wanted the logo to include the figure Our Lady of LaSalette as well as the hammer and pincers associated with the crucifixion of Jesus on the cross. I satisfied their wishes by having the sole focus of the logo be a zoomed-in version of Our Lady of LaSalette’s face. By taking an up-close approach to the design, I was able to fit in all the details that make her recognizable: her crown with roses, the single tear running down her face, and her crucifix that she wears around her neck with the hammer and pincers. None of this could’ve been achieved if I would have tried to illustrate her whole body.

What do you personally like about this logo?

I think this logo is one of my strongest so far. Fun fact about this one — I had originally started with a completely different design, hated it, asked a fellow coworker for some advice, then started over from scratch. My favorite thing about this logo was the process. Seeing where it started to where it ended up was very rewarding for me! Especially since I don’t consider this illustrative style my strongest, I decided to take this challenge head-on. Typically, iconic logos are my favorite to design, so it was fun combining the illustrative and iconic styles into one piece. I also chose specifically to only use one color for this logo to push the simplicity even further and I am very pleased with how it turned out!

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Like what you see? There are number of other samples of church logos we’ve designed on our website . If your parish is ready for a logo refresh or a complete rebranding, you can learn more and get the process started with this brochure or read our recent f ree guide with everything you need to know about parish branding!

Want to learn more about logos and branding for parishes? Dive into the "Art and Design" section of our blog!
Updated on 12-04-2025

How One Catholic Parish Designed Their Perfect Logo

Thu, 17 Aug 2023 14:00:02 GMT

Our multimedia design team tackles branding projects for parishes all over the country and this week we are sharing an inside look into the creative process behind the design of a new parish logo.

When a church begins the process for a new logo or a brand refresh , our team meets with them to discuss their hopes and desires for their new design. Parish staff also fill out a branding questionnaire that helps prompt them with ideas about what they might want to include. Once this information gathering stage is complete, our designers each work on an individual logo as an option for the parish then present these options to parish staff. Here we share three of the initial logo options our team created for St. Clare of Assisi parish in Canyon Country, California alongside comments about each design from the artist who created it. We will also share the final design!

3 Catholic Logo Ideas St. Clare of Assisi Church

Logo Version 1: Designed by Erich

How did your design satisfy the customer’s ideas?
Within the branding questionnaire, the customer requested to see a logo option that included a rendering of St. Clare. I chose to pursue this request because the church described itself as welcoming and friendly. People can more easily identify with a person, which can help to create a welcoming and friendly atmosphere.

What were some of the design decisions you made?

The most important aspect of rendering a figure is expression. For St. Clare, I searched through many reference images, trying to find the one that had the best expression that would fit into the parish atmosphere: welcoming and friendly. The figure I chose for St. Clare was one of softness and calm — all of which reinforce the welcoming and friendly spirit of the community.

As for the typeface, I wanted to use something bold but also something that had some thick/thin contrast to the strokes of the letters in order to complement the line variation within the rendering. It was also important for the typeface to have a little personality since the main icon of the logo focuses so much on communicating that.

What did you personally like about your design?

The face of St. Clare was key to the success of the logo. The face has a minimal amount of detail yet still captures the soft and calming expression of St. Clare. When portraying an illustrated figure, the face is everything. It's what helps a person identify with and care about another person. Another important aspect of the logo is its visual flow, encouraging continual engagement. As people often look at a face first, the logo features St. Clare's eyes pointing down, leading the viewer's eye down to the pyx, which then leads to the left arm of St. Clare which is gently pointing down to the name of the church. As the viewer's eye gets to the end of reading the text, the pop of green and the contour of the background shape leads the eye back to the top of the logo and back to St. Clare's face and eyes, beginning the process over again.

Logo Version 2: Designed by Tim

How did your design satisfy the customer’s ideas?
The customer requested that the focal point of the logo be the San Damiano Cross . Other elements they mentioned that they wanted to include were rue herbs and lilies.

What were some of the design decisions you made?

Working with this specific cross can be tricky because of its very distinct, recognizable shape and all of the harsh geometric corners it has. I chose to pair the cross with the rue and, to do that, I had to match the design style of both elements. The challenge for me was finding a way to make the cross feel “softer” but still look like the staple San Damiano Cross. That’s how the design took shape — I merged the rue stems with the cross and made sure to keep the same line-work throughout. I also decided to go with a softer color pallet to pair with the soft edges.

What did you personally like about your design?

I liked that I found a new, unique way to display the San Damiano cross outside of the traditional way that most people see or experience it.

Logo Version 3: Designed by Kristen

How did your design satisfy the customer’s ideas?
St. Claire of Assisi had a couple of different suggestions for what they were hoping for with their new logo and identity. The element I wanted to capture was the use of a monstrance in an illustrative style design. Illustrative logos, I think, can capture different elements like the tone and the message you want to communicate in the design. With illustrative logos, there is more freedom with design and less rules when it comes to the creation of the logo.

What were some of the design decisions you made?

The church had wanted the design to be fresh, clean, and for the colors to be unique. As far as the colors go, we don’t usually receive requests like theirs for warm browns with a pop of green. I think these colors stand out from other Churches that more frequently request blues. Blue is a nice color to use but it is a color that everyone is comfortable with — it’s safe.

What did you personally like about your design?

I love the presentation of this logo because the roots of the design are traditional, with a serif font and the symmetry of the logo, but it has contemporary elements when it comes to the color, and a serif font paired with a sanserif font for the words “of” and “Catholic Church.”

The Final St. Clare Logo Reveal

So, which of the three logo options did the staff of St. Clare decide to go with and develop into their final branding? In this case, the parish actually decided to incorporate elements of all three designs into their final brand! They wanted to incorporate the color pallet from Erich’s design, the monstrance theme from Kristen’s design, and combined it all with the San Damiano Cross from Tim’s design. Our designers got to work and it’s safe to say that everyone is proud of the final result. The logo below is what St. Clare of Assisi decided on!

For more branding and logo inspiration, check out the "Art and Design" section of our blog!

Updated on 11-04-2024

How a Tagline Can Strengthen Your Church's Mission and Identity

Thu, 10 Aug 2023 14:00:01 GMT

We live in a fast-paced world. Attention spans are shrinking and competition for people's time is fierce. To keep up, having a strong and memorable brand identity for your Catholic church is essential. One crucial element of a strong brand identity is a well-crafted tagline — a short and impactful phrase that encapsulates the essence of your church's mission and values. Let’s explore the importance of a tagline, its potential to further your church's mission, and practical ideas for creating and integrating your tagline into your parish communications.

Understanding the Power of a Tagline

A tagline is a concise and memorable phrase, often placed alongside your church's name or logo, that communicates the essence of your mission and values. It serves as a quick snapshot of what your church stands for, leaving a lasting impression on both current and potential members. A well-crafted tagline has the power to evoke emotions, connect with your target audience, and reinforce your church's identity.

Advancing Your Church's Mission with a Tagline

A compelling tagline can be a powerful tool in advancing your church's mission. It helps your parish community to establish a clear identity, making it easier for people to understand what you are about and what sets you apart from other parishes. A tagline can convey your core values. For example:

Faith, Love, and Community
Growing Together in God's Grace
Everyone is Welcome Here
Gather in God’s Name, Grow in God’s Time, and Go in God’s Spirit
God’s Faithful Community
Walking Together with Christ
A Stewardship Community

By communicating these values, you create a sense of belonging and attract like-minded individuals to join your faith community.

Additionally, a tagline can aid in building recognition and recall for your church. When consistently used across various communications, it becomes synonymous with your church's name and logo. This familiarity can foster trust and strengthens your overall brand, making it easier for people to connect and engage with your community.

How to Craft a Meaningful Tagline for Your Parish

Coming up with the perfect tagline may seem daunting, but it's a creative process that involves understanding your church's unique attributes and the needs of your congregation. Here are some ideas to help you get started:

Seek input from the whole church staff, parishioners, and other leadership. Gather ideas and insights from those who know the church best to ensure the tagline accurately reflects its mission.
Focus on your church's mission and values. Consider what makes your church stand out and the impact you wish to make in the lives of your members and the greater community.
Keep it simple and memorable. Aim for a concise and easy-to-remember tagline that can be quickly recalled by those who hear or see it.

Integrating Your Tagline into Parish Communications

Once you've crafted a compelling tagline, it's time to integrate it into your parish communications to strengthen your church's identity consistently. Don’t forget to:

Place it prominently on your website and social media profiles. Make sure it's visible in headers, bios, and cover images to increase brand recognition.
Include it in all of your printed materials. Feature your tagline on church bulletins, banners, flyers, letterhead, and newsletters to reinforce your message.
Use it in videos, teachings, retreats, homilies, and more. Remember to use your tagline in any videos and other multimedia presentations your parish might use in order to underscore your church's values and mission.

A well-crafted tagline has the potential to become the heart of your church's brand identity . By clearly expressing your mission and values, it enhances recognition, fosters emotional connections, and attracts like-minded individuals to your faith community. Take the time to brainstorm and create a tagline that resonates with your church and aligns with your mission and incorporate it consistently across all parish communications to build a strong and enduring brand presence.

Need help with your parish’s overall brand identity? Learn more about how LPi can help guide your parish through a logo refresh or an over-all brand makeover!

Updated on 011-04-2025

Parish Dispatch — How St. Augustine Parish Has Achieved Incredible Social Media Success

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 14:00:01 GMT

So many Catholic churches have been venturing into the social media space over the last decade, we thought it was high time to interview some parish staff members who are doing a masterful job using these tools. We sat down with Michelle and Daniela of St. Augustine parish in the city of Coral Gables, Florida to discuss their parish’s social media story, strategy, and ultimately, their success.

Q. Hello, Michelle and Daniela, what are your roles at St. Augustine?
Michelle: I am the Director of Evangelization and Campus Ministry. This role lands me in the communications department as well because communications is such a large part of evangelization.

Daniela: I am the social media coordinator. I work together with Michelle to plan out the social media calendar, create content, and respond to parishioners through our social media networks.

Q. What social media platforms do you use for St. Augustine?
Daniela: We use Instagram , Facebook , and YouTube . We also use Linktree to keep all of the links that we are sharing organized in one place, especially the many event sign-ups that take place monthly.

Q. Tell us a bit about your parish and what your social media goals are for the community.
Daniela: Our parish community is a mix of all ages being very active but also uniquely, we have a large community of 20s & 30s, some students, young professionals, and young families, that are a vibrant part of our church.

We are also blessed to be a university parish. Instead of an elementary school or a middle school being connected to our parish, our school is the University of Miami. That being said, our parish social media profiles and our student ministry social media profiles are completely separate. We do cross-post and highlight events occasionally, but our church profiles operate specifically for the parish.

Michelle: Our main goals for our social media profiles are evangelization — making sure that everything we post is beautifully designed, and celebrating the life of our parish — advertising events and highlighting event turnouts, highlighting parishioners and their stories, and sharing our church with the greater community. God is always doing amazing works in our church and the life of our parishioners — social media is a way to share it with others and hopefully inspire.

We’ve been working extra hard since COVID to bring the community together in different ways. Our parish’s COVID experience really sparked us to invest more in social media. It was a catalyst for us to step back and ask ourselves “What are we doing well and what can we do better?” It is the hard work that has been put into community building at the parish over the past few years that has laid the foundation for our ability to engage people on social media. Parishioners now look forward to seeing what’s happening in our parish, the many ways to get involved, and even send our link to their friends to invite them to join them at church. Many are also open to being featured in our social media, giving them a space to share a little of their faith story through our Parishioner Spotlights.

Q. What are these Parishioner Spotlights you mentioned?
Daniela: We want to know who our parishioners are so we can create a stronger community. We have a lot of parishioners who attend Mass every Sunday, and we know who they are, where they sit, who their kids are, but we might not know their names. The Parishioner Spotlight posts on our social media profiles brings a little more information about our lovely community members to the church as a whole. We sometimes like to highlight parishioners who are especially active in a certain ministry so that we can shine a light on that ministry as well. You can find examples of our parishioner spotlights scattered through our social media profiles on Facebook and Instagram.

Michelle: We are pretty intentional about making sure our social media content matches our website and bulletin. For example, our Parishioner Spotlight is also included in the bulletin. It’s important to coordinate among the many venues of communication so that nobody misses out. Our motivation is to continue to find communication avenues to share the good news of what God is doing — be that through social media, print, or something else.

Editor's Note: We were so inspired by the "parishioner spotlight" posts St. Augustine makes that we wrote a how-to guide for parishes to follow to create their own. Find it here!

Q. Why do you think that it is important for your parish to maintain a social media presence?

Michelle: One of the biggest things we continually investigate is where people might be spending most of their time. Social media is one of those places people spend a significant amount of time interacting, so we should be present there too!

We want our community members to encounter Christ, be active in our community, and not be afraid to share the Gospel with others. We do this through the many activities in our parish as well as through the way we plan social media. We hope to inform, inspire, and get our people excited to be a part of what’s going on in their parish. We also want our parishioners to know that they are the Church! That we are so happy they are part of our parish family, that we are here to accompany them on their journey, and that they have faith stories worth sharing. Social media has been an incredible tool to help drive that enthusiasm and motivate people to get involved.

We livestream our Masses on YouTube specifically to give access to those who can’t make it to Mass. People love this too and our comments and engagement on our livestreams are high. I see our social media presence as another way to promote the bigger picture of “we’re called to be in community.”

Q. How do you build engagement? Do you intentionally spend time interacting with your followers?

Daniela: I spend many hours a week on St. Augustine’s social media presence. It’s important for people to understand that folks often see a church social media account as a persona that they can reply to, message, and ask questions.

A lot of people use the messaging feature on Facebook and Instagram to ask questions so the social media coordinator job can feel like a receptionist at times but, I make sure that I’m available for them. It is important to show them that we are human beings in community, not just someone trying to turn content for views.

I also always make sure to like and respond to the comments that people leave on our posts. I follow the church account on my personal social media accounts as well and that helps me see what our viewers are experiencing. I play a lot with what might work and what doesn’t. Lately, we have been sharing more videos with music and movement as well as posts that include something more aspirational and people have been responding well and sharing these. You can build engagement by showing people what they want and the best way to do that is to just test out different kinds of content and posts. Another post type that we’ve found has been successful is posts where we show pictures of an event the day after it happens. People love this and will frequently tag themselves and share these types of posts.

Q. Do you have a social media calendar? How do you determine what goes on it?
Daniela: We do have a calendar. I meet weekly with Michelle to talk about what we want to share on social media that week. Once we have a plan, I run posts by Michelle to make sure they are in line with what the parish has going on. It’s very helpful that Michelle and the pastor are on the same page with the direction the church is going and what’s happening in the community. Their ability to communicate these things makes it much easier for me to manage social media.

Michelle: As for content, every parish has tons of things to celebrate so it’s important to highlight those. A Baptism, a wedding, a special Mass, a line from that weekend’s homily, the opportunities to celebrate your parish life are countless. We meet weekly and look at what’s going on — focusing on events, inspiration, and building community.

Q. Have you faced any challenges?
Daniela: Although we have a lot of young adults and young families at our parish, we also have a significant number of parishioners from older generations who aren’t necessarily fluent in social media. We’ve learned that it’s important to take everyone’s level of social media fluency into account when planning, so we’ve done a few things to help accommodate those who aren’t as comfortable with these platforms. We’ve made the font bigger and the contrast higher in our designs, always make sure that any links are very visible and obvious, and intentionally follow our parish’s brand guidelines so that posts are easily recognizable as coming from our church. Another thing we’ve learned is that it’s important to make the design of individual posts more general and not overly culturally masculine or feminine but, instead, to just stick to our parish’s brand. This makes the post more accessible and attractive to a wider, more general audience.

Q. What is some advice you might give another church who wants to up their social media game?

Daniela: Don’t compare yourself to another church! Be true to your community. Cater to your community and don’t worry about what other people are doing. Also, remember that social media is just one of the many aspects of your parish — it isn’t the only one. Don’t try to make it something it’s not. It’s just one part of marketing, it’s not your entire marketing strategy. Another piece of advice I’ll give is that it’s very important to hire a social media manager. This person can dedicate the time needed to engage your community and create the best space possible online for your church.

Michelle: Social media is a worthy investment and it shouldn’t be hard to find great content. If the staff member managing your parish’s social media is involved in the life of the parish, it should be easy to find great content to share. For a healthy community, you must be excited and want to celebrate what God is doing. Social media is fun because it’s a way to celebrate the life of the parish and what God is doing through you.

We want to extend a big thank you to Daniela and Michelle for sharing there expertise with us!

If you found inspiration through this interview and want to invest more time in social media for your parish, we suggest checking out the articles we’ve gathered under the Web & Social Media section of our blog.

Updated on 03-18-2024

Is Your Church Making These Common Social Media Mistakes?

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 14:00:01 GMT

Social media is an integral part of our lives. It offers immense opportunities for connecting, engaging, and spreading messages across various communities. Parishes like yours have also recognized the importance of social media platforms as a fantastic way to connect with members and the wider public. However, like any organization, a parish can sometimes make mistakes regarding their online presence. Let’s explore some of the common mistakes that churches make on social media and discuss strategies to correct them.

Common Social Media Mistakes Catholic Parishes Make

Inconsistent Posting — One common mistake is irregular or infrequent posting on social media platforms. Inconsistency can leave followers disengaged and cause a decline in their interest. To correct this, it is essential for churches to establish a content calendar and commit to a consistent posting schedule. This helps maintain a regular presence and keeps the audience informed and engaged.

Lack of Interaction — Another common mistake is the failure to interact with followers. Social media is a two-way street, and engagement is crucial for building relationships. Catholic churches should respond promptly to comments, messages, and inquiries from followers. By actively participating in conversations, churches can foster a sense of community, address concerns, and offer support and guidance. Don’t forget to interact outside of your own social media profile and like/comment on your parishioner’s posts, too!

Over Promotion — Using social media solely for self-promotion is a significant mistake made by many organizations. People tend to be turned off by constant advertising. To correct this, churches should aim for a healthy balance between promotional content and meaningful, inspirational, or educational posts. Sharing stories, prayers, and insightful reflections can create a deeper connection with your audience. Need ideas on what to post for your parish? LPi provides an entire social media content calendar filled with daily content options including images and captions that parishes can simply copy and paste into their own social media profiles if need be. This content is curated based on the liturgical calendar and is freely available through WeCreate to our bulletin customers as well as all stand-alone WeCreate subscribers.

Neglecting Visual Appeal — Aesthetics matter on social media and overlooking the visual aspect of posts is a common mistake. To improve your online presence, invest in high-quality visuals, such as intentionally thought-out photographs of their vibrant community and beautifully designed Catholic graphics. Eye-catching images can capture attention and encourage users to interact and share the content, thereby expanding the reach of your message.

Lack of Personalization — Some communities make the mistake of posting generic content that does not resonate with their specific audience. To rectify this, churches should strive to understand their followers better. Conducting surveys or collecting feedback can provide valuable insights into the preferences and interests of the community. Tailoring content to address the needs and concerns of the congregation creates a sense of belonging and fosters a stronger online community. Tools like WeCreate are useful for searching and gathering ready-to-go content for your Catholic community with resources for education, the liturgical calendar, saints, Catholic humor, and more.

Ignoring Analytics — Many organizations fail to utilize the valuable data provided by social media analytics tools . These tools offer valuable insights into post performance, audience demographics, and engagement rates. By analyzing this data, churches can understand what content resonates best with their audience and adjust their strategies accordingly. Regular monitoring of analytics helps refine your parish’s approach and will improve your overall effectiveness.

Neglecting Other Platforms — While it's important to have a strong presence on one or two key social media platforms, limiting oneself to only those can be a mistake. Different platforms attract diverse audiences, and churches should consider expanding their reach by exploring additional platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Discord, and more. Adapting content to suit different platforms allows for greater engagement and connection with various segments of the congregation. Better yet, poll your parishioners to see what social platforms they most frequently use and lean into those!

