SOCIAL COMMUNICATIONS

Your digital presence is an important bridge to and touchpoint with donors. Now, more than ever, you should use your social channels to keep parishioners engaged and share stories of the incredible work you do and the spiritual resources you offer.

When posting, keep these best practices in mind:

  • Be consistent. Try to post at least 2-3 times per week (more if you are able) and vary a few of the days each week to keep your feed fresh and authentic. Remember you are crafting a conversation. Don’t “go dark” or allow long stretches of time go by without posting useful content to your audience.
  • Visuals are key. Use best-quality visuals with your copy to ensure your content is eye-catching and easy to see. Think phots, videos, graphics. We’ve provided corresponding, high-res visuals for the copy below.
  • Be part of the conversation. Read and respond to the comments and reactions to your posts. Respond to questions, address feedback and be sure thank followers regularly for their support.
  • Use hashtags. Be sure to include specific hashtags for your organization in each post.

Use the below content to augment your communications calendar. You’ll find the pre-written content organized by Evergreen content (always relevant; not linked to a time peg) as well as Time-Sensitive content (linked to a specific event date, etc.). Be sure to check back weekly as we continually add fresh content to the resource, building a large, ever-growing library of content for you to leverage.

EVERGREEN CONTENT

1. Movie Review

Image: Download High-Res image here

2. You Raise Me Up

  • Facebook: A beautiful – and chills-inducing - rendition of the song “You Raise me Up.” As you listen, think of, and say a prayer of gratitude for, those in your life who help raise you up. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kG-vD-kkQ24
  • Twitter: A beautiful – and chills-inducing - rendition of the song “You Raise me Up.” As you listen, think of, and say a prayer of gratitude for, those in your life who help raise you up. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kG-vD-kkQ24
  • Instagram: A beautiful – and chills-inducing - rendition of the song “You Raise me Up.” As you listen, think of, and say a prayer of gratitude for, those in your life who help raise you up. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kG-vD-kkQ24

Image: Download High-Res image here

3. School Inspiration: Dream Big

Image: Link to image in story

4. Question of the Day (designed to drive engagement with parishioners)

a).
  • Facebook: What’s your favorite worship song? Tell us below!
  • Twitter: What’s your favorite worship song? Tell us below!
  • Instagram: What’s your favorite worship song? Tell us below!

Image: Download High-Res image here

b).
  • Facebook: What’s one nice thing you could do for someone today?
  • Twitter: What’s one nice thing you could do for someone today?
  • Instagram: What’s one nice thing you could do for someone today?

Image: Download High-Res image here

5. Laughter is the Best Medicine – Humor Catholic Style!

Image: Download High-Res image here

6. Shelter Me: Beautiful New Hymn

Image: Video

7. Back to School Prayer

  • Facebook: As students begin to head back to school, let us pray for a successful and safe school year.
  • Twitter: As students begin to head back to school, let us pray for a successful and safe school year.
  • Instagram: As students begin to head back to school, let us pray for a successful and safe school year.

Image: Download High-Res image here

Prayer to Begin a School Year
God of wisdom and might,
we praise you for the wonder of our being,
for mind, body and spirit.
Be with our children as they begin
a new school year.
Bless them and their teachers and staff.
Give the strength and grace as their bodies grow;
wisdom and knowledge to their minds
as they search for understanding;
and peace and zeal to their hearts.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

- From Catholic Household Blessing and Prayers, United states Conference of Catholic Bishops

8. Quote of the Day/Weekly Wisdom

a).
  • Facebook: Words of wisdom from St. Therese Lisieux
  • Twitter: Words of wisdom from St. Therese Lisieux
  • Instagram: Words of wisdom from St. Therese Lisieux

Image: Download High-Res image here

b).
  • Facebook: “Faith is like a bright ray of sunlight. It enables us to see God in all things as well as all things in God.” St. Francis de Sales
  • Twitter: “Faith is like a bright ray of sunlight. It enables us to see God in all things as well as all things in God.” St. Francis de Sales
  • Instagram: “Faith is like a bright ray of sunlight. It enables us to see God in all things as well as all things in God.” St. Francis de Sales

Image: Download High-Res image here

9. Gather Together (this can be a repeating weekly post across your platforms – post on Friday or Saturday)

  • Facebook: We look forward to coming together again. Join us Sunday to celebrate mass with (Insert Priest) (INSERT LINK).
  • Twitter: We look forward to coming together again. Join us Sunday to celebrate with (Insert Priest) (INSERT LINK).
  • Instagram: We look forward to coming together again. Join us Sunday to celebrate with (Insert Priest) (INSERT LINK).

