Some people hate surprise parties. There are those who are uncomfortable with a last-minute vacation or even an unexpected travel upgrade. If it wasn’t part of the plan, it’s a cause for consternation.

There is a temptation to view these folks as curmudgeonly — sticks in the mud, obsessed with predictability. But I think if we’re being honest, there’s a little bit of the surprise-averse in all of us.

Deep within the very heart of the element of surprise is a kernel of shock. And shock, in the moment, can feel similar to trauma. If we reflect on the most traumatic occurrences of our lives — a loss, an accident, a calamity — it is likely that we will say this: “It was the shock more than anything that got to me.” Grief or fear, those feelings were overwhelming as well, but they came later. In the first moment, all we knew was we were going about our lives on one path until we were thrust on a different one and then the whole future changed.

This is the natural rhythm of our life here on earth. We never know what is coming — which is to say, in a beautiful way, we always know what is coming. More importantly, we know Who is coming.

Like the early riser who sets the “pre-alarm” (the one on which he knows he’s going to hit snooze just to take the edge off the disappointment of waking up), we are always being given a heads-up in Scripture. From the earliest prophecies of the Messiah to Jesus’ reminders in the Gospel to the very last words of Revelations, God has communicated to His stewards: You know the time. The time is now. We are called to constant vigilance, perpetual renewal, steadfast accountability.

In the end, the coming of Christ may be the only event in history that was a surprise, but not a shock — and so it will only be beautiful, even for those who hate surprise parties.

— Tracy Earl Welliver, MTS

Your church has an event or program coming up and you want to make sure that everybody in your parish knows about it. In order to help you cover all of your marketing bases, we created a checklist to use whenever you are planning the marketing for one of your parish’s events.

1. Create a landing page on your website with all of the event’s extra information that your other advertising avenues can point to via link or QR code. This landing page should also include registration information or forms.
2. Create a flyer/bulletin insert — tips on how to take your flyer game higher are here!
3. Create a poster — this could be the same as your flyer/bulletin insert, just printed larger.
4. Create an email invite.
5. Create a mailer for snail-mail — there is an easy way to do this through the USPS here.
6. Create social media posts about it — don’t forget to use the stories feature on Instagram and Facebook. We have a blog that can help you get started with the stories tool here.
7. Send out a text reminder to interested parishioners
8. Announce it from the pulpit.
9. 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’s bulletin, use them!

Details, Details, Details!

Details are so important! You don’t want to overload flyers and other advertisements with TOO many details, though so just make sure the following items are included on your advertisements and that more specific details are all found on your landing page/website. Always include your event’s:

• Name or title of the event
• Location
• Time
• How to register
• Contact information
• Who specifically is invited
• If there is any accessibility information for those with varying needs — for example — Will there be a sign language interpreter? Will the event have childcare available? Etc.

Other things to consider:
• Might there be a QR code that you could include that points to a landing page or something that has more detailed information about the event? We have a guide to using QR codes here.

• Are you using imagery from your parish photo library? Images of parishioners and your church community are an inviting way to advertise an event. Some tips on what photos you might want to start including in your parish photography library can be found here.

• Make sure you are working with whoever is running your parish’s social media accounts to get the information about your event shared across all platforms. Not quite sure of how to properly use social media for your parish yet? For the basics on setting up social media for your church you can check out our Social Media Strategy 101 for Parishes blog here.

As far as lasting tips go, we cannot express enough the need for every event to have its own landing page on your parish’s website. This page can have all of the information you’d ever want about the event on it as well as a form for registration if you need one, event pictures from the past, and anything else you want to put there. An event landing page like this will free up your other advertisements when it comes to copy and content so the focus can be on good design instead of squeezing in tons of information. Simply put, use the landing page for all of your exhaustive information and your advertisements like flyers and social media posts for a quick look at the event and a hook to direct people to the website!

Want a little jump-start on your event flyers? Our WeCreate library of content and resources has flyer templates for all sorts of church events that have been designed by our LPi graphic design team for you to customize for your own parish events. Every month we add even more templates alongside other graphics for you to use. If you don’t already have access, you can learn more about WeCreate here.

When you think of a king, who is the first person to pop into your head? It may depend on how much history you know, or which historical period intrigues you the most. As Americans, the first person we might think of is King George III, whose reign has become synonymous in our national lore with the concept of tyranny.

We don’t have much familiarity with kingship in modern American society. Kings tend to make us uneasy. Presidents, on the other hand — we can handle those, because we know we are a president’s boss. No matter how much power he has, we are the electorate. We are the source of that power. We’re comfortable with this arrangement.

But with kings it is profoundly different. Traditionally, the king derives his power from God. His rule bridges humanity with the divine.

We should reflect carefully on whether or not we have made Jesus Christ king in our hearts, or whether we regard him as a president. The difference isn’t just one of titles, it’s one of roles. Subjects do not demand anything of a king. They beseech. They entreat. They submit, and they accept.

Do we demand of Christ, or do we beseech? Do we tolerate God’s edicts with grumbling, or do we embrace His word as the means of our reconciliation with Him?

The “good thief” treated Christ as a king. His counterpart treated him as a president. And it’s worth remembering that Jesus Christ is not the President of the Universe.

— Tracy Earl Welliver, MTS

Isaiah 11:1-10
Romans 15:4-9
Matthew 3:1-12

“I had gone a-begging from door to door in a village path, when thy golden chariot appeared in the distance like a gorgeous dream, and I wondered who was this King of all Kings! My hopes rose high and me-thought my evil days were at an end, and I stood waiting for alms to be given unasked and for wealth scattered on all sides in the dust. The chariot stopped where I stood. Thy glance fell on me and thou camest down with a smile. I felt that the luck of my life had come at last! Then, of a sudden, thou didst hold out thy right hand and say, “What hast thou to give to me?” Ah, what a kingly jest it was to open thy palm to a beggar to beg! I was confused, and stood undecided, and then from my wallet I slowly took out the least little grain of corn and gave to thee. But how great my surprise when at the day’s end, I emptied my bag on the floor to find the least little gram of gold among the poor heap. I bitterly wept and wished that I had the heart to give thee my all.”
— Rabindranath Tagore

Tagore’s poem about a beggar might seem “nice” at first glance, the story of an unlikely exchange with a traveling king and a village beggar, which left the latter in tears at his home. But this story can help us understand today’s Gospel during Advent.

The story of John the Baptist is familiar to all of us: the cousin of Jesus, dressed rather haggardly, preaching and baptizing before the Messiah. But we might have glossed over one simple line in today’s text which might be likened to the proverbial record-scratch at a poignant moment, “Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance” (v. 8). How, during the merriment of the ‘most wonderful time of the year,’ do we do this?

The word “repentance” is rendered μετάνοια (metanoia) in Greek and means “a change of mind.” Many of us might not realize that the liturgical season of Advent is also a penitential season. In our monastic community, we liken Advent to Lent, but with some sugar sprinkled on top!! It is certainly difficult to sense a penitential liturgical season amidst the rampant consumerism during the season. Precisely for this reason do the Church’s penitential seasons prepare us for a solemn celebration of our faith. Advent prepares us for Christmas, just like Lent prepares us for Easter. The preparations involve repentance of some kind.