By giving some attention to these common social media mistakes and implementing some of these effective strategies, your parish will create meaningful and impactful experiences for your online communities.

“The Church can use social media to encourage respect, dialogue, and honest relationships — in other words, "true friendship.”

— Pope Benedict XVI's Message for the 43rd World Communications Day, 2009

For more parish social media inspiration, check out the "Web and Social Media" section of our blog or browse our Complete Guide to Catholic Church Social Media Management.

Updated on 11-04-2025

LPi Announces the 2023 LPi Vibrant Employee Award Recipients

Mon, 24 Jul 2023 22:00:13 GMT

The LPi Vibrant Employee Award honors those who have exceeded performance expectations while modeling the LPi Core Values — passion, positive team spirit, servant leadership, embracing change, and having fun. All employees are eligible to nominate someone for the award, and all employees are eligible to win the award.

Our 2023 winner is Sarah Van Lieshout. Sarah serves as as a Learning & Development Specialist. Her coworkers praised her in their nominations including statements with sentiments like,

“Her training sessions each week have set this entire company up for success for years to come!”

“Sarah has gone above and beyond for every single new employee here at LPi. She is so very helpful, smart as a whip, and pays close attention to detail.”

“Since I started with LPi, Sarah has been simply amazing. She was always there for me personally to answer my 1,000's of questions and that same attitude carried over to the employees on my team she has helped train and onboard. She makes the extra effort to ensure all new hires feel welcome and excited to be with LPi.”

Winners of the Vibrant Employee Award are recognized at an all-hands company meeting and awarded an all-expenses paid trip for them and a guest to a place of their choosing. Upon winning the award, Van Lieshout shared, “I'm so incredibly surprised and honored to receive this award. LPi is full of some of the most passionate and mission-driven individuals I've ever met. This only further excites my passion for continuing to help others reach their goals through learning and development.”

The Runners-up for this year’s award were ad graphic designer Amanda Carroll, and Salesforce admin Eleanor Polat. Honorable mentions this year included employees Mark Daniel, Colleen Feldner, Kristee Flynn, Dave Larsen, Becky Marszal, Karen Mueller, and Teresa Perkins.

Congratulations to everyone mentioned!

Interested in a career with LPi and a chance to win the Vibrant Employee Award? Find open positions here: https://www.4lpi.com/current-job-openings

Updated on 03-18-2024

Identify Your Parish’s Web Audience and Give Them What They Want

Thu, 20 Jul 2023 14:00:01 GMT

Having a strong online presence is crucial for Catholic parishes. A well-designed and informative parish website is a powerful tool to connect with your community and reach out to potential visitors as well. To effectively engage your audience, it is essential to identify their specific needs and provide them with the information they may be seeking by visiting your site. If you are looking for a more complete guide to how to build Catholic parish websites, head over to our free church website best practices . Otherwise, let’s explore the diverse needs of those who are visiting your parish’s website and discuss how to cater to each audience.

Different Parish Website Visitors & What They Hope to Find

Parents: Parents are a significant audience for any Catholic church website. They often seek information about religious education programs, youth groups, and family-oriented events. To engage parents effectively, your website should provide details about children's ministries, classes, and upcoming social and educational activities tailored to families. Emphasize the importance of imparting moral values and religious teachings to their children, assuring them of a nurturing and supportive community within the Church. Don’t forget to include images of families participating in parish events!
Visitors to Your City: When someone is new to a city or town, they may turn to the internet to find a local Catholic church to attend Mass or find spiritual nourishment. To cater to these visitors, your website should include clear directions, service times, and a warm welcome message. Highlight any special events, ministries, or services specifically aimed at newcomers. Providing testimonials from existing parishioners about their positive experiences can also help create a welcoming impression!
New Residents: People who have recently moved to an area and are actively seeking a church are another vital audience. These individuals are searching for a spiritual home and want to connect with a welcoming community. Your website should feature information about the church's mission, values, and ministries for this audience. Consider including personal stories from individuals who found solace and belonging within the parish. Showcase the sense of community and fellowship to help newcomers feel encouraged to attend. Don’t forget to share photos of your community. Highlight any newcomer’s gatherings you might have scheduled with ways to register for upcoming events and classes. Registration for parish membership shouldn’t be too hard to find either.
Individuals Interested in Catholic Sacraments: Catholic sacraments, such as Marriage, First Communion, and Baptism hold profound significance. Your website should have a dedicated section explaining the sacraments and the process your parish has in place for receiving them. Include guidelines, prerequisites, and contact information for further inquiries. It may be helpful to provide downloadable resources or links to relevant documents to assist communicating about what is needed for sacramental preparation as well as images of those in your community who have experienced your parish’s sacramental experience first-hand! Don’t forget to post images of your Confirmation recipients with the bishop, those receiving sacraments at Easter vigil, and any other relevant photography you have!
People Seeking Funeral Information: At difficult times, individuals often search for information on Catholic funeral rites and services. Your website should have a comprehensive section dedicated to funeral arrangements and grieving support. Provide clear instructions on how to request a funeral, contact information for bereavement support, and any specific customs or rituals observed within your church community that are useful for people to know. Sensitivity and compassion are key when addressing this audience.
Individuals Interested in Becoming Catholic: A significant audience for a Catholic church website is comprised of individuals who wish to explore the faith or convert to Catholicism. It’s crucial to provide resources and guidance for those seeking to learn more about the Catholic faith. Offer information about your OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) programs, provide answers to frequently asked questions, and offer opportunities for personal guidance and mentorship.

Understanding the diverse needs of your web audience is paramount for a parish website's success. By tailoring your content to address the specific requirements of parents, visitors, new residents, sacrament seekers, those seeking funeral information, and individuals interested in becoming Catholic, you can foster engagement, attract new members, and build a thriving online community. Remember, by identifying your audience and giving them what they want, your church's website can become a valuable resource and a welcoming gateway to faith, support, and connection.

Need some assistance with your parish website? We have a whole team of designers who are experienced with building and maintaining parish websites ready to assist you!

For more church website, be sure to visit the "Web and Social Media" section of our weekly blog!

Updated on 11-04-2024

The Ultimate Website Checklist for Parishes with Schools

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 14:00:01 GMT

Is there a school connected to your parish? If so, you understand the unique challenges that come with coordinating a parish and a school web presence simultaneously. Our parish website design team works with churches all over the country to create impactful website designs and we've learned a few things along the way so, we put together an essentials checklist to help you stay on top of it all, including some links to tools that will save you time and energy.

Essential Catholic Parish and School Website Checklist

1. Don't try to fit two sites into one.

Although the parish and the school are ministries of the same church community, it is much more user-friendly to have a separate website for each. The sites can have links to easily navigate to each other, but there is too much content for both your church and school to squeeze onto one website. Many successful parish/school combos have used a landing page for their combined web presence that offers visitors an option to visit the parish website or the school website. This is a great option because it showcases both to every visitor you have, but keeps the information packaged in more tidy way.

2. Coordinate your websites with some familiar styles, colors, and features.

Your parish and school branding should have some elements in common. Granted, the logo for each may be different but, using similar colors and/or fonts between the two websites goes a long way toward creating unity between the different ministries. Having an intentionally created master brand book or brand guidelines that both the school and the church use is a super useful tool to keep all of your parish, school, and church communications looking professional and recognizable.

3. Use the same organizational system on both sites.
This way, people who must navigate between both sites already know where to look on each homepage for a main menu, contact information, a calendar, and more. Keeping the sites organized in a similar way will also make it easier for those updating and maintaining the sites to keep everything organized. The sites might have different information plugged into each navigational system but keeping everything in generally the same place contributes to maintaining a consistency to your community’s brand identity.

4. Make sure staff contact information is accessible on both sites.

People may accidentally end up on your parish contact page looking for a way to reach the school and vice-versa. You can save your staff some time directing calls to the opposite office by including basic contact information for the school on the church’s contact page and for the church on the school’s.

5. Keep the sites updated.

We know, we know, it should go without saying but, it never hurts to have a reminder. Keeping event information, any office hours, and staff member changes up to date goes a long way toward keeping your church and school’s online presence friendly and convenient to those visiting it.

6. Use vibrant and engaging imagery.

You’ve spent all of this time following the above steps to make your church and school websites as professional as possible so don’t be tempted to skimp on beautiful imagery to compliment your content. Here are a few time-saving tools to be sure your website graphics are as vibrant as your church and school communities.

WeCreate — You can save a ton of time by using a tool like WeCreate that already has parish and school graphics and stock photography created for you, ready to be used however you desire. You could also use our guide to parish photography to lift up the gifts of the photographers in your midst.
The Parishes Online bulletin widget — If your parish is an LPi partner, you already have access to a widget that will automatically publish your current bulletin to your website.
Automatically updated sections — WeConnect, our web builder for parishes and schools, comes with pre-built sections featuring weekly content like the saint of the week, and Gospel verse and illustration, which update automatically. Get new professionally curated content published to your sites weekly without lifting a finger !

We sincerely hope this parish and school website checklist helps you build the perfect web presence for your community!

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If you get stuck, or simply want someone else to do the designing for you, check out some of the before and aft er imag es of sites that our designers have created. Let’s work together to make your parish and school website dreams come true!

For more church website inspiration, visit the "Web and Social Media" section of our blog or check out our free, total guide to building catholic church websites.

Updated on 11-04-2025

LPi Celebrates 50 Consecutive Years Serving Holy Family Parish in Illinois

Mon, 10 Jul 2023 15:32:08 GMT

In her first month on the job, Lorraine Adams, a newly hired ad sales executive from Illinois, noticed that one of the parish accounts she manages was quickly approaching a very special anniversary. Holy Family Parish in Rockford, Illinois signed on as an LPi customer 50 years ago this September!

“When I was researching Holy Family, one of the things that I noticed was their original start date in 1973. I couldn’t believe it — they’ve been with us from the beginning!”

“It’s a really neat parish and very vibrant,” Adams explains. “They have a 24-hour adoration chapel that is beautiful and it’s a large parish, with over 2200 families. They have a robust history of changes they’ve been through over the past 50 years and LPi has been with them every step of the way.”

To celebrate, Adams and Marcia Boswell, the area sales manager, threw Holy Family an anniversary party. They chose a pizza place by searching the ads in the parish’s bulletin and landed on Giordano’s Pizza in Chicago. Staff members from both the parish and the from the attached school attended the celebration sharing stories from the parish’s long history.

“The parish staff and their priest, Fr. Kaim, are all very active in the production of their bulletin. WOW!” said Adams as she recalled the experience.

Happy anniversary Holy Family church! We are honored to be walking alongside you in mission! Thanks for a wonderful 50 years and, here’s to 50 more.

How to Choose the Right Colors for Your Parish Website

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 14:00:00 GMT

"Color is a power that directly influences the soul." -Artist and designer, Wassily Kandinsky

In the realm of parish website design, color choices play a pivotal role in capturing the attention and engaging the emotions of your visitors. By carefully selecting a color palette and understanding some of the basic principles of color theory, church staff can create a visually appealing and spiritually enriching online presence that resonates with their community on a deeper level.

A Primer on Color Theory

Color theory forms part of the foundation of effective design and its principles are crucial in creating a harmonious visual experience. The color wheel, for instance, presents a spectrum of hues that can be used to evoke specific emotions and set the tone for a parish’s website. Warm colors, like reds and oranges, convey a sense of energy and passion, while cool colors such as blues and greens express calmness and serenity.

As far as the numbers of colors to choose or highlight, the human mind tends to enjoy viewing two or three colors max. Having more colors than that can cause a person to feel anxious or overwhelmed and subconsciously chose to navigate away from your website faster than you’d like. Fun fact — this is why, when fast food restaurants first became popular, they would use a color pallet inside their restaurants with a ton of contrasting colors. The idea was that they want people to get their food and move on to make room for more customers, so they intentionally chose to have a crowded color pallet to inspire people to eat and go. This is exactly the opposite of what you want your parish website to inspire, so, stick to about three colors to encourage people to stick around a bit.

How to Choose the Best Colors For Your Parish Website

Here are three simple items to consider when deciding which colors to use on your parish’s website.

Symbolism and Tradition: In Catholicism, colors hold significant symbolism, especially when it comes to the Liturgy. For example, white is associated with purity, innocence, and the Resurrection; red signifies sacrifice and the Holy Spirit; and purple represents penance and preparation. Incorporating these traditional colors into the web design can help communicate the church's core values and beliefs.
Emotional Connection: Color has a profound impact on emotions. By selecting colors that align with the intended emotional response, church staff can create a welcoming and comforting digital environment. For instance, earth tones like browns and greens evoke a sense of grounding and stability, fostering a connection to nature and God's creation.
Consistency and Branding: Consistency across different communication channels, including your website, enhances recognition and brand identity for your parish. Choosing a consistent color palette that aligns with the church's physical space, mission, or charism, reinforces a unified message and helps build a recognizable online presence for your community. Don’t have an intentional brand yet with colors and a logo? LPi can help you get the process started!

Avoiding Common Color Mistakes on Your Website

While color choices can enhance a church's web design, some considerations should be kept in mind to avoid potential pitfalls. Firstly, an overwhelming use of bright or neon colors can create a jarring experience, distracting visitors from the content and message. Secondly, colors that clash or lack contrast may lead to readability issues, hindering your viewer’s ability to engage with the website's information effectively.

The importance of choosing an intentional color pallet for your website and overall branding cannot be overstated. Remember, your goal is to give visitors to your website a visually appealing, emotionally engaging, and spiritually enriching online experience. By harnessing the power of color, your website can become a virtual sanctuary, inviting visitors to explore and deepen their connection with their faith and community. For more inspiration, we collected three parish websites that we think are using color well.

Need help creating an incredible website for your parish? Our design team works with churches across the country to get their websites and brands dialed-in.

For more parish website inspiration, check out the "Web and Social Media" section of our blog!

Updated on 11-04-2025

The Best Catholic Church Website Examples — Peep for Inspiration!

Thu, 29 Jun 2023 14:00:00 GMT

Your parish website matters! It’s a direct extension of your culture, your message, and your mission. Our design team has worked with parishes across the nation to build websites for church communities from scratch and complete website redesigns that run the gambit from elaborate to small tweaks. Our website builder, WeConnect, makes it easy for parish staff to create and maintain amazing church websites and we love being a part of the process. This week we picked three sites to show off. We hope you find some inspiration for your own parish’s website in the following designs.

Website Winner With the Best Use of Color

St. Clare of Assisi Parish Website

What we love about it:

We love the vibrant color pops throughout. The pairing of green, pale blue, and brown isn't a color combination that we normally see, and it works beautifully here.
There is lovely photography throughout the site giving it a more professional and polished look while still being completely personal to the church and inviting to visitors.
The use of a serif (more decorative) font paired with a sans serif font , ties the new logo and branding seamlessly into the site while making everything super legible and elegant at the same time.
The subtle but extremely effective usage of animations while scrolling.
We love how everything about this site is super bold and clean. The use of large bold typography adds to the design, specifically utilizing black type to ensure the legibility of the homepage.

Website With the Cleanest Layout

St. Martin de Porres Parish Website

What we love about it:

This is a nice example of how clean sidebar navigation can be useful for a church website, especially since it never disappears when scrolling. This means it’s always accessible to those visiting the website.
This design is a great example of how sometimes "less is more." There isn't a ton of content crowding the homepage which is part of the reason it is a very successful design.
The space in this site is filled without feeling overwhelming. There is no excess or unnecessary space.
This site’s navigation is organized well. For example, it’s easy to access the Mass times, the digitized weekly bulletin , the parish’s livestreaming links, and information on how to become a member.

The site does a good job of mixing two different typefaces. These are used in consistent sections to maintain readability across whole site.

Website Winner For Most Consistent Color Palette

St. Olaf Catholic Church Website

What we love about it:

We love the contrasting and consistent color palette for emphasizing important information and links.

There is no unnecessary filler space or information. Everything on the subpages is concise and relevant to the page topic.

The pages are balanced with positive and negative space. There is enough breathing room so that information doesn't get jumbled and smashed together but there’s also not too much spacing — something that can cause the information to feel minimal or disconnected. The balance is on point.

There is the perfect amount photography used throughout the site to break up text information with inviting images of the community.
This site incorporates smart choices when it comes to the color combinations — especially introducing tints of the main colors in the palette really gives the site the proper hierarchy it needs to guide the audience through each of the pages.
This site is a great example of utilizing a clean typography pairing when the church doesn’t have a specific logo yet.
A simple and organized footer gives the homepage a clear end.

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Like what you see? If your parish needs help dialing in your web presence or simply wants a brand-new look , our web design team is the best of the best! Or simply start small with a new or refreshed parish logo to give your community the identity it deserves!

For more articles about parish websites, visit the "Web and Social Media" section of our blog or dive into our free comprehensive guide on how to build a Catholic church website!

Updated on 11-04-2025

This, Not That — Simple Swaps for Better Bulletins

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 14:00:01 GMT

Your parish bulletin is important! As one of your church’s main sources of communication with your members, you want it looking top-notch! It should be easy to navigate, approachable for newcomers, packed with evangelizing content, and intentionally designed to be as vibrant and beautiful as your community.

Chances are good that your bulletin editor spends a lot of time carefully creating each weekly publication. With this in mind, we collected some tips from the professional designers here at LPi that can help you easily give your bulletin a fresh look. After all, we are as invested as you are in the success of your parish communications!

Bulletin Design Updates

Swap Out — Large columns of text that run across the whole page.

Instead — Utilize a two or three-column format for your bulletin and stick to that throughout. It makes the publication easier to read, especially if it is a text heavy bulletin! You can check out some great examples on our bulletin before and after page.

Swap out — Text box frames, colored lines, and strokes around text.

Instead — Use a light, color-neutral background behind one or two text boxes on the page to separate sections. Highlight a few items by using a vibrant color box if you want something to pop! This creates a sense of order, tailored approach, and a more unified message in your bulletin layout.

Swap out — Using too many fonts and colors.

Instead — Stay consistent with your brand colors, not only with the bulletin, but everything you publish or create as a parish. This makes anything you do instantly recognizable to your community and more appealing to newcomers. Want to try something new? Consider occasionally stepping away from liturgical calendar colors. More often than not, your parish staff will know the liturgical color of the season but if you ask a parishioner, they might not even know that you use it in the bulletin. These colors can work well with special holiday cover designs but, leave the rest of the liturgical colors to those in charge of decorating the parish sanctuary.

As for fonts, find an easy-to-read font and utilize it with regular weight, bold, and italic. It’s fine if you want to use another font family for your headers but stick to that. Don't go inviting more font styles to the party as it can become busy and confusing for your readers. If you are using more than four different fonts, chances are you have some decisions to make about narrowing down your guest list of fonts.

In fact, if your parish doesn’t already have a brand book with pre-chosen fonts, colors, and a logo, we specialize in helping churches create a beautiful brand that can be used across all communications!

Swap out — Your old masthead.

Instead — Update your information and design! We see so many parishes using mastheads on the cover of their bulletin with designs that look like they’re from the 80’s. Utilize your parish fonts and colors and make sure to include any updated pertinent information. Don’t forget to include information about your parish’s social media profiles, website, and Mass times!

Swap out — Outdated logos.

Instead — If your logo is as old as your parish and looks outdated, it might be time for a logo refresh or even a brand-new design! We have created logos for countless parishes that often include elements of the parish’s architecture, a patron saint, a special style of cross, or elements of the parish’s geographic location or name in the design. We have lots of experience and are excited to help get you started if the need arises!

Bulletin Content Updates

Swap out — Over-packed pages.

