Why Priests Should Stop Using Social Media Like a Bulletin Board

Introduction: Social Media Isn’t Just for Announcements

Many Catholic priests know they should be on social media, but most struggle with how to use it effectively.

One of the biggest mistakes priests make? Treating social media like a digital bulletin board.

📌 The Problem:
❌ Static announcements don’t engage parishioners.
❌ Algorithms prioritize engagement—low interaction means fewer people see your posts.
❌ Missed evangelization opportunities.

A parish’s online presence should be more than just event schedules and donation links. Social media is an incredible tool for evangelization—if used correctly.

In this guide, we’ll explore how priests can shift from passive posting to active engagement and use social media to strengthen their parish community.

1. Hook Your Audience: Give People a Reason to Stop Scrolling

Social media is designed for quick, engaging content. If your posts don’t immediately catch someone’s attention, they’ll keep scrolling.

✅ Use a strong opening line.

• Instead of: "Join us for Mass this Sunday at 10 AM."

• Try: "What if attending Mass this Sunday could change your life?"

✅ Ask a question to encourage interaction.

• “What’s one prayer that has helped you through a tough time?”

✅ Use high-quality visuals.

• Photos and videos get significantly more engagement than plain text posts.

• [Alt text for images]: Priest preparing for Mass, parish community gathering, Eucharist close-up.

2. Share Value-Driven Content (Not Just Information)

People don’t go on social media for announcements—they go to be inspired, entertained, or educated.

Priests can use this to their advantage by posting content that adds value to their parishioners' lives.

✅ Share Short Homily Reflections

• Pick one key takeaway from your homily and turn it into a 30-second video or short caption.

• Example: “Forgiveness isn’t optional—it’s necessary. What’s one small way you can practice forgiveness this week?”

✅ Post Faith-Based Questions

• Asking parishioners questions encourages engagement.

• Example: “What’s your favorite Bible verse that has brought you peace?”

✅ Show Behind-the-Scenes Parish Moments

• Share authentic moments—priests preparing for Mass, altar servers rehearsing, or volunteers setting up.

• Example: "Getting ready for morning Mass—offering prayers for all of you today!"

3. Encourage Conversations (Not Just Posts)

Social media isn’t a one-way street. If your goal is evangelization, you need to spark conversations.

📌 How to Increase Engagement:
✅ End every post with a call to action.

• Instead of “Join us for Bible study on Wednesday,”

• Try: “What’s one reason you love studying Scripture?”

✅ Reply to comments & messages.

• Engagement grows when priests actively respond to their online community.

✅ Use interactive content.

• Polls, live Q&As, and short videos perform better than text-only posts.

4. Prioritize Video (It’s 3x More Effective!)

Video is the most engaging type of content on social media. Studies show that video posts get 3x more interaction than text or images.

📌 How Priests Can Use Video Effectively:
🎥 Post short, simple videos.

• Example: “Why does the Church teach that the Eucharist is truly the Body of Christ?” (Answer in 60 seconds.)

📱 Try ‘Ask Father’ Q&As.

• Answer common faith questions in short clips and post them weekly.

⏳ Don’t overthink production quality.

• A simple, well-lit smartphone video is often more engaging than a highly produced video.

📌 The Power of Video Content in Church Outreach - The Church Co

5. Focus on Community, Not Just Followers

Instead of focusing on numbers, focus on impact.

✅ Encourage discussions.

• Social media should feel like an extension of the Church community.

✅ Be consistent.

• Posting once or twice a week is more effective than inconsistent, random posting.

✅ Show personality & authenticity.

• Parishioners connect more with real, personal content rather than just formal Church announcements.

📌 The Catholic Guide for Using Social Media - Focus

Conclusion: Engagement Over Information

Priests don’t have to spend hours online to make social media effective.

📌 Key Takeaways:
✅ Use hooks & strong visuals to stop the scroll.
✅ Prioritize engagement over announcements.
✅ Post video content—it gets 3x more interaction.
✅ Make your social media a place for faith-filled discussions.

When used effectively, social media can bring more people to Christ and strengthen your parish community.