Episode 56 Investing in the Online Campus

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Summary

Father Roger Gustafson shares his experience of building an online campus for his parish during the COVID-19 pandemic. He started by live streaming Masses and gradually grew his online congregation to over a thousand subscribers. 

 

The online campus includes live streaming Masses, Zoom small groups, and online chat hosts to engage with the virtual community. Father Roger emphasizes the importance of making online parishioners feel welcome and connected to the community. 

 

He also discusses the financial impact of the online campus, with giving increasing by 9% since 2020. Father Roger encourages parish leaders to start somewhere and strive for excellence in their online initiatives.

Check out Father Roger's parish online: https://www.sthilary.org/ 

 

Takeaways

• Building an online campus can help reach and engage a broader audience, especially during times of limited in-person gatherings.
• Creating a welcoming and connected virtual community is essential for online parishioners.
• Starting small and taking steps towards excellence is key to building a successful online campus.
• Investing in technology and professional expertise can enhance the online worship experience.
• Financial giving can increase as the online congregation grows and becomes more connected to the parish community.

Chapters

00:00 - Introduction and Background

06:18 - Engaging the Online Congregation

12:33 - Creating Welcoming Touch Points for Online Parishioners

28:29 - The Financial Impact of the Online Campus

36:20 - Recommendations for Building an Online Campus