Instead — Look to add white space and larger borders between your bulletin’s columns of text and content. Adding more white space helps your reader’s eyes rest and makes the experience of reading your bulletin easier and more enjoyable. Consider what you can remove for a stream-lined reading experience.

Swap out — Stretched images and clipart.

Instead — Choose images that fit the space you want to fill already. Stretching an image to fit a space can cause the image to distort and immediately makes your bulletin design look careless. If you aren’t sure about your graphic design skills, we have thousands of professionally designed images specifically made with church bulletins in mind and ready for you to use in WeCreate — our library of Catholic content. It’s also important to use photography taken of your church and community. Have you seen the Layperson’s Guide to Smartphone Church Photography yet?

Swap out — Adding your whole calendar of events to the bulletin.

Instead — Don’t overload your bulletin with too much content. Choose to highlight specific events and then point to your parish website’s event page for more. If you need help with your website, our web design tool, WeConnect , makes it incredibly easy to share your calendar online. We can even help you get started with the design work if you need.

Don’t get too specific about the events in your bulletin, simply shout the event out with a sentence or two and a great image. Don’t take up space with all of the little details. Instead, use an event landing page on your website for that or add an event flyer as an insert to the bulletin with all of the pertinent information there.

Other Parish Bulletin Upgrade Options to Consider

Did you know that LPi provides all sorts of options for bulletin content every week inside of WeCreate and that, if your parish is already one of our partners in mission, your staff already has access to our entire library of Catholic content for free?

Consider dropping some of the following LPi content into your weekly bulletin:

Weekly Gospel Illustrations
Catholic comics like Father Flood
Saint of the Week biographies and illustrations
Children’s puzzles and pages
Beautifully and professionally designed bulletin covers

If you are already a bulletin customer but need help accessing your WeCreate account to make use of the incredible graphics and bulletin content available to you , get into touch with our customer service so that we can get you squared away!

Not printing your parish bulletin with LPi? Learn more about our free print and digital church bulletin service here !

Updated on 10-04-2025

Who is: Father John Muir and His Approach to Gospel Meditations

Mon, 19 Jun 2023 14:00:01 GMT

LPi is pleased to announce that we’ve been working with Fr. John Muir, Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia for the Diocese of Phoenix. Fr. Muir is a published author and speaker in the Catholic community and most recently served as pastor of St. Mary’s Basilica in downtown Phoenix.

Fr. Muir has been faithfully contributing to the content LPi distributes to parishes across the country by writing our weekly Gospel reflections. Each reflection is a heartfelt and faith-filled look into the Gospel reading of the week and how Catholics might apply each to their varied lives. Fr. Muir’s depth of understanding of Jesus’ life and mission shines through his writing, and we are so proud to publish these reflections for use by the thousands of parishes who rely on LPi for Sunday content.

To introduce him to you, we interviewed him about his life and ministry. Here’s what he had to say!

Interview With Fr. John Muir

Q. Hi Fr. Muir, thank you for joining us today! Please describe your parish demographic.

A. Most recently, I served as pastor of St. Mary’s Basilica, the mother church of the Diocese of Phoenix. It’s a vibrant, urban parish that brings together people from every walk of life — young professionals, families, longtime parishioners, visitors, and many who are encountering the Church for the first time. It’s a place where faith, beauty, service, and the life of the city intersect in powerful ways.

Q. Why do most people visit your city?

A. Phoenix is known for its sunshine, desert beauty, outdoor recreation, and growing cultural scene. It’s also worth noting that the Diocese of Phoenix was recently identified as the second-largest diocese in the United States, second only to Los Angeles, and it continues to grow rapidly. There’s a real sense of energy, opportunity, and missionary possibility here.

Q. What is a fun fact about you?

A. Although I live in the desert, I’m still a Vermonter at heart. I love maple syrup, cold lakes, and I remain open to the possibility of lake monsters.

Q. Which communication platforms do you use to spread the message of Jesus to the world?

A. Much of my priestly ministry today involves diocesan leadership and administration, but preaching remains very close to my heart. In addition to preaching at parishes throughout the diocese, my weekly Sunday Gospel reflections published through LPi are one of the primary ways I exercise my responsibility to proclaim the Gospel in an intentional and accessible way. I also do this through talks, retreats, and days of reflection. I’m currently working on re-envisioning a digital initiative I started years ago called Catholic Breakfast , which is in a rebranding phase.

Q. What is an unexpected blessing of your priesthood?

A. The friendships and relationships that form when I am living my life on mission. I’m amazed at how deep and meaningful friendships are with so many priests and lay people. That’s a huge joy.

Q. What encouraged you to agree to be our Gospel Meditation writer?

A. The Gospels themselves are endlessly compelling. They have a way of capturing the imagination and drawing people into a real encounter with Jesus. What drew me to this project was the challenge of helping that power come through in the very accessible medium of a short bulletin reflection — connecting the Gospel to ordinary life in a way that feels concrete, human, and hopeful. When that connection happens, something truly beautiful takes place.

Q. Do you have a favorite Gospel-writer?

A. I have a particular affection for St. Luke. His Gospel reflects a deep sensitivity to beauty, mercy, and human experience. He understands that an encounter with Christ gives rise to wonder — and even to song.

Q. What is one of the scariest invitations God has extended to you, and how did you respond?

A. Being asked to give the opening invocation at a nationally televised NASCAR race was surprisingly nerve-racking. Standing there, I had to trust that God would provide what was needed in the moment. It became a powerful reminder that the priesthood carries us into places we never expect to go.

Q. What advice for the spiritual life have you received that has made a difference in your life?

A. Try to please Jesus in the ordinary details of life. Do everything for Him, and don’t worry too much about how it’s received. Faithfulness has a quiet power.

Thank you Fr. Muir!

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Want access to Fr. Muir’s Gospel Meditations every week for your parish? WeCreate, our library of Catholic art and content, has them and more!

For more of Fr. John Muir, visit these links:

Updated on 02-26-2026

Church Communications Expert Spills All

Thu, 15 Jun 2023 14:50:50 GMT

We are so honored to partner with vibrant parishes across the United States, each one working to bring the kingdom of God to their communities in unique ways. At St. Margaret of York in Loveland, Ohio, Michelle Manczyk serves as the parish communications coordinator. One of her many responsibilities is to design their parish bulletin. We sat down with her this week to learn more about her experience working with church bulletin design, gather some tips and tricks, and hear about the resources she uses to create such a beautiful weekly bulletin.

Interview With a Parish Communications Expert:
Michelle Manczyk

Q. Hi Michelle, your parish’s bulletin is awesome! How long have you been designing it?
A. Thanks! I’ve been working for St. Margaret as communications coordinator for over 6 years now! When I first started this job, the bulletin design was a little rough, so I’ve been slowly updating and developing it over time. The current iteration launched in 2021 although I’m always working to improve it. I had a unique opportunity when I started this position at St. Margaret because we were switching from our old bulletin company to using LPi for our bulletins, so I took advantage of that transfer to build something new.

Q. What are your goals for the bulletin?

A. My vision is that our bulletin should be a vehicle for catechesis and faith formation instead of a glorified repeat of the parish calendar. Now, the calendar is important so we do include the larger calendar items, but the rest can be found on our website. This makes a lot of room in the bulletin for other content.

Q. Speaking of content, where do you find inspiration?

A. I definitely use content from WeCreate a lot. It saves me time because, with WeCreate, I don’t have to come up with a cover design by myself every week and I like to use a lot of the square graphics available. I find that even the social media graphics in WeCreate can be perfect options to fill blank space in the bulletin. My parish and I also really love the Father Flood comics in WeCreate. They’re so much fun! We put a Father Flood comic into every bulletin and my husband always flips right to the comic to start with before he reads the rest of it. Those little clips are a fantastic way to get people excited about the publication.

Q. What kind of feedback have you heard?

A. The majority of the feedback for the new direction for the bulletin has been overwhelmingly positive. Our parish is in a suburb of Cincinnati, so we have a lot of parishioners who work for big companies downtown. At these companies, employees are exposed to a polished, professional look for print publications, so it’s important to us that they can tell we’ve taken extra care to make sure the church bulletin design looks great.

Q. What is your favorite aspect of creating the bulletin every week?
A. The design layout and typography part of it are my favorite things to work on. When I first started working at St. Margaret, all we had when it came to church branding was a logo and nothing else. Over time I’ve enhanced the brand for our parish with design elements unique to us. I’ve gathered lots of inspiration from the church architecture. For example, there’s a design carved into the altar that I used to inspire a ribbon that can be found in the bulletin design. Another example of this is down by the numbers on each page of the bulletin there is a red box with a little circle. These corollate with a design element found on the outside of our parish buildings. Using the church architecture as inspiration has enriched our visual identity.

Q. What tools help you get the job done?

A. I use WeCreate a lot and I also use Adobe Creative Suite programs. We also make use of the Parishes Online bulletin website widget to keep the bulletin automatically updated on our parish website every week. We include links to the digital bulletin in many of our emails and parish communications directing people to view that week’s bulletin online in case they missed picking one up at church.

Q. Lastly, what tips do you have for other editors?
A. Don’t forget to give yourself time to look at your bulletin with fresh eyes. It’s good to build it one day, sleep on it, then come back to it the next day or even a couple days later to make sure there aren’t any mistakes you’ve missed. Also, don’t forget to have a proofreader!

Thank you, Michelle, for sharing your parish and expertise with us!

Looking for more articles about design for church bulletins and more? Head on over to the "Art and Design" section of our blog for inspiration.

Updated on 11-04-2025

From Blank Canvas to Vibrant Inspiration: LPi Reveals Stunning New Office Mural

Mon, 05 Jun 2023 15:14:48 GMT

We at Lpi are proud to announce that our main offices in New Berlin are looking a little different these days! Why? We’ve installed a mural in one of the most trafficked areas of the building — right outside the bathrooms and next to the kitchen/break room.

The idea to install a big mural was spearheaded by the HR and Marketing departments. Candy Underwood, Vice President of Human Resources, tells the story.

“Our marketing team is THE BOMB! They created a bunch of potential designs. Every single design was beautiful yet distinctive from the others. Our HR team of six was given the heavy burden of deciding which one to pick. We met as a team, reviewed each design carefully, and then used a highly-validated, scientific approach to make our decision — On the count of three, we showed our hands with our fingers indicating which number design was our favorite. All six of us chose this design! Literally, a “hands-down” winner. The Marketing team took it from there — refining the design, finding a vendor, and managing the installation. A big thank you to our graphic design manager, Evan Vogel, and his team!”

The final design chosen was originally created by LPi graphic designer Gaby Lazcano. Jake Adams, of the marketing design team, collaborated with Gaby to ensure that this piece was the best it could be. The image is centered around sharing the LPi core values in a fun and engaging way. It incorporates our brand colors, logo, and a U.S. map with the locations of all our offices marked.

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who played a part in helping this beautiful mural come to life!

Updated 06-17-2025

31 Creative Church T-Shirt Ideas

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 14:00:01 GMT

Does your Catholic church sell or provide t-shirts or other swag for your parishioners? Make it your goal this season to offer some fun t-shirt designs to your members. There’s nothing like seeing another parishioner wearing your church’s shirt when you are out and about at the farmer’s market or gym! Custom church t-shirts are a creative way to connect parishioners to each other outside of your sanctuary walls as well as to spread the word about your parish to the greater community.

Where to Find a Catholic-Friendly Printer for Merch

A note on printing — before you order t-shirts online from a big national or global company, check with your bulletin editor to see if there is a printing company already partnering with your parish. You may have a local printing business that is already running an ad in the parish bulletin or who your church has used to print ministry t-shirts in the past. Consider getting a quote for your project from them first. You can find out what companies support your parish and other local parishes with our free Parishes Online supporters directory .

T-Shirt Ideas For Your Parish

Designs That Include Your Church in the Text

These are ideas that incorporate your church’s name into the text on the t-shirt. You can print the text on the front or the back and add any images you like to enhance the design.

1. Ask me about youth ministry (or whatever ministry you are involved in) at St. John!

2. I <3 St. John Parish

3. I’m a proud volunteer at St. John’s

4. St. John’s lifer!

5. Proudly part of the community of St. John Parish

6. Have you been to St. John’s?

7. Prayer warrior at St. John’s

8. Now you know someone at St. John!

9. I’m GRATEFUL for St. John parish!

Designs that Add Your Church Logo

You can put your parish’s logo on the front of the shirt and then put the sayings below on the back — or vice versa! Don’t have an awesome looking church logo design? We can help you design one or simply refresh the logo you already have to make it look more modern and professional. Having a great looking logo will increase the number of parishioners who want to wear your church t-shirts!

10. Need prayer? Just ask!

11. Everyone is welcome here.

12. Serving Covington (your community’s name) since 1952(founding date)

13. Rated best parish picnic in town since 1952 (founding date)

14. Join the fun!

15. A place for everyone.

16. Skip rope, not church.

17. He is risen!

18. This is my church t-shirt.

19. I’m just out here trusting God.

20. Faith Hope & Love

21. Peace be with you.

22. Jesus loves you!

23. You are enough.

24. Straight Outta’ Church!

25. Can I get an AMEN?

26. You know, I’m all about that GRACE.

27. Forgiven

28. Saved by Grace

29. With God all things are possible.

30. Make an impact!

31. Stronger together

If you end up using one of these ideas, we’d love to see how the shirt turned out! Tag us in a photo of your community members, staff, or pastor sporting your new parish t-shirt so we can celebrate the great work you are doing along with you.

Are you interested in more content like this from LPi to inspire your parish staff and ministry leaders? We've got you covered with the "Parish Life" section of our weekly blog!

Updated on 011-04-2025

How To Reach Every Household In Your Catholic Parish's Neighborhood!

Thu, 25 May 2023 14:00:01 GMT

Whether you call it a postcard campaign, direct mail, neighborhood mailers, or something else, Catholic church staff members around the country find value in strategically sending snail-mail to their surrounding neighborhood communities. We put together a quick guide to help you make the best use of this fantastic outreach tool.

What Mail Service to Use

We suggest going with the trusty ol’ Postal Service. Their direct mail service, Every Door Direct Mail, has an online tool that is economical and uncomplicated. You simply search your parish’s address in their route search tool and select the area you’d like to target. Once selected, the tool automatically gives you the number of houses in a given mail route and the approximate cost so you know how many postcards to print and how much the campaign will cost you. You can choose which day to drop the mailers off at your local post office and there are options to pay via credit card on your computer right away or in-person when you drop off your mail! Now that you know how to distribute to your neighborhood, let’s talk about design.

How to Design Your Mailer

Before you design and print your mailers, make sure you are following the USPS’s Every Door Direct Mail Quick Reference Guide for mailing requirements. This guide will help you understand the different sizing and labeling requirements.

Not great at graphic design, or don’t have the time to spend creating the imagery needed to make your mailer stand out? Our l ibrary of professionally designed Catholic content, WeCreate , is the perfect solution. Just search a keyword for the type of imagery that you want to include in your design, find one or two designs that you like, download them, and drop them into your design for a fresh, professional look! WeCreate even has a growing number of pre-designed postcard/mailer templates for parish special occasions under our Templates-Flyers section .

You can use the WeCreate images that you download with any design program out there! Drop them into Canva, Photoshop, Publisher, or any printer’s online design tool!

What About Mailer Printing?

There are three ways that we'd suggest printing your mailers.

Search for local printers who might already be supporting your parish, or one nearby, by using the Parishes Online tool ! This online directory shows you the businesses that purchase adds in church bulletins so you can choose to support a company that is already supporting you! You can choose, on the top right side of the website, to search for Parishes or Supporters.

When searching via the parishes page , simply click the parish name and then, on the right-hand side next to their profile page, you will see a list of the companies who have purchased ads to support that parish. Is there a printer in the list?

When searching via the supporters page , choose the Printing/Copy/Advertising/Marketing choice from the drop-down Supporter Category menu, type in your zip code, and search! If there is a printing company who supports any of the Catholic parishes in your area, their company information will pop up!
If there isn’t a printer already supporting your parish, you can search for other local printers on the USPS printer directory website . Under the Find a Printer headline, use the search bar to type in your zip code. This will show you results of any local printers in the area who can print your direct mail for you. If you use a local printer, you might also ask them to consider taking out an ad in the bulletin so that they are searchable via Parishes Online for other church staff members in the area who might be looking for a local printer.
Use an online printer. The USPS offers suggestions of online printing experts that specialize in direct mailers here . You can also order online via your local Staples, Office Max, or Costco.

Parish Mailer Content Ideas

Need some help brainstorming what topics or events your parish should be advertising with neighborhood mailers? Here are a few outreach ideas:

Is your parish having an event that non-Catholics would feel comfortable attending like a picnic, rummage sale, health fair, or food festival?
Are there summer youth programs like VBS, camps, or service opportunities happening that local parents might want to enroll their children in?
What ministries do you have that might directly impact your neighbors? Does your parish have a food pantry, a grief group, parenting classes, AA, or offer special prayer services for people? Advertise the ministries that could directly benefit your neighbors with an invitation to participate.
Invite neighbors to send in prayer requests. Add a QR code to the mailer that guides them to a landing page on your website where they can submit a prayer request. Don’t forget to follow up with them!
Share special Mass times. Is your parish celebrating an anniversary or milestone? Are you having a special holiday Mass for Easter or Christmas? Invite your neighbors!

Announce major staffing changes. If you are welcoming a new pastor, send out invites to the welcome-picnic or celebration you are hosting to introduce them to the community.

However you decide to design, print, and send your mailers, we hope they serve as a considerable tool to build community and share the love of Christ!

“May every church and Christian community be a

place of mercy amid so much indifference.”
-Pope Francis

Looking for more articles like this from LPi to inspire your parish staff? Check out the "Parish Life" section of our blog !

Updated on 11-04-2025

LPi to Host Church Websites for the Entire Diocese of Tulsa, OK

Wed, 24 May 2023 22:08:45 GMT

LPi’s WeConnect website builder has been helping make incredible and easy to maintain websites for churches across the United States. Recently, Bishop David A. Konderla of the Diocese of Tulsa, OK took notice of one of the fresh designs created for a church in his diocese, St. Anne of Broken Arrow, O klahoma , and was inspired. He decided to make it his diocese’s goal to work with LPi to create a professional looking website for every single parish in the diocese!

Conversations with LPi started in early autumn of 2022 with a demo of WeConnect which led to the question of how a partnership of this scale would work. Pivotal to this partnership flourishing was Adam Minihan, director of communications for the Diocese of Tulsa, who jumped at the opportunity to think outside of the box and worked closely with LPi to develop this project.

After almost a year of planning, LPi is proud to announce a plan to host a website for every single church that needs one in the Diocese of Tulsa! Jason Perez, the LPi Communications Consultant for all things WeConnect, had this to say about the project, “LPi was open to the idea of listening to the needs of the diocese and pricing accordingly. The concept was: Let’s figure out what their needs are and then let’s build the plan together.”

So, what’s the deal? LPi is providing hosting and support for an entire year to any parishes which need a website in the diocese. After that year of tech support and hosting, parishes can decide to continue to subscribe or not.

“They wanted to sign with us because of our longevity,” commented Jason, “They figured that since LPi has served the church for 50+ years, it is likely that LPi will continue that service for another 50 years and that longevity will benefit the diocese of Tulsa.”

Bishop Konderla and Mr. Minihan expressed their hopes that this partnership will create the opportunity to provide every small mission church in the diocese of Tulsa with a website and modern online presence. There are already eight churches excited to be onboarded and he expects many more to join the process.

