You might notice the website getting new features. We integrated Facebook likes and posting and added new resources. More is on the way!

Please let us know your feedback!

This Catholic Tech Talk article by Brad West lists St. Sophia’s among its notable parish websites! Just think how much better it will be when yours truly, the webmaster, figures out what she’s doing! We’re just getting started.

The Pilot New Media talk and resources on “Creating Excellent Parish Websites” that he mentioned were an amazing resource in this work. We are grateful that the Archdiocese of Boston live streamed it and even took questions all the way from Texas. St. Elias’ church in Brampton and St. Joseph’s in Chicago have also been quite helpful. We are hoping that this website will in turn pay it forward by providing content that other Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Churches can use on their sites so that we can fulfill Patriarch Sviatoslav’s call when he told Our Sunday Visitor:

…we have the right time in order to give the bread of life to those people who are hungry or thirsty for this spiritual dimension of human life. It’s why I proclaimed evangelization is our most important task.

In commenting on the UGCC synod of bishops’ recent Strategy for Development through 2020, the patriarch said, “The development of the parish community should be our priority. By fostering and reviving communities we foster and vivify the whole Church.” It is our hope that this website assists in doing so.

The parish website is starting to take form! There’s still a lot of work to do, but we’re pleased with what’s we’ve accomplished so far!

What we’ve already done:
-Welcome message from Father in English and Ukrainian
-Up-to-date announcements in English and Ukrainian (thanks to the great help of Iryna in making that happen!)
-Driving directions (thanks to the tip by John, they are now working, too!)
-A large list of relevant links on the resources page
-Information on our patron saint (one of the top searches bringing people to our site)
-Information on our pierogies (which is our most visited page)
-An email distribution list for parishioners
-Social network buttons for easy access
-Integration of worldwide UGCC news on the front page
-Integration of Eastern Catholic catechetical radio on the front page
–Flickr account with a church tour already available on it
(If you have a Flickr account, please “Friend” us!)
–YouTube account with a welcome video already available on it
(If you have a YouTube account, please “Friend” and “Subscribe” to us!)
–Facebook account where you can like and follow parish happenings
(If you have a Facebook account, please “Like” us!)

Some of the things we have in the works:
-Meet the clergy info
-Picture galleries
-Video church tour
-More information for visitors and newcomers including explanations of the way we worship God
-List of ministries and ways to be involved at the church
-An email newsletter for those who want to be informed of major events like festivals
-Links to other UGCC parishes
-Updated blog format which allows questions and comments for interaction
-Facebook “Like” and Google “+1” integration on blog posts
-Secure online giving
-Online forms such as parish registration
-Improved usability and aesthetics