Chai Brady
Parishioners at St Anne's Church, Shankill on Easter Sunday,when the app was launched 
A new specialised smartphone app has launched in three pilot parishes across the country with the goal of supporting stronger communities.
YourParish App, created by The Irish Catholic, is designed to be a contemporary space for the entire community to convene, while also enabling them to stay up-to-date with the latest news and events.
The easy to use app is an inclusive, practical resource aimed at spanning the generations to help foster a more closely-linked community.
The app was launched on Easter Sunday, April 1, in three different counties, with parishes in Shankill, Co. Dublin, Greystones, Co. Wicklow and Barntown, Co. Wexford each engaging in the initiative.
From an up-to-the-minute calendar of events, to daily spiritual reflections and even a portal for local schools, YourParish App is designed to be a one-stop shop for the entire local community.
Mass times, daily Bible readings and important contact information for the parish are also included. Free for the entire community to download, the app allows parishes to connect directly with parishioners through push notifications. This proves to be an ideal tool for mass communication particularly in times of severe weather, such as the recent snow storms.
“The app is designed to be a resource where the pastoral meets the practical,” said John Quinn, Parish Outreach Manager for The Irish Catholic. “At its best, parish means a welcoming community. That is what these three parishes are trying to foster with the app.”
Benefit
Parish Priest of Shankill, Fr John O’Connor said: “The parish community of St Anne’s in Shankill are delighted to participate in the launching of YourParish App, as we are convinced that this could be of enormous benefit to the entire community.”
“Without any doubt, the internet represents for us a huge challenge but also a wonderful opportunity if properly used. We believe that this can be a simple way of communicating with old and young alike and we are excited about how together we can develop this new means of communication.”
Curate of Barntown Church, Co. Wexford, Fr John Carroll said: “The app doesn’t just allow for better communication from the parish, it also has a spiritual and catechetical aspect.
“It allows parishioners to download a daily reflection and the Mass readings, to keep up to date with Church developments at national and international levels and make requests for prayers at times of need and volunteer for service directly.”
Commenting on how challenging some more elderly parishioners might find this translation to new technology, Fr Carroll said: “I am continually amazed at just how versatile and innovative some of our more elderly parishioners actually are. That said, many have the expert back up of grandchildren and younger family members who are delighting in getting them started and seeing them keep up with the times.”
Concluding his remarks at the weekend Masses, Fr Carroll said that “the app is a small sign of how belief and religion are embracing new technology and the family that is Church is connecting in ever new ways – it’s a case of ‘Catholic. Community. Connected’ as the promotional line states”.
After this initial pilot phase, the app will be released across the country. The aim is to equip parishes to better engage with their communities in the lead up to, and aftermath of, the visit of Pope Francis at the World Meeting of Families in August.
YourParish App can be downloaded for free on the App Store or the Google Play Store.
Learn more about the app here.