Interested in a website for your Catholic parish or diocese? Learn more about how we can help: www.4lpi.com/websites

Updated on 06-17-2025

Questions Web Designers Ask Catholic Parish Staff Before Creating a Church Website

Thu, 18 May 2023 14:00:00 GMT

Our in-house web designers at LPi have worked with parishes all over the country to get their websites looking beautiful and user-friendly . We understand that parish staff are often not equipped to design and manage their church’s website, but many are required to anyway. This can be frustrating for those involved, understandably so. To solve this problem, we’ve developed our web design tool, WeConnect , to make the process much easier and user friendly for any church staff member! We pride ourselves in making church web design and maintenance uncomplicated and approachable for everyone.

To kick off a new Catholic church website project, our designers meet with parish staff members to discuss their desires and goals for their website. This discussion is guided by some pre-determined questions that we’ve found to be super helpful to the initial process.

This week, we interviewed Kristen, one of our multimedia designers, about the LPi website redesign process and what questions church communities should be reflecting on to fully prepare for their first meeting with our design team. After the interview we also share a list of those initial questions so that you can start considering your answers in preparation for your parish’s new website sooner than later.

The Inside Process of Creating a Website With LPi Designers

Q. Hi Kristen, Thanks for taking the time to explain a little more about this process! First off, why do we have churches consider some starter-questions before meeting with designers?

A. These starter questions give us a base knowledge of the needs of each individual community that we work with. The answers help us understand if the church already has a large online presence or if they are just getting started when it comes to a website. This knowledge helps us bridge any gaps that we may discover regarding the parish’s digital needs.

Q. How does this process guide our LPi design team’s decisions?

A. The initial question process helps us set the tone of what each church is hoping to achieve with their new website. We want to find out what they like, and don’t like, about their current site, what they hope their new site might be like, and if there are any features that they specifically are attracted to.

Q. Of the questions on the questionnaire, which question do you find is the most informative for the design team?

A. My favorite question is “Are there any other parish websites you are inspired by that we should know about?" Learning what church staff members like about other designs is super helpful to our team. It’s also fun to see what other people find valuable in other websites’ designs and what they might not find valuable. There are some great Catholic websites out there that are designed beautifully! Additionally, if someone likes a design that they’ve found on a secular website, no problem! We can take elements of any website and incorporate those features into a church’s new website.

Q. Have you ever encountered any surprising answers when working through these questions with churches?

A. Yes! One of the questions we always ask is “What do you like about your current church website?” I was originally surprised at how frequently we received an answer of “Nothing!” to this question from church staff members. Now, when I hear this answer, I consider it an opportunity for our team to swing wide the gate of creativity and design a fresh, vibrant website for them!

Q. What do you think is the most difficult part of the web redesign process for parish staff members?

A. The enormity of the project and process can seem daunting at first. We help churches get a jumpstart on everything so that they aren’t overwhelmed. This is one thing I love about WeConnect. We are able to build and design for churches on the backend so that we can give them the tools they need to easily get started, and to make sure they don’t get lost in the process! Creating or redesigning a website can be a large task, but we walk with them every step of the way.

Q. What do you think is the most enjoyable part of the web design process for parish staff members who use WeConnect?

A. One thing people have told us is that, when working with other website hosting companies, is that they don’t feel like they have access to talk to someone who can help them when they encounter problems. With WeConnect, they are able to talk to a real person when they need support. I hope that this becomes the most enjoyable part for parish staff members working with us to create a new website for their church — that we have a team available to support them through the entire process, and beyond!

Q. What can a parish staff do to make the design process run as smoothly as possible?

A. Doing the prep work of considering what is out of date on their current website and then doing their spring cleaning ahead of time can make the process run more smoothly. They should go ahead and delete any outdated pages and other unwanted items. Having a game plan in mind for how they want their website navigation to look or items to include in their site’s navigational menu is also extremely helpful.

Q. Anything else you’d like to share about the process from a designer’s point of view?

A. We love including photography of your community in our web design! Fresh photos are great because they really set the tone for the website so, don’t wait! Start collecting images of your parishioners celebrating Mass and engaging in community events now so that we have lots to choose from for your beautiful new website.

Reflection questions to consider before your next web design meeting.

Is there something unique about your parish that makes you different than the parishes in your surrounding area?
Are there any other parish websites you are inspired by that we should know about? Any non-parish websites that you like?
Please describe what you like and dislike about your current website design.

Is your parish ready for a new website? Learn more about how we can assist you in updating your online presence here: https://4lpi.com/solutions/catholic-church-websites/

For more website inspiration, visit the "Web and Social Media" section of our weekly blog or dive into our free, comprehensive guide for building Catholic parish websites!

Updated on 11-04-2025

“So I recommend the enjoyment of life, for there is nothing better
on earth for a person to do except to eat, drink, and enjoy life.
So joy will accompany him in his toil during the days of
his life which God gives him on earth.”

—Ecclesiastes 8:15

Brilliant Tips for Successful Catholic Parish Summer Events

Thu, 11 May 2023 14:00:00 GMT

Chances are your Catholic church staff is starting to plan for summer events and we’re willing to bet that you already have your date for your parish picnic on the calendar. Whether your summer gatherings include a BBQ, Mass on the grass, live music, games, cakewalks, or pastor dunk-tanks, make sure you start out strong with our list of summer event planning essentials. For the sake of this blog, we’ll use a parish picnic as an example, but, feel free to apply these tips to any gathering you plan to have this summer, or beyond!

5 Tips For Successful Summer Events at Your Parish

1. A Personal Invitation

Picnics are great events to engage in outreach to your neighborhood and surrounding community. Consider sending a personal invitation to your neighbors inviting them to the party! Every Door Direct Mail by the USPS makes sending out neighborhood invitations like this incredibly easy and affordable. You can save even more time by using one of our pre-designed parish picnic invitation templates . Just plug in your event information, download it, and send it out!

2. Bulletins
Don’t forget to set your most recent church bulletin out for those in attendance. This way, if a parishioner brings a guest, or a family from the neighborhood attends because of the personal mailer they received, they can go home with more information about your parish. Be sure that your bulletin includes ways to join the parish, contact details for staff/ministry leaders, and any other information guests might desire. Display the bulletins near the name tags or the entrance/exit to the picnic for better visibility! If your bulletin feels like it misses the mark and doesn’t quite seem to illustrate exactly how wonderful your parish is, our design team specializes in refreshing church bulletin designs . Work with us to better represent your vibrant parish community within the pages of your weekly bulletin.

3. Nametags
When we asked our church-going staff members about what they like most when it comes to their church’s parish picnic, everyone said the same thing — the opportunity to meet and connect with people in the parish that they wouldn’t normally cross paths with. Events like a parish picnic go a long way toward fostering an environment that strengthens your community due to the new connections made between members who wouldn’t, otherwise, be in the same place at the same time. Make these new connections even easier by providing nametags for everyone.

4. Celebration Banner & Signage
Jump into WeCreate and download one of our parish picnic graphics to use in your welcome sign, banner, or other signage during the event! Having sign-in tables, food options, entrances, exits, bathrooms, and parking clearly labeled aids in creating a welcoming environment for all!

5. Church Staff & Ministry Leader T-Shirts

To easily identify those in leadership at the parish, make sure they have matching T-shirts with the church logo on them! Don’t have an awesome t-shirt-worthy logo? We can help you design one or, simply, refresh it to look more professional, modern, and great on a T-shirt!

Some of the best things about being part of a church community are the community celebrations, feasts, and holidays. We hope you have a wonderful parish picnic this year!

—Ecclesiastes 8:15

For more content like this from LPi to inspire your parish staff and volunteers, head over to the "Parish Life" section of our blog !

Updated 11-04-2025

LPi Employees welcome several hundred new churches from J.S. Paluch

Mon, 08 May 2023 16:08:18 GMT

Since January 2023, LPi has expanded service to several hundred new churches who were previously serviced by printer J.S. Paluch Company. LPi has been servicing, printing, shipping, and delivering thousands of additional bulletins in a smooth and timely manner thanks to the dedicated efforts of all departments.

LPi welcomed the new churches after J.S. Paluch announced it would be closing its doors after over one hundred years of business. J.S. Paluch has served the Catholic community since 1913, where it began on Chicago’s north side as a press for local Catholic parishes and expanded to include regional offices across the United States.

LPi has been serving thousands of parishes across the country for the past fifty years as a bulletin press and communications solution for web and digital. The newly welcomed churches were also given access to WeCreate, a digital content library which houses bulletin, web, and social media content categorized by liturgical season or week, providing endless possibilities for print and digital communications.

Joe Luedtke, LPi CEO, said of the acquisition, “We are excited to welcome these new parishes and to support them in their valued work of communication. LPi is proud to offer exceptional print and digital experiences, superb customer service, and years of expertise to these and all in our LPi family.”

That “superb customer service” meant that many teams went above and beyond to ensure that churches had print bulletins as soon as possible — especially for the important Easter holiday. From customer information to customer training to increased production to additional ad sales, each department worked tirelessly to aid the process.

The transition went so smoothly, in fact, that LPi leadership decided to send a thank you gift to every LPi employee, thanking everyone for the part they played in welcoming these new churches to the LPi family. LPi employees were sent a hot beverage mug, a note, and a bag of popcorn in gratitude.

Candy Underwood, Vice President of Human Resources, tells the story: “Our leadership team has a weekly staff meeting and we always start off the meeting with ‘one good thing’.”

Underwood continues, “We knew that the acquisition would require herculean effort from pretty much every area of the company, and within a short period of time. But as we went around the table sharing, every single leader had an incredible example … of exceptional service, extraordinary effort, creativity, and problem solving. We paused in amazement at what our teams were doing and how they were working together. I don’t remember who, but someone said, ‘we should give everyone a thank you gift!’ And there was no discussion needed.”

A herculean effort indeed, thanks to the dedication of hundreds of people.

Looking to join a great team? We’re expanding and would love to chat! Learn more: https://www.4lpi.com/careers

Updated on 06-17-2025

40 Ideas for the Best Church Merch

Thu, 04 May 2023 14:00:08 GMT

Church merchandise and swag is always a good idea! Be it a gift for visitors to your parish, a special parish anniversary ornament, or aprons for the kitchen team, your community will always appreciate the thought behind a little church merch. Before we dive into our extensive list of ideas, though, let’s quickly cover how to create these items.

How Do I Create Customizable Church Merch?

First, before you buy anything, you need a professional-looking church logo . The better your logo, the more likely your parishioners will want to sport your merch and swag! If you don’t already have a logo that you love, our design team can help you refresh or even redesign it .

Second , find out if there are any printing companies who are already connected to your church. Is a local business who prints custom clothing and merchandise already advertising in your church bulletin? Use Parishes Online to find out. Another option is to inquire if anyone else at the parish has used a local company to create merch in the past. Partnering with a local business is a great way to enhance your connection to your community. If you can’t find someone nearby, simply do an internet search for the type of merchandise you would like to customize and you will find that there are a plethora of options out there.

Finally , remember to always make sure that the company you choose to buy swag from is ethically sourcing its material and labor before buying from them. It is counterproductive to Catholic Social Teaching to support unethical companies who abuse their workers and pollute the environment. So, consider the impact of the choices you make for your church swag. Cheaper may not always be better — morally speaking.

Now, onto the list!

The Best Church Merch Ideas:

1. T-shirts and other clothing

2. Baseball hats, beanies, and other headwear

3. Ceramic Mugs

4. Magnets

5. Keychains

6. Calendars

7. Magnetic fridge to-do lists/paper notepads

8. Bracelets

9. Sunglasses

10. Draw-string sports bags

11. Reusable grocery totes

12. Canvas bags

13. Stickers

14. Lawn signs

15. Christmas tree ornaments

16. Frisbees and other sports equipment

17. Window Clings (removable)

18. Candles/votives (made from left over Paschal candle wax)

19. Christmas cards/other holiday cards

20. Reusable water bottles

21. Reusable coffee tumbler/thermos

22. Bookmarks

23. Prayer cards

24. Custom candy/chocolate

25. Aprons for people serving in the parish kitchen/cookouts/picnics

26. Custom playing cards & other games

27. Notebooks/journals

28. Door hangs

29. Lanyards

30. Masks

31. Coasters

32. Buttons

33. Hacky sacks

34. Mints

35. Pens/pencils

36. House plant pots

37. Socks

38. Dog bandanas/prayer dog tags

39. Car window ice scrapers

40. Don’t forget — when you give these gifts to your parishioners, make sure that you give them in a bag with your church’s logo on it!

Want more content like this to inspire the staff of your Catholic church? Head over to the "Parish Life" section of our blog !

Updated on 11-03-2025

Tropical Recognition for EXCELLENT Employees

Thu, 27 Apr 2023 16:34:21 GMT

183 LPi guests made their way to the Henderson Beach Resort in Destin, Florida in April of 2023 to celebrate outstanding accomplishments made by the sales team.

73 employees were recognized for their work at the annual “Circle of Excellence” trip. The location varies annually, this year the guests were greeted by Florida’s turquoise waters full of dolphins as they met, shared, and relaxed on sunny shores.

Organizer Jon Becker, Area Sales Director for LPi, shared that the Circle of Excellence trip is an opportunity to recognize salespeople who have successfully earned qualifying criteria. Becker says that the criteria and goals vary by department. While all the goals pose a level of challenge, they are also intentionally planned to be attainable with some effort.

Says Becker, “And we don’t cap attendance — anybody can earn the trip based off the criteria! We want as many as we can!”

To further encourage newcomers, first-year sales people are provided with a separate, simpler set of criteria. Becker shared that a modified version makes the Circle of Excellence more attainable, and the salesperson can then interact and be encouraged by more seasoned employees.

Besides the warm weather and beach, Matt Inkmann, Senior Director for Ad Sales, relates that a highlight of the Circle of Excellence is the Awards Banquet, a formal event where each salesperson is recognized. LPi CEO, Joe Luedtke, takes the time to announce each earner, who is greeted with support and applause.

“I took a brief pause during our awards banquet to look around the room and take in the scene,” said Inkmann, “in that moment I saw a room full of Circle of Excellence winners not focused on receiving their own award but genuinely thrilled and cheering for all their colleagues that were being recognized. That is the spirit of this team and the Circle of Excellence experience.”

And for nex year? The team is already excited for the next location — in Cancun, Mexico!

It sounds like there may be more than 73 attendees at that location, according to Becker, “After just one quarter in 2023, we are trending higher for COE attendees then we were last year at this point!”

The future of sales is bright, just like the Mexican sun!

Interested in learning more about sales opportunities and how you can land a spot at next year’s Circle of Excellence? We’re expanding our team! Learn more: https://www.4lpi.com/careers

Updated on 06-17-2025

13 Catholic First Communion and Confirmation Gift Ideas

Thu, 27 Apr 2023 14:15:06 GMT

Confirmation and First Communions are often celebrated in the spring and that means youth ministers, faith formation directors, and other parish staff members are tasked with finding gifts for those celebrating. If your Catholic church has a class of Communicants or Confirmands that you'd like send off with a gift, we've compiled a list of unique options.

Gift Ideas for First Communion and/or Confirmation

Free Gift Ideas:

Gather a spiritual bouquet. This is sweet way to present someone special with a collection of prayers. Start by gathering prayerful commitments from folks — a rosary said in their name, a novena offered for their special intentions, offered-up sufferings, etc. — and then document the commitments before presenting them to the recipient. Customize one of our WeCreate graphic templates with flowers in the art to complete the presentation. Spiritual bouquets may be low-cost, but they are meaningful to us who believe in the power of prayer.
Have a Mass offered for them. A colleague in your church office should be able to help you with the request. Many churches will also send a Mass intention card to the person for whom the Mass is offered so make sure you have their address on hand.
Make them a special treat like cookies, cupcakes, or some blueberry pancakes with whipped cream for breakfast if the person receiving their sacrament is in your family!
Letters from Family & Friends — make a card using one of the beautiful Gospel Illustrations or other Catholic art in WeCreate then write a heart-felt letter to the person who is receiving their sacrament. Bonus if you get other people in their lives to also write them a letter of encouragement and congratulations! Imagine showing up to a youth’s Confirmation with an envelope full of love letters from their closest pals. What a gift!
Take them on an adventure- like a hike, a picnic in a park, or to visit a church they have never been to. Check out what churches are located near you here.

Gifts You Can Buy:

Make them a custom mug, t-shirt, or other swag with their Confirmation saint on it or use WeCreate to find an image you like. There are plenty of online options to print custom products that are affordable.
Purchase them a subscription to a Catholic app like Hallow or Laudate .
Buy them your favorite scented candle to symbolize Christ’s light in their life then print your own label for it by customizing one of our WeCreate templates for Confirmation or First Communion .
Framed photo of you and the child together. Here are some First Communion themed frames and some digital pieces to compliment any first Sacrament image can be found in WeCreate.
A tree sapling for them to plant in their backyard or, if they don’t have a backyard, a potted plant to remind them of their special day.
Sponsor a child in their name for a year.
Gift an experience like tickets to a movie, a sports game, or purchase a gift certificate to their favorite restaurant.
Turn a favorite Bible verse into a soundwave art print .

For more inspiration for your parish, check out the "Parish Life" section of LPi's weekly blog!

Updated 11-03-2025.

Are You Making These Common Church Website Image Mistakes?

Thu, 20 Apr 2023 14:00:01 GMT

At LPi, we work with Catholic churches across the USA to help them design and maintain their websites . In doing so, we’ve discovered how the inclusion of sub-par photography can negatively impact a parish’s image/reputation when it’s used in their website design. To help you avoid this, we’ve collected the most common mistakes we encounter and also provide some alternatives to help you enhance your parish’s web presence.

Photo Mistakes Commonly Made on Catholic Church Websites

1. Photos of the parish building and grounds — Instead of making your hero image a photo of your parish building, feature photos of the people in your parish community. When people thinking about visiting your church navigate to your website to see what the church might be like, they will feel much more welcome and enthusiastic about visiting if they see images of people living their faith. Church websites who focus primarily on the building and pictures of empty sanctuaries miss out on the opportunity to showcase the same beautiful spaces, but with members of the parish included in the photo. Remember, your parish is the people, not the building. Making sure to include community members in your building and sanctuary photos will foster that sense of a community when people visit your site.

2. Photos of statues and other art — We hope that every church has art in their sacred spaces that they feel proud of. This being said, filling your website with pictures of your statues of Mary or images of your Stations of the Cross carvings can make the website feel a little impersonal. Instead, feature the beautiful art and culture of your parish with images of parishioners interacting with the art. For example, does your parish celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe? If so, take some photos of the celebration that feature people as well as the statue of Our Lady, during the celebration! Do you have special days during Lent when your parish prays the Stations of the Cross? Include images of those prayer days to showcase the vibrant life of your parish alongside your artwork.

3. Blurry, pixelated, and incorrectly sized images, especially of staff members — We are big fans of having photos of staff members and ministry leaders on your parish’s website under a “Meet the Staff” or “Contact Us” link. One mistake we encounter, though, is that parishes sometimes use blurry, outdated, or incorrectly sized imagery for these staff profiles. Often, some staff members will have professional head shots while others have what looks like a badly scanned image from the 80’s. Solve this problem by setting up a date every year — maybe during a staff meeting or your staff retreat for example — to take updated photos of everyone specifically for the parish website. Hire a professional photographer, or just take them with your cell phone using our layperson’s guide to smartphone church photography ! The important part is that everyone gets a nice, updated photo for the website.

4. Outdated images — Speaking of badly scanned photos from the 80’s, don’t fall into the habit of always using the same old images of your community over and over again every year. Encourage different ministries to provide the parish office with updated imagery of the work they do and don’t forget to get images of important holidays and other celebrations. As a bonus, families often love seeing themselves featured on their community website so be sure to share the images being used to your church’s social media profiles to make sure your parishioners know that you’re featuring them!