Image: Image of Alter or other recognizable image of the church

10. Our Mass Celebration (this can be a repeating weekly post across your platforms)

  • Facebook: Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Livestream Mass on (DATE). If you missed it, please follow the link below to watch. Embed recorded Mass link
  • Twitter: Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Livestream Mass on (DATE). If you missed it, please follow the link below to watch. Embed recorded Mass link
  • Instagram: Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Livestream Mass on (DATE). If you missed it, please follow the link below to watch. Embed recorded Mass link

Image: Image from recorded mass

11. Words of Wisdom

Image: Link to cover image of words of wisdom.

12. Send A Hug

Image: Link to article.

Image: Download High-Res image here

13. Gratitude

  • Facebook: Thank you for your support of our parish. Your stewardship is more important than ever as we weather the impact of Coronavirus together. Your generosity and ongoing support powers our ministries and our place of worship. INSERT LINK TO YOUR ONLINE GIVING PAGE HERE
  • Twitter: Thank you for your support of our parish. Your stewardship is more important than ever as we weather the impact of Coronavirus together. Your generosity and ongoing support powers our ministries and our place of worship. INSERT LINK TO YOUR ONLINE GIVING PAGE HERE
  • Instagram: Thank you for your support of our parish. Your stewardship is more important than ever as we weather the impact of Coronavirus together. Your generosity and ongoing support powers our ministries and our place of worship. INSERT LINK TO YOUR ONLINE GIVING PAGE HERE
Image:

14. Gather Together (this can be a repeating weekly post across your platforms – post on Friday or Saturday)

  • Facebook: We look forward to coming together again virtually. Join us Sunday to celebrate mass with (Insert Priest) (INSERT LINK).
  • Twitter: We look forward to coming together again virtually. Join us Sunday to celebrate with (Insert Priest) (INSERT LINK).
  • Instagram: We look forward to coming together again virtually. Join us Sunday to celebrate with (Insert Priest) (INSERT LINK).
Image:
  • Create a graphic that showcases a special feature of your church as the background (i.e. the altar, a stain glass window, etc.) and include the following copy as an overlay:
    • We look forward to coming together again virtually. Click this image for the link to Sunday Mass

15. The Prayer

Image: Download High-Res image here

16. The Power of Music

  • Facebook: Music is an important part of mass and a beautiful way to pray. What’s your favorite church song? Share in the comments below.
  • Twitter: Music is an important part of mass and a beautiful way to pray. What’s your favorite church song? Share in the comments below.
  • Instagram: Music is an important part of mass and a beautiful way to pray. What’s your favorite church song? Share in the comments below.

Image: Download High-Res image here

17. Behind the Scenes

  • Facebook: We are preparing God’s house for your mass this Sunday.
  • Twitter:We are preparing God’s house for mass this Sunday.
  • Instagram: We are preparing God’s house for mass this Sunday

Image: Take a picture of your staff preparing for Sunday mass (cleaning church, etc.)

18. Map of Hope

  • Facebook: The power of Prayer! Check out this Map of Hope encouraging faith and prayer by inviting people to post prayer intentions and commit to praying the rosary. The map tracks each person’s place of prayer and provides a positive counterpoint to maps tracking COVID-19. Consider joining in! #mapofhope. https://themapofhope.com
  • Twitter: @TheMapofHope is a prayerful response to COVID-19. Join others in praying the rosary. Combat fear with hope. Prayer is contagious (the good kind). https://themapofhope.com
  • Instagram: The power of prayer! Check out this Map of Hope encouraging faith and prayer by inviting people to post prayer intentions and commit to praying the rosary. The map tracks each person’s place of prayer and provides a positive counterpoint to maps tracking COVID-19. Consider joining in! #mapofhope. https://themapofhope.com

Image: Screen grab a picture of the map and use it as the supporting visual in your posts.

