December 9, 2017

New parish app helps connect Catholics with Christ

REGIONAL
By Carolee McGrath

The new myParish App is available for free to all parishes in the Diocese of Springfield. Mass times, bulletins, prayers and events are now at the fingertips of parishioners.

SPRINGFIELD – Even though cell phones are often frowned upon in church, there’s a new app that will help Catholics take church with them when they leave Mass each week.

The Catholic Communications ministry, which produces “Real to Reel” and “Chalice of Salvation,” has made the myParish App available for free to all parish communities in the Diocese of Springfield. The app, available on iPhones and Android devices, puts all church events, bulletins, daily readings, and Catholic news right there on the touch screen.

“Our goal is to have all parishes fully utilize the tool,” said Mark Dupont, the director of Catholic Communications and spokesman for the diocese.

“Catholic Communications, since our origins some 75 years ago, has long strived to connect with people in the parishes using the most modern technology and resources available. This is just a continuation of that longstanding tradition,” Dupont said.

St. Agnes in Dalton held a “Download Sunday” event Dec. 2-3 to explain the app to parishioners.

“The app is part about improving communication between a parish and the people. So, our bulletin will be in there, our calendar,” said Father Christopher Malatesta, pastor of St. Agnes Parish. After Mass, members of the youth group have been helping parishioners download the app.

“It’s also an opportunity for push notifications. Anyone who has the app, it will push a notice to them. We have a mission starting next week. We’ll push out a notice. Everyone will be instantly be reminded it’s happening,” he said.

Seventy-two-year-old Kathy Bramer, a great-grandmother, has been using the app for a few weeks.

“I love it. I no longer have to worry about getting a bulletin,” said Bramer. “It has ‘Real to Reel,’ all the Masses on it, the information about the diocese, world news. When I want to look something up, I just look it up on my app. It’s so easy.”

Each parish already has basic information loaded on the app. It’s up to individual pastors to customize, add personal messages, and weekly homilies. Confession times and Catholic prayers are also listed.

St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in Cheshire also held a Download Sunday event.

Father Malatesta said it’s a great tool which will help spread the Good News.

“Some people have a fear of bringing phones into church, saying they’ll be a distraction. I find that people are on their phones so much, why don’t we use them to evangelize and teach them about Jesus,” said Father Malatesta.

The app can be downloaded by texting “App” to phone number 88202, by visiting the app store, or by logging on to myparishapp.com.

 A video version of this story will be featured on Saturday’s edition of “Real to Reel,” which airs Saturday evenings at 7 on WWLP-22NEWS.