Community Websites Vital in Discernment Process
Wednesday, October 29th, 2008
How do single persons learn about a religious community?
A community’s website is very important — second in importance behind personal contact, according to a recent study by a vocation organization. The study, which surveyed discerners themselves, shows the growing importance of the internet among Catholics who are thinking of a vocation.
Personal contact with a religious priest, sister, or brother continues to be the most helpful source of vocation information, according to VocationMatch.com’s Feb. 26 Second Annual Survey on Trends in Religious Vocation, sponsored by VISION Vocation Guide.
I’m not surprised by this, judging from the responses I get from religious communities about their websites. “Who uses the mail anymore?” one vocation director recently told me.
Having grown up using the internet for everything from school research to social websites, those searching for their vocation gain much information from a community’s website before taking the next step. And your site’s looks and content is important. One study of internet users showed that visitors form their first impression of an organization in one-fifth of a second upon first viewing the site.
I like to compare a website’s function to that of beautiful Church architecture throughout the ages. The soaring spires, beaming stained glass windows, and beautifully-arrayed altars of the great cathedrals of Europe stand testimony to the beauty, truth and goodness of God Himself. In a similar way, the beauty and ease of use of a website show how a religious community reflects God’s goodness.
In the past, communities spent thousands of dollars on magazine ads or in printing brochures. Do print ads reach their target audience? Brochures are static and will sit in cardboard boxes a year from now. The internet, on the other hand, is where Catholics are nowadays. A website’s content can be easily changed, and relationships can be built with others through email, blogs and newsletters, like this one.
Some years ago Pope John Paul II issued a Church document, “Internet: A New Forum for Proclaiming the Gospel.” He said, “We must enter into this modern and ever more replete communications network with realism and confidence. . . .”
Don’t be awed by a lack of technical knowledge. My company will help you through it in finding ways to attract vocations through the internet.
It’s time to review your website!
Sources:
- VocationMatch.com article on FoxBusiness
- Website services for religious communities at my website, TreeFrogClick.com