The prophet’s words that stung the hearts of his listeners should also sting our hearts today. What is the good fruit that can evidence our repentance — a sign of our effort making preparations — during Advent so that we can experience a deeper immersion into the mystery of Jesus’ incarnation that we will celebrate on December 25 and throughout the Christmas liturgical season?

We know that the real merriment of Christmas is not in receiving gifts, but in giving them, and watching our loved ones delight in our present. And yes, we know about the ultimate gift that Jesus gives to us in becoming human … hence, the reason for the season … he who is the only gateway for us to become who we really are meant to be. So, if Jesus himself is his gift to us — and we do indeed delight in that gift of himself — what gift will we give to Jesus in return this Christmas? And will it delight him?

Would it be a mere “little grain of corn”— the meager response of miserly beggar — to a divine request for alms, who, even in his poverty, thought it generous to give from the insignificance of his pocket rather than from wealth of his heart?

We know that nine months before Jesus’ birth, the Blessed Mother gave her fiat in response to the angel’s invitation, a gift of total surrender to the divine will. We also read that a few days after Jesus’ birth, three wise men and their entourage come from the East, having traveled many miles for quite some time, bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. All of these are costly gifts, indeed. Perhaps, our experience of preparations (i.e., metanoia, or repentance) this Advent could produce a good fruit that will indeed delight the Baby Jesus. I don’t think Baby Jesus wants some gift that can be bought online or from a store, but rather, a comfortable space in the manger of your heart where he can rest his head this season. What interior preparations will you undertake — as costly as they may be — to prepare a suitable place for the Christ Child to lay his sweet head?

— Br. John-Marmion Villa

PRAYER

God,
Thank You for uniquely creating me to serve You.
I want to use the gifts You’ve given me to bless You and Your people.
I want to be a faithful manager of all that You entrust to me.
So please show me how to use my talents to serve others and glorify Your name.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Our team has been working hard behind the scenes to produce brand new liturgical content for our WeCreate Catholic art & content library. In 2023 we bring to you new gospel illustrations, new authors, and more outlined below. If you don’t have access to WeCreate yet, click here to learn more about this resource library.

New Gospel Illustrations

Introducing our brand-new series of original Gospel Illustrations! You can find these in WeCreate under the Section titled Gospel Illustrations or they can be found in the Sunday date pin every Sunday of the year! These beautiful, hand-drawn illustrations correlate with the Gospel text each week. They are only available in WeCreate, so don’t miss this unique opportunity to be the first to use them in your bulletins, or on social and web!

American Saints & Holy People

In 2023 our weekly saint content will focus on American saints and holy people! This includes many immigrants, religious, adventurers, formally enslaved people and more! Our goal is to bring you stories of our hometown heroes celebrating our local saints, as well as those appointed blessed, venerable, and servants of God on their way to sainthood. Every week this content includes an original illustrated image of the person, a short and tweetable biography, and a longer-form biography.

Social Media Stories & More Social Graphics

Another collection we’ve been populating with new content every single month is our social media posts section. Recently, we introduced Social Media Stories providing relevant new images optimized specifically for use on Facebook and Instagram stories. For ideas on how to use these images or for information on how to make use of the stories feature, check out this recent blog post! Be sure to search the Sections in WeCreate for Social Media Stories, Social Media Banners, and Social Media Posts for images ready to go right into your newsfeeds!

Introducing Practicing Catholic

You may be familiar with the Everyday Stewardship Reflections written by Tracy Earl Welliver. In January 2023, Tracy will be retiring from writing these reflections as we introduce a new, complimentary series that incorporates many of the same themes called (Practicing) Catholic! These reflections, written by author Colleen Jurkiewicz Dorman, speak to families in your parish as they practice their daily faith. Colleen has been writing Catholic content with LPi for many years, including contributing to Connect Sunday Reflections. In this new reflection series, you’ll find relatable, shareable ways to evangelize your community.

New Gospel Meditations

We are thrilled to introduce Fr. John Muir as our new English Gospel Meditation author. For an in-depth introduction to Fr. Muir, check out an interview we did with him recently here. Our Spanish Gospel Meditations will continue to be written by our long-time author Lupita Vital. These Gospel Meditations can be used in many ways, including, but not limited to, homiletic inspiration, bulletin content, and personal reflection.

Every month we add hundreds of new pieces of Catholic art and content across WeCreate to help you create vibrant communications. All LPi bulletin customers receive full access to this resource library. Not a bulletin customer yet? Learn more!

As always, we love to see how you use our content, be sure to tag LPi in your social media posts so that we can see the incredible work you are doing in your home parish.

 
Isaiah 2:1-5
Romans 13:11-14
Matthew 24:37-44

“Brothers and sisters: You know the time; it is the hour now for you to awake from sleep.” — Romans 13:11

There is an old-fashioned phrase that always charms me when I see it, “a woman whose time has come.”

It describes a pregnant woman whose due date is close at hand, and it is a relic of an era where all references to pregnancy and childbirth in polite society were wrapped in rhetorical cotton. “In a delicate condition,” “In the family way,” “Expecting.”

Part of me is inclined to roll my eyes at these euphemisms, because I really believe that creating a pro-life culture demands that we talk frankly about the experience of being pregnant and giving birth. And yet. And yet. I cannot help but be attracted to these expressions, in all their affected preciousness. There is something so reverent — so deferential — in how they frame the reality of childbirth and all that leads up to it.

Interwoven themes of timeliness, expectation, and preparedness course through the Advent liturgical season. We are streaming toward the mountain of the Lord’s house, seeking the God of Jacob, knowing that “salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” There is a clear parallel between the Incarnation — the coming of Mary’s hour — and the fulfillment of all things, the return of Christ. Get ready, get ready, get ready, is the drumbeat of every Sunday’s Liturgy of the Word. The time has almost come. Stay awake. Be prepared.

I think one of the devil’s greatest ingenuities is the chaos of modern Christmas — and I say that as someone who sincerely enjoys Irving Berlin tunes, Hallmark movies and all the other trappings of the postmodern secular “holiday season.” But it’s all so much, isn’t it? It’s so intense. It’s so distracting. It’s a poor man’s Advent.

In the four weeks of Advent, I think I ask myself, “Am I ready?” about 400 times, but it’s so rarely in reference to anything that really matters. I’m worried about the gifts for the kids, the potatoes I promised to bring to the family party, the delayed shipping on the Christmas cards. For what am I preparing here?

I’m not advocating against Irving Berlin, Hallmark movies, holiday parties, and extravagant gift-giving. There is something magical about the flurry of activity leading up to Christmas. All I am saying is (and I’m saying it to myself as much as I am saying it to anyone else), keep these things in their proper place. They are not what make you ready for Christmas.

I love Christmas — but do I love Advent well enough, too? With each of my babies, as I held them in their first moments of life, there was sadness mingled with the joy as I wondered quietly to myself if I had not missed something in those last weeks as I frantically washed bottles and prepped freezer meals, making checklist after checklist to ensure that I have “everything ready” for when the baby comes.

Well, the baby always comes, and I am never ready. Because all the neatly stacked diapers and freshly laundered onesies in the world don’t make you ready for a baby, just like all the wrapped presents and frosted cookies don’t make you ready to receive the gift we are given on Christmas.

