Engage Your WHOLE Church: Crafting Bulletins for Every Reader

When creating your parish bulletin, it's essential to consider the diverse needs and interests of your congregation and greater community. Different demographics look for unique elements, and tailoring your content ensures everyone is included and informed. Here’s a breakdown of some common parishioner (and non-parishioner) profiles and what these people might be seeking in your parish’s bulletin.

1. Senior Susan

• Profile: A faithful parishioner for 40+ years, Susan values tradition and connection. She never misses Sunday Mass and often volunteers for various church activities year-round.
• What She’s Looking For:
• Announcements about parish events like potlucks, prayer groups, and retreats.
• Updates on church maintenance projects or improvements.
• Easy-to-read layouts with larger fonts.
• Information on how to support parish ministries and donate to the church.

2. Visitor Victor

• Profile: New to the area, Victor is exploring local churches to find a spiritual home. He might attend an event or a couple Masses before he decides if this parish fits his needs.
• What He’s Looking For:
• A clear schedule of Mass times and office hours.
• Invitations to newcomer events and other types of socials.
• Contact details for the parish office and pastoral staff, and social media handles.
• Brief descriptions of the church’s mission, values, and different ministries.

3. High School Hannah

• Profile: A teenager juggling school, sports, and social life, Hannah attends Mass with her family or youth group.
• What She’s Looking For:
• Youth ministry event announcements like retreats, game nights, or service projects.
• Social media handles for youth group pages.
• Recognition of young people’s contributions to the parish (e.g., altar servers, choir members).
• Opportunities for community service hours.
• Resources and ministry opportunities specifically designed for teens.

4. Curious Curtis

• Profile: Not Catholic but intrigued by the faith, Curtis might be attending with a friend or exploring spirituality on his own.
• What He’s Looking For:
• Explanations of Catholic traditions or practices.
• Invitations to introductory opportunities and courses like OCIA (Office of Christian Initiation of Adults).
• Stories of personal faith journeys or conversions.
• Upcoming newcomer or other community events.

5. Faithful Family (Grace & Greg)

• Profile: A young couple with two kids in grade school, Grace and Greg seek opportunities for their family to grow in faith together.
• What They’re Looking For:
• Information about children’s faith formation opportunities like youth group and Vacation Bible School (VBS).
• Family-friendly events like pancake breakfasts or holiday celebrations.
• Tips for faith-building activities at home and parent-support opportunities.
• Details about sacramental preparation for youth.

6. Young Adult Alex

• Profile: In their 20s or 30s, Alex is seeking deeper faith formation and a strong sense of community with other young adults.
• What They’re Looking For:
• Small groups or Bible studies for young adults.
• Volunteer opportunities to give back to the community.
• Notices about social gatherings like retreats and ministry opportunities.
• Resources for spiritual growth, such as book recommendations, podcasts, and in-person events.

7. Busy Brenda

• Profile: A working parent or professional with limited free time, Brenda skims the bulletin for key details.
• What She’s Looking For:
• A concise “Top 5 Things to Know This Week” section.
• Highlights of upcoming events or registration deadlines.
• Online options for donations or event sign-ups.
• How to access live-streamed Mass or other online ways to connect with the parish.

8. Online Oliver

• Profile: Prefers digital formats, Oliver engages with the church bulletin via email or the parish website.
• What He’s Looking For:
• Interactive elements like links to sign-up form or event RSVPs.
• A well-designed PDF or mobile-friendly bulletin layout.
• Quick access to livestreamed Masses or recorded elements.
• Parish updates through embedded videos or links to social media pages.

9. Bilingual Betty

• Profile: Betty speaks English as her second language. She is an active member of your parish activities, especially the ones hosted by and catered to her cultural group.
• What She’s Looking For:
• Articles and announcements in her native language.
• Opportunities to engage with both people who speak her primary language and the greater community.
• Ministry experiences to aid in English fluency.
• Information about Mass and Confession times in her native language.

10. Elementary Emerson

• Profile: He is the first one in the family to dive into the bulletin looking for… you guessed it! The kid’s stuff! Emerson often can be found paging though the bulletin during Mass with a handful of crayons.
• What He’s Looking For:
• Kid’s coloring pages and puzzles.
• Comics and cartoons.

Order Matters!

When planning your parish bulletin, consider organizing content into separate sections tailored to different audience types. A clear table of contents at the beginning can make it easy for readers to find what interests them most. For example:  

• Group items that are perfect for visitors and newcomers more toward the front of your publication.
• Assemble pieces that families are looking for into a “family and child” section.
• A faith formation section is also useful for your young adults, teens, and those seeking.
• Do you have a multilingual community? Be sure to announce where readers can find content in different languages right away to make it easy for them to navigate.

Crafting a Bulletin for Everyone

Your church bulletin is more than just an announcement sheet — it’s a powerful tool to connect with every member of your community. By addressing the specific needs of your audience, you create a welcoming and engaging experience that fosters connection and participation.

LPi has every tool you need to make your printed and digital bulletin a resounding success for your community. From a free, fresh new design template specially made by our team for your unique parish, an extensive content library filled with covers, graphics, articles, comics, and more, to professional eco-friendly printing, shipping, and personal support, LPi has you covered! Our parish bulletins are often printed and delivered FREE OF COST for our partnering parishes because our bulletins are ad-supported.

For time-saving graphics, liturgical bulletin covers, youth bulletin inserts like puzzles and comics, and other content ideas, WeCreate is the way to go. WeCreate is our extensive library of Catholic content that’s updated monthly with fresh, new ideas to help you create the best bulletin possible for your church.

Interested in finding more church bulletin inspiration for your parish staff? Head on over to the “Church Bulletins” section of our weekly blog. Happy publishing!