Connect

“Hospitality” has meant smiling greeters at the door and ensuring a welcoming environment for those at Mass. Very nice, but only 24% of Catholics come to church so how many feel welcomed? Connect reaches beyond the building and engages. It extends the welcoming environment beyond the physical campus. — Use technology to Connect.

People will naturally search out and join communities (churches or other).
Where, today, can the 50-60 year olds of 2050 be found?

They are currently between the ages of 15 and 25 and they are the future of the Church.

Teens online stats from Pew Research Center ♦ Catholic Social Media stat from USCCB ♦ Smartphone Use stat from Pew Research Center

Churches have the most important message of all,
but is it reaching these communities?

It used to be simple: a Hospitality Committee that met once a month, a few Greeters at the doors on Sundays, shaking hands and introducing ourselves at the beginning of Mass to those seated near us, and a phone tree when there was important news to spread to the parish community.

Those are still nice things to do at church, but they only serve those who are actually in the building.

Communications has become easier and faster (although perhaps not simpler) and many churches make the mistake of simply posting or blasting content. What is needed is to reach the audience, connect and engage with them.

Our experience was by first connecting with what would be considered the “core” group at our church: the ministry volunteers. This group was most willing to adapt to new technologies and forms of communications. We brought on a ministry software program which offered cloud-based schedules and a mobile app. We found it to be the best first step.