— Colleen Jurkiewicz

PRAYER

God of Jacob,
I am ascending the highest mountain,
raised above the hills.
The journey is long.
The climb is arduous.
The destination is beyond my sight.
Give me your light, that I may walk in your paths
and go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

 
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“Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place.”

Looking at these words, I have to wonder. Am I reading the Bible or today’s newspaper headline?

It’s never easier to despair than when you glance up and take a good look at what’s going on in the world: disasters, natural and contrived, wars, resentments, rivalries, and divisions. It is almost too much sometimes, isn’t it? The twenty-four-hour news cycle doesn’t help. Add social media and it’s enough to push anyone into a nervous breakdown.

When you find yourself in this place of despair, remember Paul’s admonishment in his letter to the Thessalonians. Work quietly and eat your own food.

It’s not so different from the old “keep-your-eyes-on-your-own-paper” rule of the classroom. Poking our noses into other people’s business, we may think we are getting a shortcut to the right answer, but we’re really just getting distracted. When we become too preoccupied with events that we cannot control — whether they are happening in our neighborhood or half-a-world away — we are tempted to leave off the very specific work God has given us in our own lives. We are easily lured into anger, bitterness, and anxiety.

What is the work that God has called you to? Is it your career? Your family? Your community? What is your food — what nourishes you, sustains you, connects you to something real, powerful, and life-giving? This is what you should be concerned with. This is where your thoughts and your efforts should be.

Work quietly and eat your own food.

— Tracy Earl Welliver, MTS

1. Describe your parish demographic in 280 characters or less.
St. Thomas Aquinas parish has over 5500 registered families, made up of a variety of ages, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and economic status. Filipinos, Hispanics, Polish, Nigerians, Ugandans, Tanzanians, Italians, Irish, and many more. It’s a joyful, faith-filled place.

2. Why do most people visit your city?
Near us, the Phoenix International Raceway has two big races each year. The Wigwam Resort attracts many people to our area, as do several golf courses. The White Tank mountains are popular for hiking.

3. What do people say when they visit your parish for the first time?
“Wow, it’s so big! It’s so beautiful! It’s so colorful.”

4. What is a fun fact about you?
Although I live in Phoenix, deep down, I’m a Vermonter. This means I love maple syrup, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, and believe in lake monsters.

5. Which communication platforms do you use to spread the message of Jesus to the world?
I have a side project called Catholic Breakfast, which is a website as well as a social media space. It’s my attempt to engage, encourage, and equip people who are “Catholic curious” or just getting started in the faith. It’s available at www.CatholicBreakfast.com.

6. What is an unexpected blessing of your priesthood?
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.

7. You’re writing our new Gospel Meditations, what end-goal encouraged you to agree to this project?
I want Catholics to know and love the Bible! The Bible is breathtaking in its power to illuminate and change us for the better. The more I can facilitate this for others, the better. Writing the Gospel Meditations is a blessing for me too because it helps me be more attentive to the Scriptures, which never disappoint.

8. Do you have a favorite Gospel-writer?
I have a special affection for Saint Luke because he clearly learned a great deal about the Lord Jesus from the lips of Mary, herself. Also, I love the way he records three persons breaking into song near the time of Jesus’ birth — Zechariah, Mary, and Simeon. He appreciates the connection between Christ and art from the very beginning. He understands that the love of Christ makes us sing.

9. What is one of the scariest invitations God has extended to you and how did you respond?
Last year I was invited to give the opening invocation for a NASCAR race. It was broadcast on live television. I was pretty nervous because I wasn’t sure how the largely Protestant crowd would respond to a Catholic priest. Also, it was on live TV. No second chances. But, as I waited to start, I realized that God had sent me there and the Sacrament of Holy Orders would give me whatever I needed. When the cameras came on and it was my turn to speak, I spoke confidently and calmly. It went so well. As I left the race that night, many folks said to me with their southern drawl, “Nice work up there, Father!”

10. What advice for the spiritual life have you received that has made a difference in your life?
Just try to please Jesus. Do everything for him, and don’t worry what anyone else thinks. Everything else will take care of itself.

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 subscription to WeCreate here.

 
2 Samuel 5:1-3
Colossians 1:12-20
Luke 23:35-43

Above him, there was an inscription that read, “This is the King of the Jews” (Luke 23:38). These words would spark the poignant exchange between Jesus and the two thieves. One is unwilling to consider a need for saving, mocking this innocent man suffering beside him. In contrast, the other receives the promise of paradise through a humble, contrite acknowledgment of his sins and the recognition and proclamation of Jesus as Messiah. “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” (Luke 23:42). And Jesus demonstrates God’s great mercy as He promises the good thief, on that very day, entrance into the kingdom.

What is the kingdom Jesus will come into? The Catechism of the Catholic Church (2816) describes it this way,

“In the New Testament, the word basileia can be translated by “kingship” (abstract noun), “kingdom” (concrete noun) or “reign” (action noun). The Kingdom of God lies ahead of us. It is brought near in the Word incarnate, it is proclaimed throughout the whole Gospel, and it has come in Christ’s death and Resurrection. The Kingdom of God has been coming since the Last Supper and, in the Eucharist, it is in our midst.”

While we understand the kingdom of God to be heaven, this quote reminds us — in God’s mysterious ways, it also dwells among us — present in every Tabernacle of the world in the Eucharist. The totality of Jesus remains fully present among us in the guise of a little white host, having come into his kingdom through the salvific work upon the Cross.

While everyone’s idea of heaven on earth is very different, none of us can begin to imagine the heaven that awaits us.

“What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard,
and what has not entered the human heart,
what God has prepared for those who love him,” (1 Corinthians 2:9).

In my typical tendency to limit the majesty of Jesus, I’ve only hoped for a tiara and an all-you-can-eat buffet filled with gluten and dairy that I will finally be able to eat! My anxious mind cannot begin to comprehend the peace experienced in heaven. “This perfect life with the Most Holy Trinity — this communion of life and love with the Trinity, with the Virgin Mary, the angels and all the blessed — is called “heaven.” Heaven is the ultimate end and fulfillment of the deepest human longings, the state of supreme, definitive happiness” (CCC 1024).

The Catechism teaches for whom the kingdom has been prepared, “Everyone is called to enter the kingdom. First announced to the children of Israel, this messianic kingdom is intended to accept men of all nations” (CCC 543a). Then instructs, “To enter it, one must first accept Jesus’ word: The word of the Lord is compared to a seed which is sown in a field; those who hear it with faith and are numbered among the little flock of Christ have truly received the kingdom. Then, by its own power, the seed sprouts and grows until the harvest” (543b). My Lord, my God, and my King — forgive me my trespasses, and remember me as you reign in your Kingdom.

In a recent homily, my pastor shared the subtle evidence that Christ’s nobility was revealed in how his body was prepared for burial after removal from the Cross.

“Nicodemus, the one who had first come to him at night, also came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes weighing about one hundred pounds. 40 They took the body of Jesus and bound it with burial cloths along with the spices, according to the Jewish burial custom.” (John 19:39-40).

For a frame of reference, Father Matthew explained a hundred pounds of myrrh and aloe would be equivalent to twelve gallons of milk. Only a noble burial, he concluded, would warrant this quantity of anointing materials.

