I am the webmaster for my UGCC parish: http://www.StSophiaUkrainian.cc/

I'm still learning the ropes and there's a lot left to do. One of the things I want to do is add a widget which identifies each day's readings, or saints, or something. Does ByzCath have or know of a plugin with that kind of content? We're using WordPress as our content management system.

I'm working on editing some catechetical info and would like to offer it to any other UGCC parishes to use on their websites when it is complete.

I am going through the content here to improve the site: http://www.pilotnewmedia.com/parishwebsites/

If there are webmasters who have other tips or tricks of the trade or content to share, I would like to know about that, too.

CDB,

Welcome to the forum and thank you for the link to the Boston Archdiocese's parishwebsite page, which I hadn't seen previously. (I'm not a parish webmaster, but am a major advocate for parishes establishing websites, so I'm always glad to learn of tips and tools that they can utilize.)

We do have a few parish webmasters among our members, as well as several folks with blogs or other on-line sites, so someone will hopefully be able to offer you some ideas.

Love the website - not least of which the most variations on how to spell pirohi (hmm, you missed that one ) that I've ever seen and the only video on how to make pirohi that I've ever seen hosted on a parish website.

I'm pleased to be able to tell you that I've added the entry for St Sophia to our Directory of EC Parishes.

Many years,

Neil

Wonderful! I don't have an exterior picture of the church to send you for the directory right now, but when I do, I'll email it to you.

I'll add pirohi to the list of spellings today!

I'm also in the process of establishing Facebook and G+ pages for the parish and updating the content on Google Places and similar venues. It will be a while before I get them all connected, but I'm working on it. This could be a full time job!

http://www.facebook.com/StSophiaParish
http://gplus.to/StSophiaParish
http://gplus.to/DFWpierogies

My connection is really slow so I was only now able to see that you have an exterior photo. And the Facebook, YouTube, and Flickr pages! Thanks!

I'll try to get you a better photo soon. And now you can add the G+ page, too!

CDB,

Glad you like the directory entry.

Indeed, setting up and maintaining a truly vibrant parish web presence could indeed be a full time job. Very honestly, I'd be thrilled if a lot more parishes achieved at least a static web presence to let folks know they're out there. Barring that, I guess directory entries will serve that purpose for some.

I'm afraid that G+ pages will have to become a lot more common before I'm convinced to add them. An increased number of parishes with Flickr sites only recently caused me to add a field for a link to those and I haven't linked many as yet - although I must admit that the G+ pages are very attractive.

My reticence is a function of space and formatting, the not insignificant bandwidth that I'm sure the directory is presently using (and which ByzCath generously hosts), and the time to keep up with adding data. There are close to 140 (mandatory and optional) fields in each directory entry; only a few are auto generated - the rest must be researched and keyed in. We're only now beginning to enter UGCC parishes in the US and Canada and there are Churches (e.g., Maronite, Chaldean, Syro-Malankara) that haven't even been touched as yet.

Did the best I could with the exterior photo - the slightly askew mailbox resisted all efforts to exclude it from the scene By the way, on one of your excellent lists of resource links, one is posted for 'byzantines.net'. Regretably, that site shut down several years ago.

Many years,

Neil

I removed Byzantines.net. Thanks for the tip! I added pirohi. I forgot to get an exterior picture!

Still looking for a list of the Ukrainian daily cycles of readings, saints and hymns.

This website has liturgical texts, calendar, resources, etc.

http://www.pastoral.org.ua/?page_id=32

The entire molytvoslov is on there! What a great treasure of info! I'm adding it to our list of links! Thank you for sharing it!

Do you know of a source for that info in English?

I don't usually bump threads but I'm doing so in hopes that someone (Deacon Randy?) might see it and know of an English-language source.

Many years,

Neil

Here is a good tool for webmasters to see how they're doing. It's a self-assessment for rating your church website.

http://catholictechtalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Rate-Your-Church-Website.pdf

It comes from this webpage http://catholictechtalk.com/2012/01/23/rate-your-church-website/?doing_wp_cron=1327423918

I just created a facebook group for Eastern Catholic webmasters, techs, and new media evangelizers to help lighten the load for us by collaboration and support.

I could set it up as a mailing list, Yahoo group, G+ circle, or any other way if there's consensus preferring one way over another, but I started on Facebook.

Please spread the word and join if you are involved in this work.

http://www.facebook.com/groups/221720501258463/

Thanks! I just sent a request. I really could use some help and tips and I appreciate this opportunity.


Wow, that was quick on the approval. Thanks again!