Thank you for your feedback on the new website which we launched officially last Friday.
A parish website has to cater to three main sets of audience:
- active parishioners: they already know what the parish has to offer but they want to read regular news and updates as well as fresh opportunities to get involved
- new parishioners: they want to know what the parish has to offer and how they can participate
- lapsed parishioners/visitors: they not only need to know what the parish has to offer but also to feel welcome and encouraged to participate
A good parish website should provide relevant, timely and regular information and to present this information in an inviting and attractive way. It also has to take into account guidelines on web usability so that information is easy to find and easy to read.
These are the ideals that we are trying to work towards with our new website.
Issues addressed
Much of the feedback has been positive but there were minor issues and teething problems that we have addressed. These include:
Booking places for Mass
- Booking is now open 10 days before every Mass (whereas initially, it was six days before every Mass).
- You no longer need to be a registered user of the website to book places for Mass. This means you do not need to enter a username or a password when you book.
Mass Times
The Mass Times section has been expanded to include Mass intentions, liturgical calendars and guidelines on booking places for Mass.
Text colour
Text colour was dark grey when the website was launched but some people found this sometimes difficult to read and so text is now black.
Main Navigation
When viewing the website on a laptop or desktop, the main navigation or menu appears at the top of the screen (below the parish logo). The menu makes it very easy to find the information that you need. It divides the website into the following main sections: Home, About Us, Mass Times, Live Streaming, News, Events, Sacraments, Ministries, Donate, Resources and Contact. Some of these sections are further divided into sub-sections.
Some people have said that they cannot see the menu when they are viewing the website on mobile devices such as mobile phones and tablets. This is because the website is “responsive”, meaning its layout adjusts depending on the device it is viewed on. If you are using a mobile device, the menu will appear as a yellow circle on the top right hand corner of the page with three horizontal white lines. If you click on this, a vertical version of the navigation bar appears which will allow you to access the different sections of the website.
Keep telling us
We continue to welcome feedback, both positive and negative. Tell us what you like and what you do not like. Is there anything else that we should be adding? Send us a message as we’d love to hear from you!