The Good Thief needed nothing more but a stirring of the heart to acknowledge Christ as King and receive the promise. Today, may we allow the Truth to penetrate our hardened hearts to make room for the kingdom here and the world to come.

— Allison Gingras

PRAYER

Our Lord Jesus Christ,
King of the Universe,
we anoint you with our worship and praise;
come reign in our hearts.
Remember us,
show your mercy upon us,
and welcome us into your kingdom.

 
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“Sic transit gloria mundi,” is what they used to say at papal coronations. “So passes earthly glory.” Everything is fleeting. Nothing is here to stay. But in reality, some things are forever. Our actions on earth do have the potential to reverberate in eternity.

Everyday Stewardship is a lifestyle that embraces what will last. It is being aware of how our choices and our actions can be received by God, and through His grace, amplified to showcase His glory.

Your great-grandparents were married for 60 years. Maybe they shared the greatest love anyone in your family has ever seen, and maybe they raised up a whole family of kids. But they’ve been gone for a generation now, and no one living remembers the softness in their eyes when they looked at each other. And to read today’s Gospel, you might even get the impression that their marriage was nothing more than an earthly whim. Gone. Fleeting. Temporal.

This week’s readings invite us to contemplate the question: what exactly is immortal? What lasts beyond our earthly sojourn?

The seven brothers and their mothers whose martyrdom is told this weekend in Maccabees didn’t die for the letter of the law, they died for the One who gave the law. In the same way, a marriage contract does not extend into eternity, but the fruits of a sacrificial love will live forever.

Good works, devotion, gratitude, selflessness, graciousness, accountability — these are all of God. He is not God of the dead; He is God of the living — and these are the things that last an eternity.

— Tracy Earl Welliver, MTS

Our teams meet with churches all over the United States. Did you know that many of the churches we meet with don’t have a unique brand for their parish!?

We hear it all the time — “We need to reengage our youth and get them back into Church!” and “We want to make our church a place that attracts more young families.” When our design team asks parishes what their goals are, one of the answers is inevitably, “We want people to know that we are a welcoming community,” or “We want strangers to feel comfortable here.”

Now, imagine that you and your family JUST moved to a new town. You’re looking for a great restaurant to make into the weekly family brunch spot and your neighbors keep recommending a place called Grandma’s Kitchen. What’s the first thing you’re going to do? You’re going to pull out your phone and look up directions to the diner as well as look for information about it online. If the logo you see for Grandma’s Kitchen looks outdated, if the menu looks like it was typed up and printed in 1995, or if their website is lacking clearly delivered information and is outdated looking, you will likely skip the place and keep looking. THE EXACT SAME CONCEPT applies to church communities! If your branding is outdated or unprofessional looking, visitors will skip your parish and move on with their search. Do we have your attention? Good. Let’s talk about church branding.

What is Branding Anyway?

Branding commonly refers to the distinctive design your church uses to display, promote, and advertise yourselves. Your brand is present everywhere and on everything your church has a hand in. This doesn’t just mean a church logo! Branding includes a logo, fonts, specific colors, and can even include specific ways that you present these things. All of these items should be collected into a “brand book” or, in your church’s case, let’s call it a “brand bible!” Where should these elements of your parish’s brand bible be frequently found?

For a cohesive look and feel that is consistent across all your parish communications, your branding should be found in:

• Your letterhead
• Your website(s)
• Envelopes
• Newsletters
• Holiday and special event cards
• Social media profiles
• Posters
• Banners
• Email signatures
• Church swag like magnets, mugs, and t-shirts
• Lawn signs
• Special event programs
• Business cards
• Brochures
• And more!

How Can I Tell If Our Branding Needs Help?

Use this checklist to see if it’s time for a refresh — if you check anything on this list, it’s time!

1. If you can’t really pinpoint if you even have a logo or if you notice that what would be considered your church’s logo or branding looks dissimilar on different items. For instance, the name of your church at the top of your bulletin looks a lot different from the sign out in front of your property or the logo on your church’s Facebook profile photo.

2. Your brand was created way before your church even had a website or used email or, if you haven’t had a branding refresh in the last decade.

3. Your community has grown and changed, and you find that your branding doesn’t reflect your current vibrant parish community.

4. You are merging with another parish and need to help the communities come together with a fresh look.

5. Your parish recently recovered from a natural disaster or other tragedy, and you need a fresh look to help everyone move forward into a fresh start.

6. Your parish recently decided to open or close a parish school and needs branding to reflect this change.

7. You poll your parishioners, and they say that the brand needs to be … updated.

How Do I Improve Our Branding?

First, find a designer who is skilled in creating brandings for churches. They should know about logos, fonts, color pallets, and be able to incorporate your unique parish community into the design! We have a team dedicated to this at LPi that you can contact here!

Next, consider thinking about the following questions before meeting with your designer. Having the answers to these questions already fresh in your mind can enhance your meeting experience and ensure you don’t miss anything important to your community when you are helping the designer plan a branding for you!

1. Is there something unique about your church that you want reflected in the brand?
2. What are some of your parish’s strengths?
3. What are some descriptive words that describe your parish?
4. Are there any existing brand elements like colors, fonts, logos, or icons that need to be included in the design?
5. Do you have a mission statement that could be reflected in the design?
6. Is there anything about your church’s history or traditions that might be important to include?

Lastly, consider who will be deciding on the final branding design. Often, designers will provide a few options to choose from after meeting with you. At LPi, our designers commonly give churches 3 or 4 designs to deliberate over! Will you be polling your parishioners to rate their top choices? Is it up to the parish leadership team to decide? Is the pastor the one making the last call? Whoever it is, make sure they have ample time to decide as well as all of the information about the new brand and what information went in to creating it.

Check out our Facebook page to see frequent posts about how proud we are of the branding redesigns we are doing for other churches! There are also a plethora of samples of complete branding packages we’ve done on our website. Like what you see? Jump start your rebranding process and contact us today using the form below! You could have your very own fresh brand, style guide, and branding bible before you know it!

It seems to me that Zacchaeus may have gotten more than he bargained for when he scaled that sycamore tree.

We can only speculate as to what the original intentions of the wealthy tax collector were. We know he wanted to see Jesus, of course — but what does that mean? Was he simply curious about this famous and controversial man? Was he moved by what he heard of Jesus’ teachings? Was he trying to catch a glimpse, or to get close?

Whatever his initial motivations, we can safely assume he did not expect Jesus to look up and say: “Get down. I am coming to your house today.”

I often find myself taking the same posture as Zacchaeus in the tree. Perhaps I have a problem I’m wrestling with or a personal fault I need to overcome. At times I know I need to give of myself in ways that scare me. Whatever it is, I am watching Jesus from a distance. I am removed. Because I worry that when he gets close, he will get in my space. He will see whatever it is I don’t want to deal with or tackle.

I need to remember that Jesus does not come to condemn, but to assist. It is God’s desire to make us “worthy of His calling.” To do that, He knows we need help. He knows we need Him in our space.

I’ll say this for Zacchaeus — he was ready. He jumped right down, acknowledged what he had to be ashamed of, and vowed to do better. He brought Jesus home.

May we all have that same courage.