19. Handwashing Catholic Style!

  • Facebook: Our friends at the Archdiocese of Dallas created this awesome infographic on hand washing, Catholic Style! Say one Our Father, one Hail Mary and one Glory Be while washing your hands. It’s good for the body and the soul. For more information about handwashing, see the CDC’s Handwashing website: https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/index.html @DallasCath
  • Twitter: Hand washing Catholic Style. Good for the body and soul! @Dallascath #CDC #handwashing
  • Instagram: Our friends at the Archdiocese of Dallas created this awesome infographic on hand washing, Catholic Style! Say one Our Father, one Hail Mary and one Glory Be while washing your hands. It’s good for the body and the soul. For more information about handwashing, see the CDC’s Handwashing website: https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/index.html @DallasCath

Image: Handwashing infographic (Download High-Res image here)

20. Thank You Essential Workers

  • Facebook: A heartfelt thank you to all the essential workers who put their lives on the line for all of us. We are deeply grateful for your selfless commitment and heroic service. Thank an essential worker in your life in the comments below! #ThankYou #EssentialWorkers
  • Twitter: A heartfelt thank you to all the #EssentialWorkers who put their lives on the line for all of us. We are grateful for your selfless commitment and heroic service. #ThankYou
  • Instagram: A heartfelt thank you to all the essential workers who put their lives on the line for all of us. We are deeply grateful for your selfless commitment and heroic service. Thank an essential worker in your life in the comments below! #essentialworkers

Note: Be sure to respond to comments and engage with followers as they respond to your call to comment.

21. Sing Along

Image: Share link to video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RF0DIpFOoBg&feature=youtu.be

22. First Communicants

  • Facebook:Join us in praying for the children who await to receive the sacrament of First Holy Communion. Share your first communicant’s name below.
  • Twitter: We pray for our children who await to receive the sacrament of First Holy Communion.
  • Instagram: Join us in praying for the children who await to receive the sacrament of First Holy Communion. Share your first communicant’s name below.

23. Confirmandi

  • Facebook: Join us in praying for our Confirmandi as they await the sacrament of Reconciliation. Share your Confirmandi’s name and chosen saint name below.
  • Twitter: We pray for our Confirmandi as they await the sacrament of Reconciliation.
  • Instagram: Join us in praying for our Confirmandi as they await the sacrament of Reconciliation. Share your Confirmandi’s name and chosen saint below.

24. What’s Cooking?

  • Facebook: What’s cooking? Updating the (INSERT PARISH) parish cookbook – COVID-19 style! Share your favorite recipe below.
  • Twitter: Check out what’s cooking at (INSERT PARISH NAME). Insert link to Facebook or Instagram page.
  • Instagram: What’s cooking? Updating the (INSERT PARISH) parish cookbook – COVID-19 style! Share your favorite recipe below.

25. Copy (this can be a repeating weekly post across your platforms – post on Friday or Saturday)

  • Facebook: We look forward to coming together again virtually. Join us Sunday to celebrate (INSERT LINK).
  • Twitter: We look forward to coming together again virtually. Join us Sunday to celebrate (INSERT LINK).
  • Instagram: We look forward to coming together again virtually. Join us Sunday to celebrate (INSERT LINK).
Image:
  • Create a graphic that showcases a special feature of your church as the background (i.e. the altar, a stain glass window, etc.) and include the following copy as an overlay:
    • We look forward to coming together again virtually. Click this image for the link to Sunday Mass

26. Showcase Your Parish Happenings

  • Facebook/Twitter/Instagram:
    God is Good! (Insert copy about something special your community did this week. For example – students collected donations for a shelter, or your parish sponsored food delivery to front-line workers, or a special celebration parade, etc.). Support our mission (hyperlink to giving page on website).

Image: Post best-quality image you took from activity

Additional Ideas

  • Create a graphic that showcases your Youth Ministry meetings each month. Be sure to tag the youth ministry handle (if they have a separate handle)
  • If you host prayer groups or bible study, be sure to create an invitation and post on your social channels.
  • Pull a quote from a recent homily and post.
  • Post pictures of recent events and activities your parish held over the summer such as Confirmation and First Communion. Create engagement by asking others to post pictures in the comments.
  • On the first day of school, post a carousel of “first day of school photos.” You can encourage followers to post their “first day of school” picture in the comments.
  • Post pictures of teachers as you head back to school. Copy can echo how excited teachers are to see their students

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Contact Us

Office Location

512 Chestnut Street
PO Box #277
Winnetka, IL 60093-2400

Phone Number

Tel: (833) 716 - 2612
Fax: (312) 893 - 2038