I recently signed up for a new wiki. If you don’t know what a wiki is, click here. But that’s not what I want to tell you about. Almost immediately after I signed up, I got an e-mail from Kristine at PBwiki introducing herself as “the community evangelist” for PBwiki. Her reason for writing was to help me get involved and to provide assistance if I got stuck.

Then she gave me ten links I could click on to find out more about my wiki and the PBwiki community. She also promised to respond if I sent her a reply e-mail. (Click on the image for a little better view.)

How simple would this be to implement in our parishes? What if we made a habit of collecting e-mails from any of these folks:
 
 

• Couples who inquire about wedding preparation
• Parents who want to baptize their babies
• Anyone who calls the parish office “looking for a priest”
• Families that register for religious education
• Anyone who calls the parish school to get information
• People who call requesting a baptismal certificate
• Folks who call to ask about Mass times
• Newcomers to Mass on Sunday (or Christmas or Easter)

Then, within an hour of receiving their e-mail address, send a note similar to Kristine’s. This can be a template so you don’t have to compose it new each time. But you might have a few different templates on hand to relate more closely to the person’s needs (for example, a template for engaged couples and another for new parents).

Here’s my attempt at something for couples asking about getting married in your parish:

[PARISH LOGO]

Hi from St. Nicholas Parish,

Thanks for getting in touch.

My name is Nick, and I’m the information contact person for St. Nicholas Parish. I’m here to answer any questions you have about getting married at St. Nicholas or anything else you’d like to know about the parish. I thought I’d send you our top tips for finding your way around the parish and discovering who’s who.

If you have any questions, just reply to this e-mail.

Wedding procedures at St. Nicholas Parish

Why marriage is a sacrament

10 tips for a great wedding liturgy

Should we have a wedding with or without a Mass?

People of the parish

Meet our pastor

Other helpful staff members

Couples who were recently married at St. Nicholas

What we do around here

Young adult Mass

Theology on Tap

Parish Festival

What Do Catholics Believe? discussion group

Get help

If you need any help along the way, preparing for your wedding or participating in the parish, check out these great resources.

Our parish receptionist
(she knows everything and everybody!)

Our wedding preparation team

St. Nicholas Parish Web site

FAQs about St. Nicholas Parish

Thanks!

Nick