5. Photos only featuring one age group or demographic — Lastly, it’s pivotal that the imagery of your community featured on your website includes images that correctly portray the entirety of your community. Don’t forget to feature young families, youth, young adults, single adults, married couples, and the elderly! Do you have a variety of cultures represented at each Mass? A variety of abilities and disabilities? Be sure to reflect that diversity on your website! This way visitors to your site will be able to see themselves reflected in your community and may feel more comfortable choosing your church as a place to visit and, possibly, join!

We’ve been publishing a lot of tips for creating the best parish web presence recently. Dive deeper by visiting the " Web and Social Media " section of our blog. Don’t have photos of your community just yet? We also have a growing collection of beautiful Catholic stock photography in WeCreate to get you by.

Updated on 11-03-2025

5 Ways to Celebrate Graduations at Your Catholic Parish

Thu, 13 Apr 2023 14:00:02 GMT

Graduation season is upon us and churches everywhere will soon be celebrating their members’ graduations from all sorts of programs for children and adults, alike. We’ve collected some of the most common graduation traditions and paired them with ideas on how you can support those events with assets from WeCreate, our Catholic library of ready-to-use content ! Dive right in to see how your parish can congratulate your graduates in a special way this year.

UNIQUE WAYS TO CELEBRATE GRADUATES AT CHURCH USING WECREATE

Baccalaureate Mass – Often held specifically for graduating high school and college students, these celebrations are popular everywhere! Advertise your Baccalaureate Mass in your church bulletin, social media, website, and through printed invitations with our graduation celebration graphics in WeCreate. Don’t forget to add these graphics to a slide or two if your church uses screens with imagery inside of your sanctuary during Mass.

Graduation Retreats – Churches with high school youth ministry programs as well as those with college outreaches attached, like Newman Centers, will often have a graduation retreat for their soon to be graduated seniors. As you are building your content for the retreat, be sure to check out the “Quotes” section in WeCreate for some inspiration and images to distribute. In the “Reflections” section there is also material available for graduates .

Ministry Moving-Up Ceremonies – Many youth programs hold a “Moving Up Ceremony” or a “Graduation Ceremony” to celebrate every grade level moving up into the next grade for the following year’s program. Some don’t celebrate each individual grade moving up but do throw a party for 8th graders who will be moving up into the high school youth group the next year. Use one of our generic colorful or festival-themed templates to make a flyer or graphic for this yearly event to share with families who are invited!

Individual Gifts – If you want to do something special for your graduates, consider getting each person in your parish who is graduating from high school, or from college, a graduation gift. Some parishes create a gift bag for graduating high school students that includes items like a prayer candle, an informational handout about Catholic college events and groups near where the student is attending college, a cross or crucifix, a book of reflections, and other spiritual items. Don’t forget to include a card from the church youth ministry team or parish staff with these gifts! Use our graduation vectors and illustrations in WeCreate to create a customized card from your parish to make the gift even more special.

Student Profiles - Some parishes celebrate high school graduates by creating and printing out a profile of the student. This little poster usually includes the graduate’s senior photo alongside their answers to a few interview questions and is posted in the church’s narthex or parish hall during graduation season to celebrate these youth.

Interview questions often include queries like:

What are your plans after high school?
If you are going to college, which one are you going to and what are you hoping to study?
What are some of the extra-curricular sports, hobbies, and clubs you participated in during high school?
Have you achieved anything special in the last four years that you’d like to share?
What advice do you have for the incoming high school freshmen at our church?

To enhance a student profile, be sure to check out the many graphic templates we have in WeCreate. If you like the look of one but it doesn’t say exactly what you need it to say, you’re in luck. You can simply click on it and when prompted, change the text in the template to fit whatever needs you have — saving yourself time and making your graduate profiles look lovely.

Do you have another special way that you celebrate graduation season in Catholic church? We’d love to hear about it! Tag LPi in a post on Facebook and let us know what your parish does for graduating seniors!

Updated 11-03-2025

35 Million Pages Delivered, and We’re Not Slowing Down

test@4lpi.com (Web Team) — Thu, 06 Apr 2023 21:12:20 GMT

We’ve been talking a lot about a big jump we’ve recently experienced in our sales. This has created more work for our teams in Ad Design, Prepress, etc. These jumps actually effect all of our departments and we want to share a rather amazing statistic.

Last week, we printed 35 million, yes, 35,000,000 pages of print. That’s a record for us, by far, and 40% more than we did last year prior to Easter. That number is so big it’s hard to get your head wrapped around it. If you do the math, that translates to 3,038 MILES of paper laid end to end. The distance from one end of our country to the other end is approximately 3,000 miles. That’s how much paper we printed and shipped out the door just last week to be delivered on time to our customers.

And we aren’t cutting corners to make this happen. Here’s one of our latest customer accolades:

“ I just wanted to drop you a short note to let you know that your staff is the best. We had a very special project that we were pressed to get done right and promptly. Christine in Publication Support was a tremendous asset in helping us make sure that we got the job done. Thank you so much for everything you and your staff do for parishes. I can’t tell you in a note how much you are all appreciated.”

— Doris, St. Patrick Parish

We are extremely proud of our teams in New Berlin, Cleveland, Hartford, Orlando, Dallas, and Las Vegas! They are all working incredibly hard these days and they’re doing an amazing job!

Interested in joining the LPi team? We have positions open across the country! Learn more here: https://www.4lpi.com/careers

06-18-2025

Introducing Colleen Jurkiewicz Dorman — Writer of LPi's (Practicing) Catholic

Thu, 06 Apr 2023 13:00:11 GMT

Introducing the Author of (Practicing) Catholic

LPi is pleased to present a new writer for our weekly Gospel reflection, (Practicing) Catholic , available in WeCreate . Colleen Jurkiewicz Dorman is an experienced writer in the Catholic community and has been contributing to LPi for years in many different ways! To introduce her to you here, we interviewed her about her life, writing practice, and faith. Here’s what she had to say!

Q. Where are you from and what is the name of your home parish? Tell us a little something about you.

A. I have lived in the greater Milwaukee area all my life. My family and I attend St. Eugene in Fox Point, the same parish where I was baptized, received my First Holy Communion, and was married. My children have all been baptized there as well — except for my son, who had a hospital baptism. St. Eugene is a really special place to me because of the history that my family has there. Growing up, we worshipped alongside my grandparents, aunt, and cousins at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass each week, and that really impacted me. That’s why we have stayed there, because of my extended family. I want the same experience for my children. I want them to witness, every week, the people they love putting their faith first.

Q. Where do you draw your inspiration from for these reflections?

A. I’m extremely humbled to be writing these reflections, and I often find it a little daunting — who am I to be opining on the word of God? So, I always start with prayer. I offer all of the words I am going to write, and every action I am going to take, to the Blessed Mother and ask her to lay it at the feet of Jesus and pray that it will be a pleasing offering to him. I hope and pray that my inspiration is from the Holy Spirit but, anyone who reads the blog knows that so much of my perspective is shaped by my marriage and motherhood. That’s my particular path of discipleship — especially right now, when my children are young and require a great deal of physical care and attention. God is most present to me, speaking to me and teaching me, in the domestic life I share with the husband and children he has blessed me with.

Q. Do you have a favorite Bible story that you have enjoyed writing about and why?

A. Any of Christ’s miracles — they’re just so rich with symbolism, and there are so many different ways into each story.

Q. What is a fun fact about you?

A. Writing fiction used to be my biggest passion, and I always dream about being able to do that again. Maybe when the kids grow up…

Q. What has been an unexpected blessing that has come from your work on (Practicing) Catholic?

A. To sit down and reflect on the Sunday Mass readings, one after the other in a short span of time, has given me a profound appreciation for how the Liturgy of the Word is put together and how it flows so beautifully throughout the liturgical year. The readings are so complementary in so many surprising ways. They illuminate each other, and each week really builds on the message or theme of the last week. That’s something that never struck me quite this deeply before.

Q. Why do you think (Practicing) Catholic is important?

A. Whenever I write, whether I’m writing one of these reflections or working on another project, my prayer is that God will use the words to bring someone, somewhere, closer to him. Essentially, this is what makes anyone’s work important — whether you’re a doctor saving lives in the emergency department or a cashier at a grocery store. If you make an offering of what you do, it becomes important because God is working in it.

Q. What is a special Catholic tradition that you love?

A. Donuts after Mass. Oh, you mean, like, a real one? Okay, this is OG Catholic — the phrase “offer it up.” I love it so much. It’s my battle cry as I charge into a day of nonsense that I don’t feel like doing.

Q. How long have you worked as a writer for (Practicing) Catholic? And for LPi?

A. I have been writing for LPi for almost three years and have been working on the (Practicing) Catholic project since last year.

Q. What are some other ways you live out your faith?

A. I wish I could say I was one of those amazing, tireless volunteer types who devotes hours and hours to her parish or a worthy apostolate, but alas — this is not the season for that! Everything is very centered on my home and family for me at the moment. I will say, though, that I definitely feel that I live out my faith in the homeschooling of my children. It’s something that is challenging and time-consuming and little understood by others, but it’s a true vocation. It gives me true joy.

Q. What do you hope to pass along to our readers?

A. The reason I wanted to call these reflections (Practicing) Catholic is because I love the play on the word “practicing.” It implies training, preparation, a desire to constantly improve, and the reality of constant failure, too. We’re all Catholic, yes, but we’re all just practicing, right? Essentially, that is what I want our readers to take away from these reflections — that we are all works in progress. None of us gets it right all the time, but we have to invite God into the process.

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Churches who print their bulletins with LPi have full access to WeCreate for free! If you don’t publish with us, reach out to us to get started. You can also purchase a stand-alone subscription to WeCreate and receive full access to content like the (Practicing) Catholic reflection and more here .

Updated on 011-03-2025

7 Ways to Use Stock Photography in Your Catholic Church’s Communications

Wed, 29 Mar 2023 12:00:11 GMT

How to Make Best Use of Stock Photography at Your Church

Making use of stock photography from a resource like WeCreate, LPi’s library of Catholic content can enhance your parish’s communication efforts. Here are 7 ways to use stock photos like a pro to communicate more effectively with your vibrant community.

1. Church Website — When choosing photographs to accompany the information on your church’s website, you should consider these 5 examples of photos every parish needs . However, if you haven’t built up your parish’s custom photo library yet, stock photos are a great option to get your message across. Even if you already use a lot of your own photography, stock photography is a great tool to fill in any imagery gaps that you may have.

2. Church Bulletin — Sometimes there’s an article in the bulletin that could use a beautiful image to go with it. Whether you print in color or in black and white , adding a professionally captured photograph can elevate a bulletin article from mediocre to awesome! Not printing with LPi yet? Learn more about how to get a free weekly bulletin for your church here .

3. Advertising for Events & Programs — Whether for Confirmation preparation classes, a support group meeting, or a parish retreat, churches are in constant need of new posters, packets, and flyers. Using beautiful stock photography in their design can save you time and make these communications look as professional as possible.

4. Social Media Posts — The same goes with your social media posts. You may be advertising an event or simply sharing a thought on social media. Either way, intentionally including some nice stock photography will make the post more effective.

5. Ministry Brochures — Are you printing brochures for different ministries, initiatives, and more? No need to constantly ask parishioners for photos of events and ministries to include because we’ve got you covered. Need a trifold about your parent group or food drive? Search our Catholic stock photography library in WeCreate to quickly find images you can use!

6. Church Blog — Blog posts are a perfect example of a communication method for which people regularly use stock photos. In fact, some have found that content which includes a relevant photograph receives a whopping 90%+ more views .

7. Church Newsletter — Does your parish send out a newsletter to parishioners? Maybe a specific ministry, like the youth ministry, emails or hands out a printed monthly newsletter to its members. Using stock photography to enhance the design of a newsletter can save you time and energy while also making your newsletter more appealing to those on the receiving end!

Use WeCreate For Catholic Stock Photography

We are constantly adding to our stock photography collection in WeCreate to cover all of your church’s content needs. This being said, we are always interested in finding new parishes to photograph. If your community is interested in volunteering to host an LPi stock photography photo shoot, contact us to see what options may be available!

Updated on 11-03-2025

Priests Won’t Ask for Bitcoin —How Avoid Common Internet Scams Directed at Catholics

Thu, 23 Mar 2023 14:00:01 GMT

Some people make it their mission to scam people out of money using digital trickery. We collected some of the most common scams that are directed specifically toward Catholics as well as how to identify and avoid them in order to protect yourself from online criminals.

Common Internet SCAMS Often Directed at Catholic Parishioners

Scammers Using Email

One of the most frequent scams Catholics encounter is scammers posing as their parish priests over email and asking for money or gift cards. This type of email communication is not something your parish priest will do. Scammers work ahead of time to find out the name and email address of a community’s pastor and then create their own, similar email address hoping that their victims won’t notice that the email isn’t coming directly from the pastor’s actual email. The email might even include the receiver’s name or other identifying information, deepening the confusion. The initial emails often look like a harmless note, similar to the following:

“Hi, Jennifer, how are you doing?
I need a favor from you, email me as soon as you get this message.

God Bless,

Fr. John Franklin ”

“Hi Dan,

How are you?

I have an urgent matter that I need to discuss with you.

Please let me know when you get this.

Peace,

Fr. John Franklin”

Messages may even be more complex like:

“Hello Nancy,

I need a favor from you, email me as soon as you get this message! I’m in a retreat meeting right now and only have access to email so that’s why I’m contacting you through here. I should have called you instead of emailing you, but phones aren’t allowed at this retreat at the moment.

Talk to you soon,

Fr. John Franklin S.J”

Once the first email is sent, if the recipient responds to the email the scammer will then go on to ask for money. This ask may come in the form of gift cards, crypto-currency like bitcoin, wire money transfers, or donations. The money ask may seem to be for the pastor, themselves, the church, or another ministry. It is important to always check with the parish office to verify that any out-of-the-ordinary email or communication from your pastor is, indeed, from your pastor.

Scammers Using Instagram and Other Social Media Profiles

Another way criminals target Catholics online is through fraudulent social media profiles. A common tactic is for a spammer to create a profile using the name and images of an existing religious person. This could be a sister or a priest or even a bishop. Once the fake account is created they will send messages with requests for prayers and engagement. If you engage they will ask for money or to connect on a different app like WhatsApp. Beware of anyone asking to connect on WhatsApp, this is an app scammers love to use.

Sometimes scammers will just simply try to trick you into clicking a link. For example, you may receive a message from them that merely says, “Hey is this you in this video?” They will include a link with the hopes that you will be curious and click it. Don’t click on it!

Other messages we’ve seen:

“The Lord said that you should sow a seed of Faith to THE MOTHERLESS BABY HOME before the end of three days to attract Diviner and Spiritual Breakthrough in your life. There is power in sowing (Deu 24:15). Just contact them on WhatsApp: +2348098247698. God bless you!”

“Good afternoon!

This is Sister Katherine Marie and I just got out of class. Please, I would like to be receiving motivational quotes and prayers from you if you don’t mind. I hear about you a lot and your community is blessed to have you and your great faith in God. Please send me an email at my Gmail: steve.kafm25@gmail.com. I would like to regularly hear from you.

Blessings!”

Scammers calling/texting parishioner’s phones

If someone calls your phone claiming to be from your parish and asks for credit card information, gift cards, or for your other personal information, be suspicious! Your church office will NOT call you asking for your credit card over the phone. If you give digitally to your church every month you should only be updating your payment and personal information via the secure online portal your church uses for such payments.

If you receive such a call, we suggest you decline and then go into your church office to ask about the request in person before giving out any of your personal information . If your parish was not the making the request you can report the suspicious behavior so church staff can warn the community of the potential scam.

Ways to Protect Yourself and Your Community Scams

Be suspicious of any communication that is out of the ordinary.
Ask other church officials or trusted sources about the communication. If possible, contact the person in question via a different form of communication.
Run an article in your church bulletin, on your website, and on your parish’s social media about any scams that are going around! WeCreate, our library of catholic graphics and content for parishes to use in their communications, offers SCAM alert graphics that you can use to draw attention to any announcements you need to make of this nature!
Make it a personal rule to never give out any personal information like your credit cards, passwords, etc., to anyone over any form of person-to-person messaging like email, Facebook Messenger, or even over the phone. Verify everything!
Carefully check any email addresses that claim to be from your pastor or someone in leadership at your church to verify that the email is, indeed, coming from that person’s EXACT email address.
Do not click any links without being sure they are from a trusted source and you know exactly where they are leading!
Do not engage with messages that are suspicious. Do not text or email back! Report suspicious social media profiles to the platform you where you found them. For example, if someone is posing as your priest on Facebook and asking for gift cards, report the profile to Facebook using the company’s reporting process. In fact, knowing how to report spam and criminal activity on the different social media platforms is essential !
Report all suspicious communications to your parish’s staff. It is likely that if scammers are targeting one person at your parish, they are also targeting others who might not be as well informed. Your parish staff can spread the word!
File a report through the Federal Trade Commission. You can use their easy-to-use reporting webpage to help the FTC detect patterns of abuse and fraud.

Ultimately, if you receive a message in any way from someone claiming to be somebody you know or someone in leadership at your parish, and they ask for an immediate transfer of money, gift cards, or your personal information, assume it is a scammer and do not engage with them!

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Interested in more content like this from LPi to help inspire your parish staff? Check out the "Parish Life" section of our blog.

Updated on 11-03-2025

Introducing Catholic Stock Photography from LPi Inside WeCreate

Thu, 16 Mar 2023 14:00:04 GMT

How to Find Catholic Stock Photos For Parish Communications

Looking for photography and images that accurately capture and depict Catholic life and liturgy? Look no further! LPi's collection of Catholic content for parish staff, WeCreate, has thousands of stock photographs for you to use in your parish’s bulletin, website, program advertisements, and however else you need. All LPi bulletin customers and subscribers to WeCreate already have free access to our searchable stock photo library! (For those who aren't subscribed to WeCreate or don't have access through their bulletin subscription, subscribe here. )

Here are some teasers of what you can find under some of the searchable labels in this expansive collection.

Catholic Stock Photo Examples Inside WeCreate

Sacraments — We are continuously adding to both our staged and candid photos of the Sacraments! Just search the name of the sacrament you are searching for stock photos of and scroll through all the beautiful imagery!

Sacramentals — Every celebration and tradition has those items that are special to practicing Catholics. Search for them by their name — for example, palms — or by the name of the liturgical practice they are associated with, which, in this case, would be Palm Sunday.

Mass — Explore images of people from different communities praying together and celebrating Mass. Scrolling through these photographs showcases the beautiful diversity of our Catholic faith!

Priests — Inside WeCreate you will find stock images of priests from all over the country! Pair your search for “priest” with another search query like “reconciliation” to dial in on the specific type of priest image you want. Looking for images of people from a different type of religious vocation? You can also search for deacon, sister, and more.

Holy Eucharist — From Eucharistic Adoration to celebrating the Eucharist as Mass, we have a plethora of stock images to help you reach your community with the good news of Jesus!

Architecture — Our collection of photographs of beautiful church architecture continues to grow. Is your church building special? Maybe we already have photos of it!

Statues & Art — Looking to represent a specific saint or well known image to accompany an article in your church bulletin or website? Want to find unique Catholic art photography? We continue to add to this portion of our stock photography collection!

Liturgical Dates/Holy Days — We have images of Catholic celebrations from multiple communities and traditions! Search for the name of the Holy Day or specific tradition to narrow down your search.

Community — We have a plethora of images depicting a wide variety of community activities including families, youth, and people of all ages in many different locations!

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Do you have some ideas for Catholic stock imagery? Well, we're always interested in finding new parishes to photograph! If your community is interested in volunteering to host an LPi stock photography photo shoot, contact us to discuss the possibilities.

Updated on 11-03-2025

Simple Integrations that Add Value to Your Catholic Church's Website

Thu, 09 Mar 2023 15:00:07 GMT

What is a Web Integration?