— Tracy Earl Welliver, MTS

 
Malachi 3:19-20a
2 Thessalonians 3:7-12
Luke 21:5-19

We are hearing the word “Armageddon” tossed around the media and even out of the mouths of leaders on several occasions these days. While Armageddon has specific Biblical significance, it is a term that is loosely used to describe a cataclysmic battle signifying the end of the world. Between the Russian/Ukraine war and rising concerns with North Korea and China, one can easily wonder if world tensions are escalating to an alarming fever pitch and coming to a head. Political, religious and ideological disparities as well as many people giving voice to a general feeling of discontent with increased acts of violence also cause many to wonder. Does everything that is happening indicate that the present world, as we know it, is coming to an end?

Jesus told us that the world would one day come to an end. On this point he is very clear. He even goes on to describe some of what we will see in the Gospel for this Sunday. He tells of wars and insurrections, nation rising against nation, kingdom against kingdom, of powerful earthquakes, famines and plagues, awesome sights, and mighty signs from the sky. Even the prophet Malachi, chastising people centuries before, warns of a purifying fire. These themes are evident in salvation history and must be acknowledged. It is certain that the world will one day come to an end and Christ will reign supreme. This is our faith.

Some people make it their personal ambition to attempt to determine precisely WHEN this event will take place. They read the signs of the times, cite scripture references, and consult popular prophetic predictions, some of which are centuries old. They purport to have a certain credibility in this discipline, gaining a hearing in some circles even if just an entertaining curiosity. But is it really necessary to know? It seems to me that if Jesus thought it was important for us to have that answer he would have been more specific when the disciples asked the question. All Jesus acknowledged is what scripture already confirms: the end will inevitably come.

What Jesus did spend some time detailing is what his disciples need to do before the end comes. He is quite clear that we must remain faithful, face persecution, endure suffering, face wars and insurrections, and give testimony. Jesus firmly reminds us that everything we have created, no matter how beautiful and durable we may find it to be, will pass away. What is our level of attachment to earthly things? Even our houses of worship, shrines, and temples capture our attention and concern more than the one they are meant to honor. If what we seemingly will “lose” when the world comes to an end becomes a worry, obsession, or preoccupation, then we need wonder how deep our faith really is. Consumed with all of the things we have built and established for ourselves and seeking to preserve them, we forget that we belong to a different kingdom, the Kingdom of God. Are all of these things what we are ultimately called to preserve and serve?

The Gospel is always our guide. We can never tire or lose sight of our vocation to live just lives and be non-violent pursuers of peace. We are always and everywhere called to act on behalf of the poor, turning our cheek to those who hurt us most. But when powers that are dark, persistent, strong, and dominant override the path to peace and love that we hold so dear, we have to stand firm and realize whose kingdom we ultimately serve. We serve the Kingdom of God! Jesus cautions that we do not allow ourselves to be overwhelmed or overly terrified by the agonies, power struggles and disappointments of the world. Although we may be apprehensive and uncertain when faced with complex challenges, God is with us. God is the One who can never be taken away!

True, authentic, and unconditional love is not subject to time and seasons. It is always and forever. Our love of God must be the same. Our love of God must not be the love of sometimes or when it’s convenient. What matters to us as we embrace a new moment or a new day in our lives? Preserving what we have established for ourselves or deepening our devotion to and relationship with God? If our relationship with God, the strength and integrity of our souls, and the steadfastness of our character are of utmost importance, then it matters little when the physical end will come. Our priorities will be in order, and we will be ready to go where God will take us. We will fall into the arms of love’s author and become who we wanted to be all along. As St. Ignatius of Antioch reminds us, “only on my arrival there (in heaven with God) can I be fully a human being.” God will give us the strength and inspiration we need. We will discover the necessary courage ahead, in spite of persecution and even death itself.

Sometimes knowing too much is a bad thing. It can take the adventure, wonder and excitement out of living. Do you really want to know the exact day, hour, and circumstances of your death? Knowing too much can bring one to apathy, disillusionment, fear, anxiety, dread, and cynicism, robbing the soul of the love and freedom it needs to soar! Not knowing can be a beautiful thing! It allows for daily surprises, wonder and awe, new discoveries, playfulness, joy, contentment, and even laughter in the midst of the direst of circumstances. The unknown of the future allows us to discover the riches and depth of God, who is the delight and joy of our souls.

Learning to hold all of life’s experiences in balance is one of the goals of the spiritual life. Finding our way through death and life, suffering and bliss, war and peace, anger and acceptance, love and hate, violence and peace, while still holding firm to the providential and unconditional love of God is paramount. Acts of violence and the brokenness of life can easily harden us and make us bitter. We have to resist this temptation and bring ourselves back to love. We must keep ourselves focused on what really matters and not get too dependent upon the material, tangible, and superficial. It is the only way we will find God and become who we are meant to be. Christians have to show others the path to unconditional love. The world desperately needs this message. People need to have their relationships with God, others, themselves, and the world restored to proper order so that all can work together in service of the Kingdom of God. This message is not always received with open and welcome arms. But, it is a message that must be heard and one that must be preached.

— Fr. Mark Suslenko

PRAYER

Prayer of the Body of Christ

We come from many nations;
We are one.
We come from many backgrounds;
We are one.
We are rich and poor, male and female;
We are one.
We are one in you, Christ Jesus,
And we call up on you to strengthen us
In the face of that which seeks to divide us.
May we steadfastly turn from hate
As we answer your call to love so that
Your kingdom may come.
Amen.

 
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Did you know that there is an entire team of graphic designers behind the thousands of graphics, designs, templates, and more that we release every year? These images are created for you to use in your bulletins, websites, social media posts, flyers, (and any other way you can think of) through our WeCreate collection!

We asked our designers to share about the pieces they most enjoyed making over this past year, collected their responses and examples of the work, and compiled them here so you could get a little behind-the-scenes view of who your LPi design team is and a taste of the passion that they put into their art!

Heidi —
This is one of my favorites of the year because the message is important to me. I wanted to create an image that had as much impact as the message does.

Heidi —
I love the lighting of this piece, and the contrast of the geometric shapes with the organic background is really visually interesting.

Heidi —
I’m a big fan of how the overlaying textures and subtle colors turned out in this piece. Sometimes it can be hard to balance text and a strong image because they end up competing instead of working together in a hierarchy, but I think everything balances really well here.

David —
This one was very different than anything we’ve done previously for our Connect! Sunday Reflection blog, so I had fun, took a risk and I think it paid off! It’s vibrant, modern, geometric, and has a playful energy. My goal was to get people excited when they saw this piece! Have fun and have faith!

Gaby —
One thing I absolutely love about graphic design is that you often have the freedom to be either very literal with a piece or more abstract in its interpretation. This was one of those very literal pieces that I have done, where the imagery I chose directly correlates to the text. I think that is why the piece turned out so successfully, because by marrying the two elements you give the audience that connection as well. If you’ll notice too, the imagery I chose is rather dark which in turn makes the idea of “light” that much more impactful in the piece, you truly get that feeling of light shining through in the darkness.

