Your brand is the impression people have of you. It’s much more than a logo. It’s the first thought that comes to mind when someone sees or hears your name. What does your community think of when they hear the name of your parish?
What you communicate about your parish helps shape your brand and it’s helpful to remember that your parish is always communicating. Examples include, conversations between staff and parishioners or priests and parishioners, homilies, pew cards, how greeters interact with visitors, posters, events, signage and your logo are all types of communication that convey information that make an impression on people. All of this and many other verbal, non-verbal, written, and visual communication determine your brand.
As a Catholic entity, you should not think outside the box of branding. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). By following the teachings of Jesus Christ, and communicating consistently and authentically, we develop our brand.
It’s important to create consistent imagery for your parish to help people understand what you are about and to increase recognition in the community.Click here to read eCatholic’s three tips to help parishes with branding.
To be true to the brand of the Catholic Church, consistently communicate Sacred Scripture, the Catechism, Traditions, Catholic Social Teaching, lives of the saints, prayers, devotions, papal encyclicals, messages from your pastor, the bishop and the pope. This communication is like a gift we bring to the world, a gift that is always wrapped in the love of God, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life” (John 3:16).