A web integration is a tool used by web designers to pull information from another system or website directly into your own website. This information is then updated remotely and automatically populates your site as the source content is updated. For example, you may have a web integration for your parish's Instagram feed on your homepage that shows the three most recent posts you make on Instagram in a frame at the bottom of your page. If so, this Instagram web integration will automatically change what images it shows on your homepage whenever you update your Instagram with a new post. This saves you from having to constantly log into your parish's website builder application and manually update the photos every time you add a new one to Instagram — the web integration does it for you!

At LPi, we’ve created some specific drag-and-drop web integrations for our parish customers that are designed to make their lives easier when they are using WeConnect to build their websites . These useful tools take most of the manual work out of the process of updating certain aspects of your website with new and engaging content.

WeConnect Web Integrations that Keep Your Parish Website Updated Effortlessly

Bulletin Widget — a web integration with the Parishes Online Directory

Every week, when your bulletin editor submits your bulletin to print, your bulletin will automatically be sent to your church’s listing on Parishes Online . If you drop the Bulletin Widget into your website, it will always display your newest bulletin, updating your website for you so that you can sit back and look like a master web designer. The bulletin widget is most effective when it’s featured on your homepage so that those visiting your website can easily access all of the information that you carefully compile into your bulletin each week. Bonus — This web integration is designed in a neutral, modern way so that it will always look professional alongside your church’s brand . We also developed this brochure to teach you more about how to add this important web integration to your website.

Saints & Weekly Gospels

The Weekly Gospel Widget is an integration that includes one of the new beautiful gospel illustrations we have been releasing in 2023 along with an excerpt from the Gospel. This is already formatted to look lovely on your website.

The Saint of the Week Integration is another widget that we debuted in 2023 that includes a short biography of a saint or, saint in the making, as well as one of the custom illustrations of that holy person created by our art and content team.

These can be found within the “weekly content” section of the WeConnect menu. We have an option to select the Weekly Gospel , the Saint of the Week , or both. The best part about these integrations is that you only have to drag and drop them once into your website builder and they will automatically update with new content created weekly by us at LPi.

Google Calendar

This drag-and-drop integration incorporates your church’s live Google calendar of events right into your website. This way you can add an “events” tab to your homepage menu that links directly to a beautiful page on your site the features a constantly updated and easy to navigate view of your parish’s upcoming events. After incorporating this integration, every time you add items to your calendar it will automatically populate that part of your website! The same goes for any time you might delete an event — it will automatically delete from your website too. Simple and easy!

Fillable Forms

When you need to collect information from your parishioners, we have you covered with our Fillable Forms Integration. For example, you can easily embed a “subscribe to our blog,” “contact us,” or “register for this event” form to collect the information you need, and it works with a number of popular form sites and tools. We are also fully equipped to integrate with MailChimp and Constant Contact and can even connect with Google Sheets to compile the data you collect. All you have to do is create your form, then follow the prompts in our drag and drop fillable forms integration!

Social Media

We have a web integration for Instagram and Twitter that you can easily drop into your website anywhere you like. For example, you can share your Twitter feed so that visitors to your website can see the up-to-date content you are tweeting out. The same goes for Instagram! We have a widget that allows you to share your Instagram photo gallery directly to your website. The gallery is updated whenever your parish posts new photos to Instagram!

Making use of web integrations when building your website will take a lot of the headache out of the web design process. If you’ve used any of these integrations in your website and want to show off how great it looks, tag us in a post on your Facebook or Twitter account with a link to your homepage — we’d love to see it!

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

Updated on 11-03-2025

Introducing Lupita Vital — Our Spanish Gospel Meditation Writer

Tue, 28 Feb 2023 17:14:38 GMT

This interview is posted in both Spanish (first) and English (second). For the English version, simply scroll down.

Presentamos a Lupita Vital Cruz — Nuestra escritora de las meditaciones del Evangelio en español

LPi se complace en presentar a nuestros lectores a Lupita Vital, nuestra autora desde hace mucho tiempo de las meditaciones del Evangelio disponibles en español en WeCreate . Ella recibió la medalla P ro Ecclesia et Pontifice de la Santa Sede , otorgado a los laicos y el clero por su destacado servicio a la Iglesia Católica. Autora publicada, también tiene múltiples títulos de diversas instituciones y actualmente es la directora del Apostolado Hispano de la Diócesis de San José, California. Para presentársela, la entrevistamos acerca de su vida y experiencia como escritora. Esto es lo que ella compartió con nosotros.

P. ¿De dónde eres y cuál es el nombre de tu iglesia local?
R. Soy de Jalostotitlán Jalisco, México. Sin embargo, crecí en Guadalajara, Jalisco México. Aunque, a veces me gusta contestar que soy de todas partes.
Mi iglesia local es el Sagrado Corazón de Jesús y Santa María Goretti en San José, California. En mi pueblo natal es la Parroquia de la Asunción y en Guadalajara es Santa Clara de Asís.

P. ¿Por cuánto tiempo has trabajado como escritora de estas meditaciones del Evangelio?

R. Pues, no recuerdo exactamente. Lo único que sé es que me encanta hacerlo, disfruto mucho meditar la Palabra de Dios y compartirla con ustedes.

P. ¿De dónde obtienes la inspiración cada semana o de dónde viene esa inspiración para cada semana?

R. Parte de la inspiración viene como un Don dado por Dios a mi vida. Desde pequeña mis padres acostumbraban leer el Evangelio todas las noches después de rezar en familia el Rosario. Y a mí me encantaba escuchar la historia de los Evangelios. Leer, escuchar y hacer oración con la Palabra de Dios, también me inspira cada semana.

P. ¿Tiene una historia del Evangelio favorita sobre la que haya disfrutado escribir y por qué?

R. Una de tantas favoritas es la de María Magdalena, quien de madrugada fue corriendo hacia la tumba del Señor en la mañana de la Resurrección, buscando a su Señor, hasta encontrarlo. Me arde en el corazón, como a los discípulos del camino de Emaús, el diálogo entre Jesús y María. La respuesta de María y su compromiso de anunciar al Resucitado, me inspira para reflexionar en las otras historias y parábolas del Evangelio.

P. ¿Cuéntanos un hecho divertido sobre ti?

R. Entiendo, que, esta pregunta es sobre un hecho al escribir las reflexiones. Pues, una vez terminé mis reflexiones y me sentí muy feliz. Pero, me di cuenta que había escrito las reflexiones del ciclo pasado. Si, así como lo lees. Me reí tome la tarde de descanso y al día siguiente comencé de nuevo. Creo que el Señor Jesús también descansó y disfrutó conmigo el hecho de haberme equivocado.

P. ¿Cuál ha sido una bendición inesperada que has recibido al trabajar en las meditaciones del Evangelio?

R. Nunca pensé que, al hacer este ministerio de las meditaciones del Evangelio, se sintiera la presencia de Dios en mi vida tan real. Y eso es una bendición. Compartir lo que me inspira, el Espíritu Santo con todos ustedes, es otra gran bendición. El que muchas personas tengan alcance a estas meditaciones es una bendición para ellas y para mí.

P. ¿Por qué crees que es importante que LPi ofrezca contenido escrito en español desde una perspectiva católica hispana?
R. Porque es una bendición que muchas personas tengan alcance en su propio idioma de leer y meditar el Evangelio de cada domingo de una manera sencilla y entendible para aplicarlo a su vida cotidiana. Además, es importante poder seguir las enseñanzas del Evangelio y de la Iglesia Católica en una sociedad bombardeada de tanta cosa que nos agobia distrayendo nuestra vida espiritual. El Evangelio desde la perspectiva católica nos libera y nos acerca a Dios.

P. ¿Cuál es una tradición católica especial que amas?

R. Son varias tradiciones. Una es la celebración de la Virgen de Guadalupe, porque se celebra dentro del Adviento. El Vía Crucis que nos prepara para celebrar el Triduo Pascual. Y el Santo Rosario que nos lleva a meditar en el Misterio de Cristo y nos acerca a María, nuestra Madre, que nos ama con ternura.

P. ¿Cuáles son algunos de los desafíos que enfrentan los católicos hispanoamericanos?

R. El idioma, la inmigración constante, el racismo, la de falta de sacerdotes hispanos en algunas diócesis del país, la vivienda y recursos adecuados para la salud, líderes laicos que terminen su educación teológica y sirvan de puente entre las culturas que existen en la Iglesia católica y en la sociedad.

P. ¿Qué esperas trasmitir a nuestros lectores?

R. Que se enamoren del Señor Jesús y de su Palabra, que vivan con esperanza. Y que sientan que Dios los quiere y acepta tal como son. Que sean cristianos comprometidos, promotores de la paz y la justicia. Como dice el Papa Francisco, “Salgamos de nuestra zona de confort”. Luchemos por el Reino de Dios que ya está aquí entre nosotros.

¡Las iglesias que imprimen sus boletines con LPi tienen acceso completo a WeCreate y a todos los recursos disponibles, como las meditaciones del Evangelio en español, de forma gratuita! Si actualmente no publican su boletín con nosotros, comuníquense con nosotros para iniciar sus publicaciones. También puede comprar una suscripción independiente para WeCreate aquí .

Introducing Lupita Vital Cruz — Our Spanish Gospel Meditation Writer

LPi is pleased to introduce our readers to Lupita Vital — our long-time author of the Spanish language Gospel meditations available in WeCreate . She is a recipient of the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice from the Holy See, conferred for distinguished service to the Catholic Church by lay people and clergy. A published author, she also holds multiple degrees from multiple institutions and is currently the Director of the Hispanic Apostolate for the Diocese of San Jose, California. To introduce her to you, we interviewed her about her life and experience as a writer. Here’s what she had to say:

Q. Where are you from and what is the name of your local church?

A. I'm from Jalostotitlán, Jalisco, Mexico but I grew up in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. However, sometimes I like to answer that I'm from “everywhere.”

I attend Sacred Heart of Jesus and St. Mary Goretti in San Jose, California. In my hometown, I attend the Parish of the Assumption and in Guadalajara I go to Santa Clara de Asís.

Q. How long have you worked as a writer on these Gospel meditations?

A. Well, I don't exactly remember. All I know is that I love doing it, I really enjoy meditating on God's Word and sharing it with you all.

Q. Where does your inspiration come from each week?

A. Part of the inspiration comes as a God-given gift to my life. From a young age, my family would read and pray the Gospel every night. And I loved hearing the stories of the Gospels. Reading, listening, and praying with God's Word also inspires me every week.

Q. Do you have a favorite Gospel story you've enjoyed writing about, and why?

A. One of my many favorites is that of Mary Magdalene, who at dawn ran to the tomb of the Lord on the morning of the Resurrection, seeking out her Lord, until she found him. The dialogue between Jesus and Mary is burned onto my heart, similar to the disciples on the road to Emmaus. Mary's response and her commitment to proclaim the Risen One inspires me to reflect on the other stories and parables of the Gospel.

Q. Tell us a fun fact about yourself!

A. I will take this question to mean a fun fact about writing the reflections. Well, one time I finished my reflections and I felt very satisfied. But I soon realized that I had written the reflections on the past cycle! Yes, you read it correctly! I laughed and took the afternoon off and the next day I started all over again. I believe that the Lord Jesus also rested and enjoyed my mistake as much as I did.

Q. What has been an unexpected blessing you have received as you worked on the Gospel meditations?

A. I never thought that as I worked on this ministry of Gospel meditations, God's presence in my life would feel so real. And that's a blessing. Sharing what inspires me, the Holy Spirit with all of you, is another great blessing. The fact that many people have sought out these meditations is a blessing to them and to me.

Q. Why do you think it is important for LPi to offer content written in Spanish from a Catholic perspective?

A. Because it is a blessing for many people to be able to read and meditate on the Gospel each day in their own language. Especially in a simple and understandable form that they can then apply to their daily lives. In addition, it is important to be able to follow the teachings of the Gospel and the Catholic Church in a society that bombards and overwhelms us with so much, distracting us from our spiritual lives. The Gospel from the Catholic perspective frees us and brings us closer to God.

Q. What is a special Catholic tradition that you love?

A. There are several traditions. One is the celebration of the Virgin of Guadalupe, because it is celebrated within Advent. Also, the Way of the Cross prepares us to celebrate the Easter Triduum. And the Holy Rosary that leads us to meditate on the Mystery of Christ and brings us closer to Mary, our Mother, who loves us with tenderness.

Q. What are some of the challenges facing Spanish-speaking Americans?

A. Language challenges, ever-present immigration, racism, the lack of Hispanic priests (in some parts of the country), adequate housing and healthcare resources, and lay leaders who finish their theological education in order to serve as a gateway between the cultures that exist in the Catholic Church and in society.

Q. What do you hope to convey to our readers?

A. That they fall in love with the Lord Jesus and his Word, and that they live with hope. And that they feel that God loves and accepts them as they are. That they become committed Christians, promoters of peace and justice. As Pope Francis says, "Let's get out of our comfort zone." Let us fight for the Kingdom of God that is already here among us.

Churches who print their bulletins with LPi have full access to WeCreate and all of the resources within, like the Spanish Gospel meditations. If you aren’t currently publishing with us, reach out to us to get started . You can also purchase a stand-alone subscription to WeCreate here .

Updated on 10-25-2025

A Beginner's Guide to Marketing Your Catholic Church

test@4lpi.com (Web Team) — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 14:30:00 GMT

Your Catholic church is awesome! You provides resources and services to your local community. You have wonderful worship services and faith formation programs that connect people of all ages to God. You’re working hard to make a difference but, how are you effectively sharing everything you have to offer with your greater community? How are you attracting new members? How do people know about all of the ministries that you have? You are pros at spreading the message of Jesus at Mass, but how does your neighborhood know that your members are out there putting in the work? Sounds like it’s time to build a church marketing plan!

Branding Is Everything in Marketing!

First things first — If your church doesn’t have an up-to-date brand design that you can use across all of your marketing materials, it’s time to make this happen. Remember, branding is not just your parish’s logo . Branding encompasses the colors you will use, the fonts, and the overall style of your marketing materials. You will use this brand on letterhead and envelopes, websites, social media, certificates, posters, livestreams, invitations, everywhere! Get started with a brand refresh or a totally new look with LPi's in-house design team.

To master parish marketing, learn more on our free guide: Parish Branding Made Simple — A Guide to Logos, Identity, and Mission-Driven Catholic Brand Design

Make Sure Your Catholic Website Makes the Right Impression

Make sure your website is easy to navigate, up to date, and optimized for mobile devices! Your homepage is often the very first place potential visitors investigate before deciding to walk through your front doors, so having a professional looking website that reflects your welcoming community is one of the most important tricks of the trade when it comes to successfully marketing your church.

What photos you decide to include , how well it’s designed, and these further tips and tricks can get you ahead of the game. If you don’t feel confident when it comes to updating your parish’s website, our team can help!

Your Parish Social Media Is Key to Outreach

Having your social media profiles dialed-in will make a big difference when marketing your parish! In fact, we are so passionate about this that we published a complete guide to parish social media management for free ! Check it out to get the deep dive into parish social media tools of the trade.

Don’t forget to share your calendar of events on Facebook via the Facebook event feature and publish them publicly. Doing this will allow Facebook to suggest your events to people browsing the app for things to do during the week and also provides a landing page for events that parishioners can easily share on their own social media profiles!

In fact, creating sharable content across any of the social media platforms encourages parishioners to share your content which, in turn, provides free marketing for your church. Double down your efforts and use our beautifully designed Catholic graphics in our WeCreate library to enhance your posts or simply copy and paste the content we pre-curate for parishes into your social media feeds using WeCreate's social media content calendar .

Printed Bulletins Are Still the Heartbeat of Parish Marketing

Your bulletin is the perfect place to advertise your events and ministries to those already in attendance at Mass, but did you know that the bulletin can also be a great way to partner with local businesses and organizations? These partnerships can help your marketing efforts.

F or example, a s businesses advertise in your bulletin , parishioners will use their services. The more parishioners tell local businesses that they saw them in your church bulletin, the more likely the business is to be open to partnering with you to accomplish local community goals, execute great events, and whatever else you can dream up. Having good relationships with local businesses and organizations can go a long way to helping you market your parish!

For everything you need to know about marketing your parish through your bulletin, we've got your covered with our article, Catholic Church Bulletins 101: Everything You Need to Know.

Press/Media Releases for Your Catholic Community

Creating a press release for major events, changes, or celebrating milestones in your parish is another important way to make sure you are properly marketing your church. Press releases allow for news from your church to reach the greater community — often people who wouldn’t normally hear about your parish.

Special Event Marketing

Every major event at your church should be marketed through the following avenues:

Your church website
Bulletin
Social media platforms
Neighborhood mailers
In print via posters or flyers that are easy to pass out after Mass
Via your spoken Mass announcements

When creating advertisements for each of the different avenues, be sure to always use your church’s logo and branding, any identifying information needed for people to easily locate your parish, where and when the event is being held, and how they can acquire more information.

Save this comprehensive parish event marketing checklist available to keep your system dialed in!

Being Present is Also a Great Marketing Strategy

Hands down one of the best ways to market your parish community is to attend, sponsor, and participate in community events. Is there a farmer’s market that happens every Saturday in your city? Consider renting a booth with information about your parish’s ministries or selling parishioner’s homemade crafts to raise money for a youth retreat. If there is a local theater group looking for sponsorship, consider sponsoring a play. Do local club sports need benefactors every season?

Sponsor the team and then organize parishioners to attend games and root for them to win! Does your neighborhood throw a community festival every summer? Set up a relief station offering free refreshments for attendees! Being present and supportive in your local community may be the absolute best way to market your parish.

This concept is so true, in fact, that we recently compiled 65 unique ways to connect with your neighborhood.

The time to get started is now! Happy marketing!

For more communication inspiration for Catholic parishes, visit our weekly blog!

Updated on 10-24-2025

Is Your Catholic Church Ready for Holiday Visitors? Use this Checklist to be sure!

test@4lpi.com (Web Team) — Thu, 16 Feb 2023 13:00:08 GMT

Who is Visiting Your Parish During the Holidays?

Catholic Churches all over the world welcome visitors every week, but Easter and Christmas take the cake when it comes to the number of visitors attending Mass at any given church.

These visitors are your parishioner’s family members, friends, and significant others. They are folk who are new to the neighborhood looking for a church home. They are Catholics returning to Mass for the first time in years as they remember the joy of the Easter season or want to experience the Easter Vigil again. They may even be people who are simplycurious about the faith and encouraged to visit during this special time.

Regardless of who they are, who brought them, or where they come from, be sure that your parish is prepared to welcome them to Mass with this handy checklist of ideas!

The Ultimate Parish Holiday Visitor Checklist

Are your Mass times updated on your website, bulletin, and anywhere else they are displayed?
Is your website optimized to be mobile-friendly ? If not, we can help you !
Are your entrances and bathrooms clearly marked?
Are you welcoming visitors at the ambo before Mass?
Do the bulletins you are passing out at holiday Mass times have visitor information prominently featured?
Do you have ushers or greeters signed up for each Mass to both welcome and answer visitor questions?
Are there welcome cards in the pews that visitors can fill out if they want to receive more information about the parish directly to their email or via a phone call?
Do you have visitor information (like a handout, brochure, or visitor gifts) readily available?
Is your pastor planning on inviting everyone to introduce themselves to their neighbors at the beginning of Mass?
Are you planning on inviting those attending to share a prayer request with their neighbors before Mass?
Do you have a printed program that explains the Mass parts for visitors to reference?
Is information about your faith formation programs for youth and adults displayed in a place where visitors can easily see?
Is information about your ministries and services easily accessible on your website ?
Are your buildings, including your sanctuary, disability friendly ?
Do you provide tools for families with small children upon their entrance? For example, a coloring page that corresponds with the readings and some crayons, or directions to the nursery if they have an infant and need a quit space. We have resources available like this in our WeCreate library of Catholic content for you to use!
Do visitors have access to free masks in the event that somebody wants one or your church requires them?
Do you have extra bulletins ready to be passed out to accommodate the larger crowds?
Do you have e ngaging photos of your parish community members prominently featured on your website and social media feeds, so people interested in visiting your parish get a glimpse of your welcoming environment?
Is your parking lot and property clean and clear of debris or anything that might make someone trip?
Do your Mass announcements include information on how to register or how to gather more information about the Parish and what your community has to offer?
Last but certainly not least: Do you have gifts available for your visitors? If not, we've got some tips for visitor gifts that don't break the bank as well as 40 ideas for the best church merch!