Gaby —
Overall, the Gospel meditation companion pieces are one of my favorite sections of artwork we designers do on a month-to-month basis. I love being able to focus on typography and photography that is more “people-driven” in its nature. This piece is special to me because by focusing on a single person as the subject with nothing in the background you can really start to put yourself into the piece and say, “yes, God loves me” even if you don’t look exactly like that person, the piece implies itself to everyone who is viewing it! I also always try and challenge myself to play with text in every piece I create, how can I change the size of the text, turn it on its side, flip it, etc. I think by stacking the text in this piece on top of each other as well as having part of it be just an outline, it allows for you to see that each line of text holds its own importance, but together the message is even stronger.

Gaby —
With a lot of my work, I tend to look for inspiration before I even start designing. That often gives me a better sense of the direction of where I want the piece to go, and what feeling I want the piece to give viewers. This idea was inspired by a piece I saw on a catholic design blog called Sunday Social. I was in complete awe of the design and thought to myself, “How can I introduce some of the techniques/styles they are using into our LPi artwork?” This clip’s translation says, “You are priest forever,” so I was thinking about how I could visually show this idea of “forever.” I chose this image of a man cropped within a circular shape, but his arm is breaking out of the bounds of the circle. This is to show that there is something outside of the circle or outside of this “life” that extends forever. Then by adding some depth and feel to the piece with different color tones and textures, I was able to bring the design to life and allow it to tell its story.

Tim —
Fall is easily my favorite season. To convey the seasonal change in this piece I focused on color, specifically a warm pastel palette. I love the cozy feeling you get from this.

Tim —
I think the imagery and colors fit with this quote very well. Although I had some design-block when working on this quote, a piece of artwork was shared with me that sparked the idea for this graphic. Sometimes you have to be patient and wait to find your inspiration. I’m very happy with how it turned out.

Erich —
The concept for this piece was mainly inspired by the first half of the quote, “Never to let one’s self be beaten down…” I chose an image which would portray someone overcoming something that would be very difficult, the rough rock, unstable ground and the higher elevation. While choosing the image I was looking for one where I could replace the sky background in order to create more of a unique image and have an open space for the quote yet still convey the heights that the person has climbed. The composition is visually balanced yet asymmetrical, which allows for dynamic movement as the typography and mountain shape mirror each other. Overall, I enjoyed this creating this piece of art because the quote speaks to something I hold very true to myself, to not let yourself be influenced by the negativity/judgement or other people or situations, to always be true to who you are.

Erich —
I chose this piece because of the unique typographic solution I was able to achieve in a narrow space while maintaining the emphasis and readability of both words and the overall idea of the art. The image is simplistic yet very emotionally recognizable allowing the viewer will instantly connect with the message conveyed by the art.

Kristen —
“Do this in remembrance of me.” Luke 22:19 Last Supper, Communion imagery. I love this art graphic in particular for the more modern approach to such an iconic statement and imagery of the Last Supper painted by Leonardo da Vinci. Simplifying the focus with the colors to show Jesus with a opposite color halo and then having each disciple’s face reflect that light. This ended up being one of my favorite things about this graphic.

Kristen —
“Go out and make disciples of all nations.” Everyone is called to be a witness. In this image, created for social media use, I wanted to speak more to a crowd who don’t necessarily think they identify as the “typical witness” in a modern design approach with colors you would find associated with the Holy Spirit and Pentecost Sunday.

Kristen —
A Good Friday message, God’s plan for us was his Son, this social media banner focus solely on the message of “Unfailing Love” in a modern design. Each of my favorite pieces that I have designed this year speaks to that more modern aesthetic. I connect more with messages in that style, and I think younger parishioners connect to it as well. While I do design Catholic pieces in other styles this modern approach is what resonates with me.

If you want access to all of these graphics along with the thousands of others we have available, make sure you are subscribed to our WeCreate library. If LPi already prints your bulletin you are already subscribed! Our customer support team is always ready to assist you so if you need help accessing these tools you can contact them here! We always love when people share with us their favorite pieces, so, if you have a favorite LPi graphic please share about it in the comments so we can pass on your praise to our design team!

If you roll your eyes at the mention of the term stewardship, it’s probably because, in the modern Church, stewardship has become something of a corporate buzzword. It’s often used interchangeably with the concepts of financial endowment and volunteerism.

What’s wrong with supporting your parish monetarily? What’s the issue with giving of your time in service and ministry? Nothing at all, in fact — we should all be doing more of these things.

But as we do them, we should be constantly asking ourselves the all-important questions: Why am I doing this? How am I doing this? For whom am I doing this?

A donation to the parish school is a great thing. But ideally, the donor would have made the gift regardless of the ability to name the school gym. A tireless volunteer who always finds time for her parish certainly glorifies God with her commitment. But hopefully, her commitment would be just as enthusiastic if she knew there was no prospect of being written up in the bulletin as Volunteer of the Month.

God knows no favorites. The prayer of the Pharisee in the temple did not justify him because the Pharisee didn’t really mean it as a prayer. His intent wasn’t to thank God, his intent was to draw attention to his gifts. God did not reject the Pharisee’s fasting and his tithes, he rejected the spirit in which they were offered.

God desires to transform us — our hearts, our souls, our communities. When we give of ourselves — either through money or through time — he is honored by the act of giving, not the gift itself. We should never make the mistake of thinking that stewardship is “time, talent, and treasure.” Stewardship is the spirit of offering these gifts freely.

— Tracy Earl Welliver, MTS

 
2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14
2 Thessalonians 2:16-3:5
Luke 20:27-38

“We are confident of you in the Lord that what we instruct you,
   you are doing and will continue to do.
May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God
   and to the endurance of Christ.”

—2 Thessalonians 3:4-5

At the end of each liturgical year, the readings and prayers of the liturgy invite us to turn our gaze toward the future. That is certainly true in the readings for this Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, as Jesus offers us a glimpse of what the fullness of life will be like: “They can no longer die, for they are like angels; and they are the children of God” (Luke 20:36). But this sort of living for the future that the liturgy is inviting us to is hard work, which demands perseverance.

As we know, the demands of daily living can often be complex and all-consuming. When we begin to factor in the uncertainties and suffering that are all too common in our communities, nation, and world, it can be hard to do more than simply move on to the next task. And so, we might ask, how is living for the future possible when there are so many things about today pulling us in countless directions?

The answer, simple as it may seem, is hope.

For Christians, hope is more than a mere optimism that, at some point in the future, things will be “better,” that current tensions or struggles will come to an end and life will be somehow different. For disciples of Jesus hope has a very different sensibility. This is because, for Christians, we don’t simply hold our breath and suffer through until that moment of change arrives. Rather, we live the present moment to fullest — with all its blessings and challenges — confident that God is with us now, journeying into the future with us. This confidence, this hope, is based on our conviction that we believe in a God who keeps promises. As Pope Francis reflected in a 2017 General Audience, Christian hope is “A hope based on a promise that, from the human point of view, seems uncertain and unpredictable, but which never fails, not even in the face of death, when the One who promises is the God of the Resurrection and Life.”

Even Jesus knew the stresses of daily life. Not only did he see first the struggles of his working-class parents and many families like his in Nazareth, but he also saw countless broken, struggling, and hopeless people in his travels and ministry. The gospels tell us that Jesus, himself, also grew tired and overwhelmed because of the many people who were constantly coming to him for a healing touch or blessing. And it is Jesus — both fully divine and fully human — who helps us to see what hope looks like: when the world was closing in, he stepped away, took time for prayer and to relish the closeness of his Father, and he returned to the mission the Father had entrusted to him, moving into his own future confident of the presence of the Father.

