Every week, many parishes print hundreds of bulletins, flyers, and notices. Some parishes mail letters for special events and campaigns. It all adds up: paper, ink, toner, postage, and the staff hours to design, print, fold, and send everything.
And after all that effort, a lot of it ends up in the recycling bin or forgotten in a car seat.
There’s a simpler way to reach parishioners, and it doesn’t cost a thing.
The hidden cost of printed notices
The price of printing is easy to see on an invoice. But there are other costs too:
- Time. Staff spend hours each week preparing printed materials.
- Deadlines. Bulletins often need to be finished days before Sunday, so last-minute news doesn’t make it in.
- Reach. Printed notices only reach the people who come to Mass that weekend and actually pick one up.
- Changes. When something changes after printing, there’s no easy way to fix it.
For a parish trying to be a good steward of its resources, these costs are worth a second look.
How push notifications change the picture
A push notification is a short message that appears on a parishioner’s phone, the same way a text message does. With Tabella, every announcement your parish shares can reach members this way, in seconds.
Here’s what that means for your parish:
- No printing or postage. Sending a notification doesn’t cost anything.
- No limits. Tabella offers unlimited notifications, so you never have to ration your updates.
- Instant delivery. News reaches people right away, not next Sunday.
- Easy to update. If something changes, you share a new update in a minute.
- Reaches people who weren’t at Mass. Parishioners who were traveling, sick, or at a different Mass still get the news.
Richer than a printed flyer
Tabella announcements can include photos, videos, files, and links. Instead of a black-and-white flyer, you can share a photo from the parish picnic, a video message from the pastor, or a registration link that parishioners can tap right away.
You can also pin important announcements to the top of your community, so key information stays easy to find.
What about parishioners who don’t use apps?
This is a fair question, and an important one. Not every parishioner has a smartphone or wants to download an app.
Tabella sends a weekly email summary of your parish announcements, so members can stay informed from their inbox. And many parishes choose to keep a smaller printed bulletin for those who still prefer paper. The difference is that print becomes a backup, not the main way you reach everyone. That alone can reduce a lot printing costs.
A gradual switch works best
You don’t have to stop printing overnight. Many parishes do it step by step:
- Start sharing announcements on Tabella alongside the printed bulletin.
- Invite parishioners to join over several weeks, from the pulpit and in the bulletin.
- Move time-sensitive news to push notifications first.
- Reduce the number of printed copies as more people join.
- Keep a few printed copies for those who need them.
Reach your parish instantly, for free
Push notifications help your parish share news faster, reach more people, and spend less on paper and postage. That’s money and time your parish can put back into ministry.
Start your parish community on Tabella for free and send your first notification this week.
Tabella: Your Parishes, Ministries, and Content. All in one safe Catholic space.