Interested in more content like this to help inspire your parish staff? Check out the "Parish Life" section of our blog.

Updated on 10-24-2025

Six Web Trends for Catholic Church Websites

test@4lpi.com (Web Team) — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 13:00:02 GMT

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 at LPi has identified after working with Catholic churches across the country to build their websites — all of which can be applied using our church website builder, WeConnect .

Is Your Parish Following These Useful Website Design Trends?

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 ."
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.
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.
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!
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!
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.

Get a Parish Website Redesign With LPi

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 10-24-2025

Tips to Increase Disability Inclusion in Your Catholic

test@4lpi.com (Web Team) — Thu, 26 Jan 2023 13:30:01 GMT

"Creating a fully accessible parish requires not only the removal of architectural barriers, but above all, helping parishioners to develop attitudes and acts of solidarity and service toward persons with disabilities and their families.”

— Pope Francis

Papal message for the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Dec 3, 2020

Revealing the Truth About People With Disabilities at Your Parish

According to the CDC, 1 in 4 adults in the United States has a disability . These disabilities can include challenges with mobility, cognition, independent living, hearing, vision, and self-care. Recent estimates also show that about 17% of children, or 1 in 6, have one or more developmental disabilities . These can include challenges with learning, physical development, language, cognition, and behavior. The CDC has found that Autism Spectrum Disorder alone, affects about 1 in every 44 eight-year-old children in the U.S.A. and 1/3 of children with ASD also have intellectual disabilities.

Despite the prevalence of those with disabilities in our communities, schools, families, and churches, many parishes still don’t know what type of services or guidance to provide to those in their number with special needs. In fact, people with disabilities are often said to be one of the largest unchurched populations in the United States. The Society for Disability Studies found that persons with disabilities are 40% more likely than those without disabilities to report that they never attend worship and that this trend is a direct result of barriers to participation — those being architectural, communication, or attitude.

"The worst form of discrimination ... is the lack of spiritual care.”

— Pope Francis

How to Become a Parish that is Disability-Friendly

So, how might a Catholic church community become more friendly to those with disabilities? Here are a few ideas and resources.

Check Out the National Catholic Partnership on Disability

This organization has a plethora of resources and information for parishes who are working toward expanding their worship, ministry, and other practices to better include those with disabilities. They link to best catechetical practices and family support resources. The organization provides services like trainings, consultations, keynote talks for events, and accessibility surveys/assessments. Their LAMB Inclusive Participation Assessment Tool (Language, Accessibility, Meaningful Participation, Belonging) is specifically designed according to the website to guide “the development and evaluation of programs, materials and/ or other resources for use in the Church, relative to accessibility or usability for all persons.”

Start a Parish Disability Advisory Group

“Nothing about us without us,” is a commonly used slogan among minority groups to communicate that no rules or policies should be made by anyone in the organization without the full and direct participation of members of the group(s) affected by those rules or policies.

Inviting individuals and families to participate in a group specifically made to advise church leadership on the needs of those members of your church with disabilities not only creates a bridge between those with disabilities and those without but can also ensure that your parish uses its time and resources wisely. This type of ministry can also provide a structured environment for people with similar experiences to connect with each other and can deepen and enrich a parish’s overall community development.

Train Ministers to Invite More and Recognize Disabilities

Including disability sensitivity training in the process of learning how to serve at Mass or minister in different programs at the church is a great way to increase options for those with disabilities. Consider this — when was the last time that the sacristan asked someone using a wheelchair to help take up the gifts, or might it be possible for the point person to invite a family with a deaf child to be the 9 a.m. Mass greeters? Pope Francis, again, reminds us that everyone is encouraged to participate in their faith and contribute in their own unique way to their community.

“Every man and every woman, in whatever condition they find themselves, is the bearer not only of rights that must be recognized and guaranteed, but also of even deeper needs, such as the need to belong, to relate and to cultivate his/her spiritual life to so as to experience it to its fullness and bless the Lord for this unique and wonderful gift.”

— Pope Francis

Increase Disability Awareness for Visitors:

Have signage clearly visible near the entrance to your sanctuary and other buildings for resources like a quiet room or hearing aids and any other support you provide to visitors. Include this information on your website homepage as well.

Continue to invite and assure parishioners that their family members with disabilities are welcome to Mass, youth events, and more! Even better — invite families with disabled members to share their needs with parish leadership through your advocacy group or parish advisory group.

Make sure to include disability access information and resources whenever you host a newcomer’s gathering!

Include disability access info in your bulletin every week with who to contact if a visitor wants more in-depth information. Don’t forget to include both an email and a phone number so that those who may have hearing or sight problems always have an option.

Find even more tips on how to make your parish more disability-friendly to visitors and new members, in our blog “ How to Comb Your Experience Through the Eyes of a Visitor . ”

Disability Inclusion is Human Dignity

In his message for the International Day of Persons with Disabilities in 2020 , Pope Francis said, “Prayer is a mission, a mission accessible to everyone, and I would like to entrust that mission in a particular way to you. There is no one so frail that he or she cannot pray, worship the Lord, give glory to His holy Name, and intercede for the salvation of the world. In the sight of the Almighty, we come to realize that we are all equal.” So, how does your parish work to include members with disabilities?

For more resources, ideas, and information about advocacy organizations that include a variety of Christian denominations, check out the Collaborative on Faith & Disabilities .

Interested in more content like this to help inspire your parish staff? Check out the "Parish Life" section of LPi's weekly blog.

Updated on 10-24-2025

Professional Designer Spills Catholic Church Website Secrets

test@4lpi.com (Web Team) — Thu, 19 Jan 2023 13:00:07 GMT

At LPi, when a church asks us to redesign their website, we connect them with our in-house team of talented graphic designers. These designers then work alongside parishes to design beautiful websites for their communities that can be easily updated by church staff after the initial design process is finished — all using WeConnect, our powerful and user-friendly website builder . This week we had the opportunity to speak with one of our designers, Heidi, about her experience guiding a church through the website redesign process.

Q. Hi Heidi, Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us! To start — When redesigning a site for a parish, what’s the first thing you consider?

A. Hi! The first thing we consider is the church’s design preferences. We base all of our design choices on trying to best represent each individual parish. Do they have a branding? If so, what are their brand colors? What are their brand fonts? If they don’t have a branding, what colors are they drawn to? What fonts? Are they more drawn to icons or photos?

Q. What do you think is important for every parish to feature on their website?

A. Features we see most often are Mass Schedules, Bulletins/Newsletters, Pastor’s Notes, and Calendars/Upcoming Events. The most important, though, in my opinion, is clear and easy to find contact information. That way, anyone who wants to show up for a Mass or ask a question can find what they need — including all of the sections most featured.

Q. What makes working with WeConnect a good experience? What are some WeConnect features you like to use?

A. In WeConnect, the drag and drop sections are very easy to use, even for those who may be inexperienced in website design. I like to use them as a starting point to create something unique. The global styles are great too! You can set colors and font header styles for use throughout the entire site and this feature makes keeping consistency very easy.

Q. Are the staff members of churches able to update and maintain their website through WeConnect after you design it for them?

A. Yes — First LPi works out the site design and navigation for the parish’s website. We focus on the design of the home page as well as two additional pages so the church can see some examples of how to best use the WeConnect sections for their content. We then work with the church to get the design approved and we also make sure to train their staff to make updates to the site by themselves. Of course, we do help out if the parish needs extra support and are also available to answer questions.

Q. Are there any cool widgets that you use?

A. I’m a big fan of the social media widget. You can select icons, or even add your own, to feature only the social media options that are a focus for your church. There’s another widget, our ParishesOnline widget, that allows for their current church bulletin to be automatically updated on their website each week!

Q. What design aspects do you focus on to make a church’s community look inviting to visitors?

A. It’s important to show quality photos of the church, both of the building and of the church community. Having the building is nice because if you’re visiting you can see exactly what you should be looking for, plus many church buildings have beautiful architecture. However, only having pictures of the building can seem a bit cold, so to add that welcoming factor you should also feature photos of the people in the community.

Q. What else might be important to add?

A. A large percentage of site views happen on cell phones, and that number is only going to grow. WeConnect is great at translating pages created throughout the site to the mobile platform, so church content is shown at its best no matter where you’re viewing it!

A huge thanks to Heidi for sharing her thoughts as a web designer! If this interview inspired you to take a closer look at your parish’s website and, in doing so, you think you’d benefit from a professional redesign, we’ve got you covered. You might even get to work with Heidi! To learn more about our website building tool, WeConnect , be sure to attend one of our free demos . If, instead, you want to jump right into learning more about our website design services, here’s what we have to offer!

For more inspiring content to help you level-up your parish's web presence, check out the other articles on the " Web and Social Media" section of our blog.

Updated on 06-24-2025

How to Engage Catholic Youth With WeCreate Content at Your Parish

test@4lpi.com (Web Team) — Thu, 12 Jan 2023 12:00:05 GMT

Need some help engaging the youth at your parish? No problem! We’ve collected some resources for you directly from our WeCreate library of Catholic art and content that will assist in reaching the younger generations.

“I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.”

3 John 1:14

Using WeCreate For Elementary Age Kids

Under the Children’s Art section in WeCreate there are over 150 assets featuring our Growing With The Gospel coloring pages and puzzles. Each week of the liturgical year has 2 corresponding Growing With The Gospel options for parishes to drop into their bulletin, print out for families, or use within a faith formation setting or children’s liturgy. One of these weekly options is catered to younger elementary aged children and the second, corresponding one is catered to children in the later stages of elementary school.

The more engaged children are with your church’s bulletin, the more engaged their parents will ultimately be! Consider adding one of these puzzles, coloring pages, or both to your weekly bulletin and passing out crayons to little ones as they arrive with their families to attend Mass. If families are in the habit of taking a bulletin at the beginning of Mass for their children to color in, you may increase the number of bulletins taken by parish families who might otherwise forget to grab one on their way out as they wrangle their kids and socialize.

Catholic Art & Content for Middle Schoolers

The church teaches that parents are, first and foremost, the main catechists of their children . Knowing this, we provide a plethora of useful content in WeCreate that can be useful to catechists, both inside the domestic church and out. Here are a few asset collections catechists can use to help middle school youth grow in their faith:

The "Month of" Series — This series highlights a theme from the liturgical calendar for each month. Bulletin editors can drop these ready-to-go images into the bulletin each month alongside a little educational description about the month to assist families in teaching their children about that particular season of the liturgical year.
The Saint of the Week Series — Here we have a collection that provides an image and biography of a new saint, or holy person on their way to sainthood, to make use of every single week of the year. The educational pieces are ready to be dropped right into your bulletin, added to your website, or posted on your social media platforms to assist families in talking with their children about these heroes of the church. This year we are focusing on featuring American saints and our team is making custom illustrations for each! We even have bulletin page templates you can make use of in WeCreate that already incorporate the saint of the week, saving you time when it comes to formatting!
Our Weekly Gospel Illustrations — This series can also be used for educational and entertainment purposes. It features a weekly modern, original illustration that gives youth a glimpse into the story being told in the Gospel readings at Mass. Including these illustrations in your church bulletin can assist parents in redirecting youth’s attention during the readings and can also help spark conversation about the Gospel after Mass is over. For example, at brunch after Mass, a family might reflect on the readings using these illustrations — “Remember the Gospel reading from Mass? What part of it is this illustration representing?”

How WeCreate Can Assist With High School Ministry

Engaging high school youth can be tricky but, we’ve got you covered! Parents, youth ministers, catechists, campus ministers, retreat leaders, and anyone else who is invested in walking alongside teenagers on their faith journey have an incredible resource in our WeCreate library.

Social Media – WeCreate has entire sections where we’ve collected all of our assets that are made especially for sharing on social media platforms — making it easier for you to find these pieces and use them for youth ministry Simply select the sections titled Social Media Posts , Social Media Banners , and Social Media Stories to access hundreds of images already optimized and ready for you to post. Or, simply dive into our monthly social media content calendar and copy and paste the curated liturgical content available there directly into your feed!
Youth Event Support Imagery — If you can think of a youth group event, we likely have images to support it! Search WeCreate for vibrant and fun digital graphics to use for event advertisements, youth group newsletters, Sacrament preparation programs, celebrations, retreats, game nights, camps, and more.
Flyer Templates — Use WeCreate’s growing collection of flyer templates and save time when it comes to securing the advertising for your next youth retreat, game night, or service project! We’ve done the design work for you so, all you need to do is drop in your event’s information into the template. Voilà — A professional looking flyer for your next youth event!

Want access to WeCreate for your Catholic parish communications? Get started here!

Updated on 10-24-2025

Parish Dispatch: Fr. Kevin Roelant, St. Thecla Catholic Church, Clinton Township, MI

test@4lpi.com (Web Team) — Thu, 05 Jan 2023 12:00:01 GMT

At LPi, we are always are so grateful to partner with vibrant Catholic churches across the United States, each one working to bring the Kingdom of God to their neighborhoods in a unique way. In the Archdiocese of Detroit, Father Kevin Roelant serves at St. Thecla Catholic Church in Clinton Township . Here he answers some questions about his special parish. (Answers have been edited for length).

Q. Describe your parish demographic.

A. Our parish is a predominantly Caucasian community. A decent amount of this group has Italian and Polish heritage. We have people of all ages in our parish. Our pre-k to 8th grade school of about 270 students keeps us young and active in our parish.

Q. What makes your community unique?

A. The parishioners here are very kind and welcoming. We are people of prayer — living lives of prayer and dedicating time to prayer every day with litanies, devotions, and other types of prayers. The Mass and the Eucharist are at the heart of our community with Sunday worship as the high point of our week. We also have a weekly holy hour with adoration of the Eucharist. We are people of service and help those in need. The parish has a St. Vincent de Paul Society and a food pantry open two days a week. The parish also hosts a shelter for a week each year and does other acts of service. We offer several opportunities for people to grow in faith including weekly Bible studies, a men’s fellowship group, and regular faith study sessions on different topics. The Knights of Columbus are also very active in our parish. Our grade school is a huge and very important ministry of our parish, helping to form our children to be more like Jesus — growing in wisdom and knowledge.

Q. Why do most people visit your city?

A. Several reasons people might visit Clinton Township are for C.J. Barrymore’s which is an indoor and outdoor amusement park, Partridge Creek mall, and our nature parks.

Q. What do people say when they visit your parish for the first time?

A. I believe visitors say that our people are kind, welcoming, and dedicated to their faith.

Q. Where (and what) do you recommend for your best local eats?

A. Sajos , J.Baldwins , Luciano ’s , and Green Lantern Pizza . We also have two microbreweries nearby, Kuhnhenn Brewing Company and the Great Baraboo Brewing Company .

Q. What is the last film you saw that you would recommend to your parishioners?

A. A while ago I watched a film on Saint Faustina and Divine Mercy entitled: ‘ Faustina: Love and Mercy .’ The devotion to Divine Mercy is a beautiful devotion, truly focusing on Christ’s passion and love and mercy for us. I highly encourage growing in this devotion and watching this film.

Q. What is your most used App?

A. Google Maps and, with decent occasion, I use the iBreviary app . This app has the liturgy of the hours on it. The liturgy of the hours is a public prayer of the Church, a prayer with the scriptures, especially the psalms of the Bible, that I and other priests made promises to pray every day for, and with, the people of God.

Q. What is your most used emoji?

A. A smiley face ��

Q. What is an underrated book of the Bible and why?

A. I would say the Gospel of Luke. One of the themes of this Gospel is that we have a God who is rich in mercy and love for us. This love and mercy is manifested in the person of Jesus. God wants us to live in the knowledge of his love and mercy for us.

Q. What is an unexpected blessing of your priesthood?

A. A grace people might not think about is the spiritual fatherhood experienced by the priest. That is a grace I give thanks to God for and have grown in — that spiritual fatherhood for the parish, being that spiritual leader, and sacrificing and laying down your life for your spiritual children.

Q. What’s the coolest thing about your parish?

A. Our kind, welcoming, and dedicated parishioners of all ages and places!

Q. Who in your community inspires you?

A. I am inspired by the dedication and faith of both of our deacons, Tom Houle and Tim Maxwell.

Q. What evangelization risk have you taken in the past year that has born great fruit?

A. Under my leadership, we are using our parish Facebook page to share many things, including aspects of evangelization and faith formation.

Q. What is your most innovative method of communication with your community?

A. It is not that innovative, but our parish Facebook page.

Q. What is the best piece of ministry advice you have received?

A. It has been said in different forms and manners, but — allow Jesus to love you. Allow God to love you. Allow His Holy Spirit to live in you.

Q. What is important to you in a great parish website?

A. The website should be accurate and up to date, but, more importantly, it should help people encounter Jesus in a small way and allow people to grow in faith.

Q. How do you personally use social media to communicate with your faithful?

A. I don’t use social media much. I often ask one of our parish employees to post certain things on our parish Facebook page that might evangelizing or help people to grow in faith. I communicate with staff and parishioners here with regularity through personal communication, emails, bulletin articles etc.

Thank you, Father Kevin, for sharing your parish and experience with us!

Want more content to help build your vibrant parish community? Check out the "Parish Life" section of our LPi weekly blog!

Updated on 6-25-2025

Celebrating Nine Years of Everyday Stewardship

Fri, 30 Dec 2022 14:15:00 GMT

When I started writing Everyday Stewardship nine years ago, I wanted to convey how a stewardship way of life could transform one. If enough of us found ourselves in a different place because of this lifestyle, we could change our parish communities and the world around us. I chose to do this by using what I called “everyday language for everyday people.”

This meant I would write stories about my family, sports, and pop culture. Looking back, I fondly remember a conversation with a priest over a reflection on George Harrison, being asked at a parish mission to explain Yacht Rock, and even receiving emails about how to buy plots of land in Ireland. If connecting spiritual and theological truths with everyday people, places, and actions, can help someone understand them better and incorporate them into daily life, that was the plan.

This journey of nine years has led to two books and a Way of the Cross booklet. It was a wonderful ride. This coming January, I will no longer be producing new content in this series for LPi . However, the good news is all the reflections will be available through LPi’s WeCreate art and content library which is free to anyone who prints their bulletin with us.

What I am REALLY excited about is the NEW series from LPi, (PRACTICING) CATHOLIC, written by my friend, Colleen Jurkiewicz Dorman . This series will speak to families as they practice their daily faith to the best of their abilities, and it will have a style somewhat familiar to Everyday Stewardship readers. Colleen is going to knock it out of the park with this series and I hope it lasts at least nine years as well.

Thank you to all the readers, attendees at workshops and parish missions, and all the parishes that provided a pathway for my words to touch others. All praise to God, who makes all things possible. And watch out, there might be a special Everyday Stewardship reflection from time to time as the years go by.

— Tracy Earl Welliver, MTS

Updated on 06-24-2025

Using Video and Animation to Engage Catholic Parishioners

test@4lpi.com (Web Team) — Thu, 29 Dec 2022 12:00:03 GMT

Catholic Churches all over the world are tapping into the power of video and animation to engage their members, build community, and share the Gospel. We’ve collected some ways to regularly harness these tools for your parish.