As we look toward the end of the Church year and to the fullness of time, when all of God’s promises will be fulfilled, we are able to do so in hope because we recognize that God is with us here and now, even in the messiness of the present moment. Stand firm. Trust. Be confident that, beyond sadness, oppression, and even death, the last word will be the Lord’s and, as Pope Francis reminded us, “it will be a word of mercy, of life and of peace.” After all, the Holy Father concludes, “Whoever hopes, hopes to one day hear this word: ‘Come, come to me, brother; come, come to me, sister, for all eternity.”

— Bro. Silas Henderson, SDS

PRAYER

A Prayer to God Present Everywhere in the World
O my God,
you are in heaven,
and you are there in all your immensity.
You are also in the world,
which is entirely permeated with you,
because it contains you —
or rather because you contain it.

O my God,
I believe that where I go I will find you
and that there is no place
which you do not honor with your presence. Amen.

(Based on the writings of St. John Baptist de la Salle, taken from The New Saint Joseph People’s Prayer Book)

 
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Have you ever heard the phrase “work smarter, not harder”? When it comes to church events, having a work smarter goal can save you some major headaches over the course of your event planning and execution. We all know that having professional looking flyers and advertisements for your event or program is essential to people attending or signing up, but let’s be realistic — how many graphic designers do you actually have on your church staff to make them? If your answer is NONE then, this blog is for you! We’ll outline a few best practices, give you some examples, and share about a template tool that can save you loads and loads of time!

Too Many Words!

The single worst thing anyone can do when trying to design an effective flyer is to put way too much information on it. Remember, a flyer is not a brochure. Flyers are not meant to share every single little piece of information about a program or an event. All of your event’s little details can be outlined in a program, webpage, or brochure that your flyer ultimately directs people to. The purpose of a flyer is to grab a person’s attention, create interest, and invite a call to action. That call to action might be to register, visit a website to learn more information about something, pick up a brochure/program, or to simply show up! Before creating your flyer, ask yourself what the most basic important information is that needs to be communicated.

The specifics that are most likely needed on your flyer include your event’s:

• Location
• Date
• Time
• Cost
• What’s Included in the price
• Who the event is for/Who is invited
• Contact Information
• Cutoff date for registration or RSVPs
• QR code to a web page with more info or instructions on how to learn more

Information that you may be tempted to include but should probably be put in a web page or brochure instead includes:

• • Full event schedules
  • Menus
  • Speaker/Presenter Bios
  • Arrival or location instructions
  • Letter-like event descriptions. For example, something like —

“Join us for our winter dance fundraiser where everyone can have a lot of fun and raise money for the Covington Food Bank”
should, instead, simply say —
“Winter Dance” with “A benefit for the Covington Food Bank” on the line below.

The Psychology Behind Good Design

Did you know that our brains are wired to be attracted to some types of designs and repelled by others? Some tips that will attract people to your flyer design are:

• Use a larger font!
  Using a font that is too small can cause people to actually look away from your flyer due to the image being way too busy. Our eyes seek out big, bold images and when words on a flyer are too small and too many, people often won’t even try to read them.
• Give things space!
  Don’t try to squeeze too much information in your flyer by smushing everything together on the page. Busy images with little space to let the eye rest can actually cause people anxiety and create an environment where they actively look away from the flyer to avoid the mess of images and words instead of being drawn into it.
• Use intentional colors!
  Using too many colors or colors that don’t go well together can create the same type of anxiety for the viewer as using too many objects or words can. Did you know that it used to be a common practice in fast food restaurants to color the walls with multicolored wallpaper and mix all of the primary colors together inside their restaurants because the psychological effect of the constant bombardment of many different colors was that people would feel uncomfortable and would eat and then leave the restaurant more quickly? This way the fast-food chain keeps things moving fast! This is the opposite of what you want to be doing with your flyers, so, choose 2 or 3 complimentary colors and stick with those! Don’t go overboard!
• Remember that hierarchy matters!
  The most important elements should be seen first so they will be the largest, and boldest. It wouldn’t make sense to have the time and cost be the largest part of a flyer — instead, the name of the event and any information that might hook the viewer should be your focal point.

Our Best Time-Saver Tip

Let’s give you a major leap forward into the “work smarter” arena and introduce you to the LPi ready-made flyer template tool. WeCreate, our ever-expanding collection of thousands of graphics, stock photos, and design templates, provides subscribers professionally designed downloadable content for your church’s print and digital projects! In WeCreate we have a collection of flyer templates made by our design team that you can very simply customize and use for your own events! New designs added every month. Want a sample? We selected a few of these flyer designs to offer to you, on our free Catholic art page.

If you use one of our flyer templates for an upcoming event, we’d love to see it! Tag us on facebook when you post it for your community so we can see the great work you are doing!

 
Wisdom 11:22-12:2
2 Thessalonians 1:11-2:2
Luke 19:1-10

Today is the day we can discover a new way of living, a way that is truly fulfilling and empowering. We need only answer Jesus’ call and take our first steps on this adventure which, if we are faithful to it, will lead us to everlasting life in heaven.

What do you suppose drove Zacchaeus to go out and look for Jesus?

As the chief tax collector, Zacchaeus was a wealthy man and very busy. He was hated by the people who considered him a traitor and a crook. Zacchaeus had every reason to avoid the crowds that gathered to see Jesus and every reason to think that, as a sinner, he had no right to even lay his eyes on such a holy man.

However, something compelled him to leave his home, run into the streets of Jericho and even climb up a tree to get a glimpse of the wonderworker from Galilee.

Could it be that there was something missing in his life? Despite all his wealth, despite all his power, he was not happy. As a short man, he may have hoped that wealth and power would have made him tall in the eyes of others. However, no matter how much he had, he still felt small inside. Could it be that, when Zacchaeus heard the news that Jesus was passing through town, he hoped that this would be his chance to discover the love and the meaning he had been striving for all his life? Is this what compelled him to climb that sycamore tree — the desire for a more abundant and fulfilling life?

In this, Zacchaeus is very much like us. We run after happiness, fulfillment, and pleasure. We dream about what our lives would be like if we just had more money, more friends or more comforts. As hard as we work, happiness always seems just beyond our grasp. No matter how much money or possessions we have, they never seem to be enough. We grow bored with them and look for something new. In the end, we are left with the same ache within us.

What a surprise it must have been for Zacchaeus to hear Jesus call out his name. He doesn’t say, “Hey, you in the tree,” but “Zacchaeus.” Jesus not only singled him out from the crowd but already knew who he was. Zacchaeus climbed down quickly from the tree because this was his chance to meet the one whom his heart longed for. Saint Luke goes on to tell us that Zacchaeus “received [Jesus] with joy”, a joy that no doubt had been eluding him all his life and that he finally found in the person of Jesus Christ.

Like Zacchaeus, we can discover the one whom our hearts long for, the one who can give us true peace and joy. All we have to do is invite him into our hearts and into our homes. We do not have to convince him that we deserve it because we are nice people. We do not have to grovel because of all the sins we have committed. Like Zacchaeus, we will discover that he already knows us. We will discover that he is already calling out to us before we reach out to him. And we will soon discover that whatever we have to give up to welcome him into our homes pales in comparison to the joy he gives.

