(If you don’t have time to read this now, please take note of the buttons on the right. They are free for the taking, for you to use on your Web site. Click on a button to pick up the html code.)

Your parish Web site, at its best, will be a place for people to stop by and make a faith connection with some of the most important things in their lives. Of course, they’ll depend upon your site to have the basic schedules, announcements and routine business of the parish at hand, but when something is in the news that might be related to faith, your parish site can provide a great service by providing a trustworthy perspective.

The biggest thing on people’s minds in the coming days will be the U.S. presidential election. If you haven’t done so already, this would be a very good time to place on your site a link to the U.S. Catholic bishops’ Web area on “Faithful Citizenship,” (www.faithfulcitizenship.org). Also, consider posting a button that links to our own “Election 2008” area at AmericanCatholic.org, which includes an easy-to-read Catholic Update reprint of the bishops’ statement. The goal: to help our visitors move beyond the TV commercials and consider all of the issues that candidates, local to national, will be entrusted to govern.

Election or not, the Church takes November as a month to wind down the liturgical year. It’s a time for us to reflect on the “big picture”; our Scripture readings at Mass will help us to reflect on the end times. You might encourage your visitors to join us in prayer by submitting an intention at the St. Anthony Shrine. Just post the button that links to StAnthony.org.

While the world Synod of Bishops on sacred Scripture is under way at the Vatican, you can keep your Web visitors informed by posting a button to our “Synod on Sacred Scripture” feature that includes Catholic News Service reports and even an AmericanCatholic.org exclusive: a regular submission from one of the U.S. delegates, Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington.

Finally, it’s not too early to get your Web site ready for Thanksgiving and Advent. Our button leads to Catholic Greetings that help families to share the thanksgiving season and begin the preparation for the celebration of the birth of the Christ at Christmas. We’ll have more on our Advent features next time.

God bless,

John Feister and Mark Lombard
AmericanCatholic.org

Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
(Archdiocese of Baltimore)

There are not many churches or basilicas in the United States that can boast playing host to a pope, Mother Teresa and an Orthodox patriarch. It is not surprising then that the Marian shrine, National Historical Landmark, archdiocesan co-cathedral and worship space referred to by Pope John Paul II as “the worldwide symbol of religious freedom” has a site worth clicking. The rich history of the first great U.S. metropolitan cathedral constructed after the adoption of the Constitution, guided by the nation’s first bishop, John Carroll, is documented here. While its virtual tour has yet to be launched, the 365-photo gallery guides the viewer through its bicentennial, restoration, archives and history of its archbishops. From the home page, click on links to Mass schedules, a calendar and cultural events, maps, online donations , the gift shop and PDFs of weekly bulletins. There also are marriage and baptism FAQs and electronic forms for prospective brides and grooms and parents of infants and young children who seek to have the sacraments celebrated at the cathedral. Also, the community offers viewers a chance to subscribe to automatic electronic feeds of updates on the site. BaltimoreBasilica.org builds on its long history and its recent restoration to draw in visitors into a parish that is looking forward.

 

This attractive, easy-to-navigate site of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops bills itself as offering “resources for living happily ever after.” The Web site is just one element of the multi-year National Pastoral Initiative for Marriage project, which is aimed at communicating the meaning and value of married life for the Church and society and to work to build “a culture of marriage.” The site offers specific areas for those considering marriage or those already married. “What Makes Marriage Work” offers ideas for couples to deepen their commitment and improve communication and conflict-resolution skills. “Why Marriage Matters” looks at how marriage benefits couples’ financial bottom line and health, and argues that children do better with two married parents. “Issues Facing Couples” provides information on infidelity, addictions, financial instability, parenting, physical or mental illness, intimacy, infertility and domestic violence. There is a daily marriage tip, a marriage quiz, a “Marriage Rx” area offering prescriptions to keep a marriage healthy, a blog by an engaged 22-year-old Catholic woman and a map to help the viewer find a local diocesan family-life office. Information is also available on preparing for marriage—first or second—and on Catholic belief, Church documents and Catholic teaching on key issues surrounding marriage.

 

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