How to Harness the Power of Video & Animation at Your Parish

Facebook and Instagram Stories/Reels
The story and reel features on your church’s Facebook and Instagram profiles are a great choice for incorporating video and animation because the editing software you might need for your video clip is included right there in the apps. Simply upload a video you want to use and then follow the app’s prompts for editing. You can also use their tools to add animated stickers, music, captions, links, and more to make your post stand out.

Make Your Website’s Hero Image a Video
Our designers suggest using a hero image on your church’s homepage to capture the attention of viewers visiting the page right away. Consider using a video clip of your community during Mass or your pastor greeting parishioners as this hero image. We recently designed a website for St. Patrick Catholic Church in Hutto, TX that does just that! Our website building tool, WeConnet, can make adding a video as your hero image easy for you.

Clips from your Livestream Masses and Event
If you currently livestream Mass or other special events, consider taking segments out of the full livestream recording and repurposing them as video clips to post to your social media or website. Viewers might enjoy seeing —
The amazing job your choir did on a song at Mass, or a great solo
Father’s joke during his homily that landed just right
A special moment during a cultural celebration
Special blessings for groups like catechists or graduating high school seniors
Youth acting out the Gospel at a special children’s Mass

Accompany Mass Announcements with Video or Animations
If your parish uses video screens inside of your sanctuary, videos and animations can be a fantastic way to help people stay engaged during your Mass announcements. Even simply using a little animation in the digital slides that accompany the spoken announcements can help people remember what has been shared.

Hearing from those involved in an upcoming event via a short video interview about the merits of the event or the work that goes into holding the event, is another great way to make a Mass announcement more memorable. This can also be useful as a back-up announcement if those who are supposed to make the announcement in-person are unable to. Rotating between a parishioner making an announcement and a video announcement at the end of Mass can also be engaging!

Parishioner Testimonies
Consider making a few 2-minute videos of parishioners talking about their faith journey or what they like about your parish. These could be uploaded to YouTube, put on your church website, or used on your social media feeds. Don’t forget to acquire parental permission first before posting any videos featuring a minor.

Priest Engagement
What might help your parish get to know your pastor a little better? He might be interested in being featured in short clips about why he loves the parish, a book he is reading, stories from his childhood, or current events happening at your church. These types of videos make great social media content and can also help your church feel more welcoming when featured on your homepage.

Comb Your Church's Experience Through the Eyes of a Visitor

test@4lpi.com (Web Team) — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 13:00:11 GMT

“The Church must be a place of mercy freely given, where everyone can feel welcomed, loved, forgiven, and encouraged to live the good life of the Gospel.”

-Pope Francis

Have you ever considered putting yourself into the shoes of a visitor to your Catholic church and evaluating how visitor-friendly your parish is? Here are a few areas to examine when contemplating how to better equip your parish to welcome visitors all year ‘round.

Make Sure Your Church is Accessible to Those With Disabilities

Some churches might be tempted to say, “We just don’t have many people with disabilities at our parish.” If this is your first reaction when thinking about disability access for visitors, you might be surprised to learn that 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. has a disability . It is very possible that, if you aren’t seeing people with disabilities at your church, it may be because you don’t have the resources available to make your community feel welcoming and inclusive to those with disabilities.

Increase disability access for visitors by doing the following —

Make sure those serving at Mass, especially greeters, are trained to offer resources to those in need and have some sort of ongoing sensitivity training.
Have signage clearly visible near the entrance to your sanctuary and other buildings for resources like a quiet room or hearing aids and any other support you provide to visitors. Include this information on your website homepage as well.
Make sure Mass and event announcements occasionally include information about these resources and are also used to educate your parishioners about how your church community expects its members to treat those with disabilities.
Provide printouts or digital slides on screens in the sanctuary of prayers, the order of the Mass, and words to songs for anyone deaf, hard of hearing, or who might have trouble processing audio quickly.
Continue to invite and assure parishioners that their family members with disabilities are welcome to Mass, youth events, and more! Even better — invite families with disabled members to share their needs with parish leadership.

Consider a Visitor's Experience of Mass

When it comes to a visitor walking through your sanctuary doors for Mass, are they able to easily find where to sit? Is it easy to find the bathroom or nursery if they need? Did they know the correct Mass times because they are posted clearly online, somewhere on a sign on your campus, or near the drive? Is there clearly marked first-time-visitor-parking to make them feel like they are already accepted and wanted? Do newcomers get any material about the church when they walk in from the greeters at your front doors? Does Father welcome those visiting at every Mass and tell them where to find more information or how to get connected?

Catholic Youth Programs and Inviting Friends

Some things to think about when it comes to youth programming — Do you encourage youth to bring friends to the program? If so, is there a form for them to fill out when they arrive so that you have safety information about that child and their parent’s contact information in case of an emergency? Are their parents contacted by the program leader at some point during the event to just touch base and introduce the program and themselves? How do you welcome new youth or new families to the programs you have and connect them to the larger church? Are your programs accessible to children with disabilities? Do families with disabled children know about this access and extra support?

Review How Your Parish Approaches the Sacraments

The celebration of Sacraments always brings visitors to your parish. Aunts and uncles, grandparents, friends, and all sorts of other connections walk through your church doors to attend Baptisms, First Communions, Marriages, Confirmations, and even funerals. Sacraments are a great place to build some strategy around how you want to welcome visitors. Having a printed worship-aid that also explains some of our Catholic customs in more depth can go a long way when it comes to welcoming newcomers to these types of events.

A recognizable and welcoming person making a few announcements before the ceremony explaining where different facilities are and how to get connected to resources in the church is also key. It’s a bonus if the same person doing the welcome announcement can stay after the event for a little while as a point-person to chat with anyone who might have questions. Some parishes make sure to have small gift bags with parish information and a little gift inside for visitors during Sacramental events. These can be handed out by the greeters to anyone who self-identifies as new or visiting. They can even be left out on a table after an announcement telling visitors to pick up their gift on their way out.

Visitors to Your Parish Website & Social Media

A well-designed website and intentionally curated social media presence can go a long way toward making visitors feel welcome. Often the very first thing someone will do before even deciding to visit your church is seek out your parish website. Some things that might deter a potential visitor from choosing your church as a place to visit are —

A homepage that is difficult to navigate. For example, if visitors have to click around a ton just to find out your Mass times or basic church information, you will lose them before you start. Inviting homepages make a big difference.
An outdated website design. Think about it — if the website for any establishment is outdated and unprofessional, the establishment may also be outdated and unprofessional. We can help you avoid this with our easy-to-use, powerful website builder, WeConnect. Learn more here!
Imagery on your website that shows only your architecture and empty interiors. Remember, people are attracted to communities that they can easily envision themselves in. You can solve this problem by simply replacing images of buildings and statues on your website with a plethora of alternate images showing off the smiling faces of people in your community, your church staff, fun events, and cultural celebrations so that potential visitors can see how vibrant your church is. Not sure where to start? Here are 5 example of photos that every parish needs.
Social media post and profiles that are unresponsive to messages. Some people use social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram to message organizations when they have questions. Inquiries about Mass and event times, Sacraments, and more might be sent through an app like Facebook and if nobody is there to respond, the person messaging your parish may just give up and look for a more responsive church. Does your parish have a point person in charge of regularly responding to comments and questions coming from your social media profiles?

Newcomer Gatherings

Lastly, don’t forget the power of the newcomer gathering! This is a fantastic type of event to help people get introduced to your lovely parish, staff members, and to connect with other parishioners and ministries. These monthly or quarterly gatherings should be regularly advertised in your bulletin, Mass announcements, and on your website and social media.

Updated on 10-24-2025

10 Ideas for Small, Manageable Communications Goals for Your Catholic Parish

test@4lpi.com (Web Team) — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 13:00:12 GMT

Is “become better at communication” on your church's short list of things to do? If so, here are our ideas for small, manageable communication goals you can strive for to make your parish a more vibrant community.

Ten Achievable Communication Goal Ideas for Catholic Churches

Tidy up your email lists. It’s a good idea to check in with your members once a year to make sure the information you have on file for them is still correct. You can take this goal one step further by making sure that you have notes on the kinds of communications each member likes to receive. For example, you might send one kind of email to parents of school children and another to empty nesters. Our blog about targeted email messaging may be helpful.
Use the same branding across all communication channels to make it easier for parishioners and visitors to recognize your communications. Not quite sure what to make of this tip? Learn more about church branding here.
Is the signage at your parish easy to read and in the right locations? For example, do visitors know the best place to park or where to find the office vs. the sanctuary?
Post your Mass times everywhere. Make sure Mass times are posted on your website, in your bulletin, on your social media profiles, on lawn signs in front of your buildings — everywhere!
Advertise parish happenings through multiple platforms . Flyers, Facebook, Instagram, bulletin inserts, everywhere you can think of to reach more people.
Don’t forget the pulpit announcement. Events and happenings will get the most attention if they are announced at Mass! Even better if a parishioner who has a personal experience with whatever is being announced does the announcing.
Brag about your ministries in the bulletin frequently. Commit to making a Good News section in every weekly bulletin where you celebrate all sorts of things — from youth group service projects to new ministries starting and old ministries still doing great work! How else will people know about all the great things going on?
Commit to sending out 4 mailers via the USPS Every Door Direct Mail program to your neighborhood this year inviting everyone to different parish events.
Post more on social media. LPi has you covered every single month with our parish social media calendar full of content inside of WeCreate — ready for you to simply copy and paste into your parish's social media feeds for a jump-start on the best liturgical content!
Lastly, make sure you are letting the world know about all of the great things your community is doing! Commit to writing a press release for at least three of your community events or happenings this year.

“The two words ‘information’ and ‘communication’ are often used interchangeably, but they signify quite different things. Information is giving out; communication is getting through.”

-Sydney J. Harris

Updated on 10-24-2025

LPi's New Website

test@4lpi.com (Web Team) — Thu, 08 Dec 2022 20:35:06 GMT

LPi is proud to announce our new corporate website built to better serve Church communities and local businesses across the United States.

Visitors will notice improved navigation, cleaner design, and honed messaging. Careful attention was paid to the discovery experience, and there are a few specialized additions — like the engaging videos about bulletin and web services, or the sliding bar that allows a visitor to view a before-and-after of real churches who have had a bulletin redesign!

This site is built on the WeConnect platform , LPi’s website solution for parishes. WeConnect features drag-and-drop editing for painless web creation and simple personalization. While WeConnect is low-barrier for those new to web design, it also has advanced coding options for the web expert.

The new site was officially introduced on Monday, December 5, 2022, with great excitement for the future of Church communications. Check out our new site and tell us what you think!

Updated on 06-24-2025

3 Things Your Catholic Church Can Do to Encourage Visitors

test@4lpi.com (Web Team) — Thu, 08 Dec 2022 13:00:03 GMT

Your Catholic parish takes the challenge of Christ’s missionary mandate seriously. You want to be known as a welcoming place for visitors and a community that people feel comfortable inviting others to. Here are three tips on how to maximize your efforts this year when it comes to encouraging visitors and creating an environment of pastoral care.

Encourage More People to Visit Your Parish:

1. Dial in your web presence.

Visitors will often check out your website and look you up on their preferred social media platform before they walk through your front doors. For this reason, it’s important to make sure that your online presence is professional-looking and inviting — not just for computer users but for those searching for information about your church on their mobile devices as well. Statistically speaking, recent data suggests that over half of all visits to a church’s website are from phones and tablets. At LPi we find that 68% of our website visits come from mobile devices! This means that you should expect that at least half of your visitors will be using their phone to view your content as well. Your homepage should be designed to be attractive and easy to use when someone navigates to it via their cell. Feel lost already? LPi’s design team is available to help you get your website ready for visitors this year! They can optimize your online presence for mobile visitors and even give you a logo refresh! We also recently published a blog with more in-depth tips and tricks to make your website more inviting!

2. Equip your members to invite.

Consider what tools you may or may not be giving your parishioners when it comes to inviting new folk to your parish. Some things you can do to equip your community to reach out and invite others into the fold are:

Remind parishioners that there is advertising space for local businesses available in the weekly bulletin!
Help coach your members on how you’d like them to approach visitors at Mass on Sunday
Make sure there is a visitor welcome brochure ready for any new folks and that your parishioners know where to find it so that they can direct new people to it
Create a visitor welcome table that stays on display in your church narthex, gathering space, or entry to your sanctuary so it’s easy to find friendly information
Commit to making your parish accessible to those who might be disabled. This could include hearing devices, special signage helping direct people to resources, a quiet room for families, and more
Have visitor parking close to the doors of your sanctuary reserved for first time visitors
Put a sign or banner out by your parking lot entrance facing the road inviting visitors to a specific event or Mass time
Welcome visitors at the beginning of every Mass and encourage them to visit a point person who can connect them to parish resources and information
Encourage your parishioners to bring friends and invite others to upcoming parish events
Make sure your Mass greeters are trained to be welcoming of ALL

For more ideas, we’ve collected over 60 ways for your parish to reach out to your surrounding neighborhoods.

3. Hold distinctively visitor-friendly events.

Whether events are catered to adults, youth, families, singles, or special groups, your parish should be holding a variety of visitor-friendly events every year. What do we mean by this? A visitor-friendly event might be an event that isn’t overtly religious — an event with an environment that focuses on community building instead of a specific Christian teaching. A great example of this would be a church BBQ, parish picnic, or service project! Youth group open mics, campfires, and game nights can also be options for great events to invite a friend to! Having a free holiday Christmas concert? This type of event is perfect for an invitation to your entire neighborhood! Check out these free flyer templates that are ready for you to customize . Just make sure that your visitor-friendly invites focus on events where your parish isn’t asking for money.

For more inspiration and ideas from LPi, visit the Parish Life section of our weekly blog!

Updated on 10-25-2025.

A No-Stress Church Event Marketing Checklist for Catholic Parishes

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 10:30:00 GMT

When you’ve got a big church event coming up, the last thing you want is for it to fly under the radar. Your parish mission is important, so getting the word out matters! That’s why we’ve put together a simple go-to checklist to help you market your next church event (in both print and digital) with confidence and zero guesswork. Let’s make sure your message reaches the people who need to hear it.

Use This Checklist When Marketing Your Parish Event

Create a landing page on your website that includes all of the event’s additional information, which your other advertising channels can point to via a link or QRcode . This landing page should also include any registration information or forms required for the event.
Create a flyer/bulletin insert — tips on how to take your flyer game to the next level are here and here !
Create a poster — this could be the same as your flyer/bulletin insert, just printed larger.
Create an email invite.
Create a mailer for snail-mail — there is an easy way to do this through the USPS here .
Create social media posts about it — don’t forget to use the stories feature on Instagram and Facebook. We have a article that can help you get started with the stories tool .
Send out a text reminder to interested parishioners.
Announce it from the pulpit before or after Mass.
Create a banner or lawn signs for the front of your parish property. Even better — if you have a sign company advertising in your parish bulletin, use them!

Don't Forget the Details WHen Marketing Your Church Event

Details are important but remember, you don’t want to overload your flyers and ads with TOO many details — otherwise things get jumbled and lost in the mix. Just make sure the following items are included in your advertisements. More specific details can then be placed on the event’s landing page on your church website.

In your ads, always include your church event's:

Name or title of the event
Location
Time
How to register (if applicable)
Contact information
Who is specifically invited
Accessibility information for those with varying needs. For example, will there be a sign language interpreter? Will accommodations be available for people with disabilities? Will childcare be available? Consider what other resources people may need.
Link to the event’s online landing page with extended information.

Other Church Event Marketing Tips:

Want a little jump-start on your event advertisements in your bulletin and online? WeCreate, our extensive library of Catholic content and resources, has flyer templates for all sorts of church events , designed by our LPi graphic design team for you to customize for your own parish events.

WeCreate also includes graphics of all kinds, updated every single month, for just about every parish event! Whether you need a square image for a feast day or a horizontal banner for a sacramental celebration, WeCreate has what you need to make your parish communications look professional, and … easier to create.

If you don’t already have access, learn more about WeCreate here .

Updated 2-5-2026

LPi Blog

The Ultimate Catholic Church Merger Checklist

Catholic Parish Staff: Culture, Roles, and HR Questions to Resolve When Merging Parishes

Tips for Nurturing Catholic Parish Members and Ministries During a Church Merger

How to Create a Weekly Bulletin for a Cluster or Merged Catholic Parish

Sources

While It Is Still Dark

The Humanity of Holy Week

What Lazarus Wanted

Where to Find Professional Virgin Mary Images for Church Bulletins and Social Media

Find Blessed Mother Mary Images All in One Convenient Place

Inside WeCreate, Marian graphics can be found for: ﻿

How Parishes Can Use Marian Graphics from WeCreate

How to Get Access to Marian Content in WeCreate

Sent

How Successful Churches Use Canva for Parish Bulletins, Social Media, and More

What is Canva, and why is it Useful for Catholic Churches?

How to Boost Your Church Communications With Canva

Using Canva for Your Weekly Church Bulletins

Designing Ministry Marketing Materials With Canva

Parish Social Media Success Using Canva

Partner With LPi for Seamless Canva Integration

When God asks for Water

Three Tents

76 Church Event Ideas Your Parishioners Will Love

Seasonal Church Events

Lent, Holy Week, and Easter:

Advent and Christmas:

More Church Event Ideas for Year-Round Outreach

Spring Church Event Ideas:

Summer Church Event Ideas:

Autumn Church Event Ideas:

Winter Church Event Ideas:

Bonus: Church Event Ideas for Parishes With a School:

Into the Desert

The Carpenter and the Law

What a Year! LPi’s Top Moments of 2025

Be Salty

What Stays the Same

How to Get the Best Church Website Builder for Your Catholic Parish

How Much Does it Typically Cost to Build a Church Website?

How to Get Your Website for Free Through LPi’s Church Website Builder: WeConnect

With a sponsored WeConnect site, parishes get:

How Do I Sign up for a Sponsored WeConnect Website?

Here are two sponsor ad examples from recent church websites we’ve designed:

Sea of Galilee Moments

The Easiest Church Website SEO Tips You Wish You Knew Earlier

What is SEO

How to Improve SEO for Churches

1. Make Sure Your Google Business Profile is Updated and Accurate

2. Write the Way Real People Search for Churches Online

(H3) 3. Invite Parishioners to Leave Good Google Reviews

4. Pay Attention to Your Website’s Headings!!!

WeConnect Helps You Build Your Website with SEO in Mind

Behold the Lamb

How to Create a Facebook Event Page for Your Parish

Why Facebook Events Work Well for Catholic Church Events

For Catholic churches, Facebook Events work especially well for:

Preparing Your Church Facebook Page Before Creating an Event

Make Sure You’re Using a Facebook Page (Not a Personal Profile) for Your Church

Check Your Church’s Facebook Page Details

How to Create an Event on Facebook Using Your Church Page

Step 1: Go to Your Church Facebook Page

Step 2: Click “Events”

Step 3: Select “Create Event”

Step 4: Add Event Details

Step 5: Add an Event Cover Image

Step 6: Publish Your Event

Promoting Your Event with Church Facebook Advertising

Final Church Facebook Event Tip: Keep the Event Updated

When Jesus Wades In

The Stars We Follow

Sample Church Social Media Plans to Get Your Parish Thriving Online

Church Social Media Strategy: 10 Minutes a Day

Church Social Media Strategy: One Hour a Day

Church Social Media Strategy: 2+ Hours a Day

Are Catholics Really Using Social Media?

Other Plans

Everything You Need to Know to Promote Your Business Locally

Why Local Marketing Still Matters for Small & Medium-Sized Businesses

Inside WeCreate, Marian graphics can be found for:

Catholic Sacrament and Worship Designs

Facebook & Instagram Stories

Clip Art for Sacraments: