2 minute read
Our Parish App: Technology Keeps Us Connected to Life at Queen of the Holy Rosary
Thanks to smartphone technology, we have the ability to stay up to the minute with events and announcements from our parish. Is that ministry meeting still on? What time is that class today? How can I sign up to help with the potluck dinner? Why, it’s so easy — all of us can do it!
Just download our parish app to your phone, be it an iPhone or Android device — the app is free!
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“We’ve had the app for years, and this is the handiest time to use it,” says Cathy Mahr, parish secretary. “I can update information on each thing that is going on. It’s been very useful with COVID notifications.”
When the Call to Share went out, for example, COVID-19 restrictions prevented the normal opening held during Mass, with donation pledges made on forms distributed in the pews.
“We sent it out on the app on Wednesday, and by Thursday we had 20 donations in one day,” Cathy says.
The reluctance among some parishioners to using the app stems from two issues, Cathy believes. One is that some don’t understand what to do to get it — and second, some don’t know how to download it to the phone.
One easy way to download the app is to open the parish website on a computer at www.queenoftheholyrosary.org and click on the “Parish App” listing. That will take you right to the location that will enable you to click on the image of your iPhone or Android device and download the app. Another easy way to download the app is by texting. iPhone users can text ParishApp1 to 555888. Android users can text ParishApp2 to 555888. The process is simple from there.
“I can send messages to others, say if the office has something coming up, perhaps an important announcement,” Cathy says. “If there is some kind of emergency or some event, I can tell people immediately. All they have to do is touch the ‘message’ icon.”
Individual ministries can also post specific messages to their members through the app.
Parishioners also can stay connected by following Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish on Facebook, where weekend and daily Masses are livestreamed. Masses are also livestreamed on the website, where an archive is maintained, as well. A Mass Guide is available on the website with readings and lyrics posted.
Cathy posts the bulletins and newsletters to the website.
“I try to keep it updated with as much information as I can,” she says. “Each time there is an event coming up, I make sure it’s there. People need to remember to tap “More” in the lower right-hand corner. There, they will find all the staff contact information, the bulletins, daily readings, notification settings, and everything our parishioners need to know.”