— Douglas Sousa, S.T.L.

PRAYER

Living God,
We long for your love in our hearts.
This world has left us cold and alone.
Fill us with the life that only you can give.
Call our name, and we will run to you.
Pick us out from the midst of the crowd,
And we will welcome you.
Tell us what we must do to bring you into our homes,
And we will do it.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

 
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As the seasons change, a lot of us like to clean out our homes and unload some of the junk we’ve acquired over the summer. One trendy approach to decluttering is the Marie Kondo method, named after the author who popularized it. Overly simplified, it’s a process that compels you to go through your closets, your garage, your basement — all the places you collect the dreaded “stuff.” As you do so, you hold up the items and ask yourself: “Does it spark joy?”

It’s a question that is bold in its simplicity. In answering, you’re supposed to go with your gut. If it’s a quick “Yes, it sparks joy,” the item should be kept. If the answer is no, it gets tossed.

There are people in life who will support our efforts to do God’s will. There are those who will, as Paul says, “convince, reprimand, (and) encourage,” unafraid of the reaction we give them. There are those who will shore up our defenses when the battle goes longer than we thought.

The same goes for hobbies and pastimes. There are those that will ennoble our minds and bring us closer to God. And there are also those that will drain our funds and our free time, with nothing to show for it.

During these autumn months, don’t just declutter your basement in preparation for the hauling out of the Christmas ornaments. Take stock of the people and pursuits that make up your life. With each one, ask yourself: “Does it spark holiness?”

If the answer is yes, thank God that our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. If the answer is no, maybe it’s time to declutter.

— Tracy Earl Welliver, MTS

So, you’ve spent the time to set up accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and maybe even Twitter for your amazing church to better connect with your parishioners, but, now what? Note — if you haven’t set these important forms of communication up yet and need some help getting started, our blog post Social Media Strategy 101 For Your Parish Community has everything you need to get you set up for success! Assuming you have already gotten things set up, though, let’s talk about best practices, tips, and free tools that LPi has for you when it comes to setting up a social media posting calendar.

First Thing’s First — Who’s Your Captain?

Figure out who is running the show! Who will be overseeing all of your social media accounts and making sure that each account is being regularly updated? Who’s doing the actual posting? If there are multiple people with access to your accounts who are regularly posting content, it’s time to have a meeting with those people and choose a captain for the job! This person should be in charge of approving content and making sure everything looks in-sync with your church’s branding. Another quick commercial break here to mention something important about branding and design — if your church doesn’t have a branding system dialed in, LPi has a great team of friendly designers available to make this happen for you! To learn more about our church branding packages you can check out that part of our website here.

Ok, back to the main topic — social media calendaring. The person who will be your lead when it comes to social media posting and scheduling should ideally be familiar, or in the process of familiarizing themselves, with the various social networks you are using. They should be someone on your church staff or, at the very least, someone who has frequent access to the many ministry leaders and staff members at your Parish.

A Tool to Save You Time — The Social Media Management Program

To make the process of managing your church’s social media accounts as easy as possible, we suggest you employ a SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT PROGRAM . As social media content for upcoming events — or whatever else your community is posting about — begins to flow to you from the different ministries at your church, you might find that you are making many of the same posts across all of your social networks. Although some content might be best suited for just one of your networks, for example maybe you only post livestreaming Mass information on Facebook if that’s the network you use for livestreaming, you will likely find that the majority of your social media posts are basically the same across all of your platforms.

Instead of taking the time to log into each social network individually, do the work to create the post in that app, then re-do the entire process again for every app you use, social media management programs make it possible to post to all of your social networks at once with just one post! These programs allow you to manage your many social media accounts from one single place. You can create one single post and then choose which platforms to post it to and the program will take care of the rest of the work for you. Another MAJOR bonus of using a social media management platform is that you can schedule posts ahead of time via an easy calendar view system. This makes it possible to plan out your social media posting calendar and do the work ahead of time, then you can sit back and relax and know that all of your posts will show up on the day and time that you directed the program to post them.

There are many tools out there for social media management. Common ones that are easy to use, affordable, and have a great calendar layout system are:

• Hootsuit
• Sprout Social
• Social Pilot
• Buffer

Calendar Time!

You may have heard that, in order to have a healthy social media presence, you need to be posting every single day. In reality, when you are first starting out, posting every day is much less important than making sure that the things you that you do post are intentional, designed well, and include all of the information your viewers may need. So, for now, just focus on confirming that everything that needs to be posted is, in fact, being posted and don’t worry so much about constantly having content just for the sake of … having content.

Creating your social media calendar will always take cross-departmental cooperation so your first step in calendar creation will be to set up a monthly meeting with the leadership of your parish. This may include people on staff, important volunteer ministry leaders, your parish council, liturgical leaders, and anyone else who might have content that will regularly need to be posted. Tell meeting members to be prepared for the monthly meeting with the next month’s upcoming calendar items for their areas of ministry as well as information about those events and items ready to give to you if possible.

During your monthly meeting you will collect post ideas from everyone as well as plan the date for each post based on the feedback from those at the meeting. Remember, sometimes if you are advertising an event, it’s important to post about it a few times during the weeks, or even months, leading up to the event. You can easily schedule duplicate posts way ahead of time using your social media management program to make sure that they aren’t accidently forgotten when things get busy!

What Should We Be Posting Anyway?

If you are having a hard time coming up with content ideas, LPi has you covered! We publish an infographic dedicated specifically to timely social media ideas as part of our Vibrant Parish Newsletter every single month. This monthly infographic always has social media content ideas for the upcoming month, specially curated for Catholic parishes! There is clickable content that will take you directly to comparable graphic resources in our WeCreate collection for you to download for your posts! You can view an example from a previous month here.

On top of the ideas in our infographic every month, don’t forget to inquire about the following topics in your monthly content meeting:

• Service opportunities
•  Ministry needs for volunteers
• Your church patron’s feast day
• Your church’s anniversary
• Your pastor’s ordination anniversary
• Faith formation & sacramental prep important dates
•  Introducing new staff members or leaders
• Whole-parish events dates
• Building Scheduling times like planned closures or office holiday hours
• Special local holidays, events, or cultural celebrations
• A link to view your weekly bulletin digitally
• Financial or fundraising information

Where to Find Beautiful Catholic Graphics For Your Posts

You’re almost there! Your calendar is dialed in and now all you have left to do is create the actual posts. To save you loads of time on this, LPi has thousands of specially curated Catholic graphics, photographs, and even templates for you to use at your convenience. You never have to create your own Christmas, Feast Day, or special event graphic again when you use the WeCreate collection that is available free when LPi prints your bulletin. We even have ready-to-go Facebook and Instagram story content that you can use to engage your parish with those app’s story tools and a blog, here, to teach you how exactly to do that!

Don’t forget that we always love when parishes tag LPi’s Facebook profile, our Instagram profile, or our twitter account when you put the WeCreate content that our design team has made to good use in your social media posts! We love when parishes tag us so that we can see how they are using the content we provide! See you out there!

Note: Remember, our WeCreate library is free for all LPi bulletin customers, learn more about our service or you can become a subscriber today!