Ask any parish secretary how many places they post the same announcement each week. The answer is usually long: the printed bulletin, the website, a Facebook page, an email list, maybe a WhatsApp group or two. And still, on Sunday, someone says “I didn’t know about that.”

It doesn’t have to be this way. Tabella gives your parish one simple place to share news, schedules, and updates, and it’s completely free for parishes, dioceses, and ministries. Here’s how to get started in five steps.

Step 1: Find and claim your parish

Your parish might already be listed on Tabella. Many parishes are. As a member of the parish staff, you can claim your community and become its admin. If your parish isn’t listed yet, you can request a new community and the Tabella team will help get it set up.

Claiming your parish makes sure the right people are in charge of what parishioners see, and that your community is managed by your parish, not by a stranger.

Step 2: Complete your parish profile

Once your community is yours, take a few minutes to update the basics:

  • A clear photo of your church or parish logo
  • Your address and location
  • Phone number, email, and website

This sounds small, but it matters. When a new family moves into the area or a visitor is looking for Mass, this is the first thing they see. A complete profile tells them your parish is active and welcoming.

Step 3: Add your Mass and confession times

This is the information parishioners look for most. Add your Sunday and weekday Mass times, confession times, and any regular events like Adoration or Bible study. Tabella lets you create one-time or recurring events, so you set up a weekly event once and it stays on the calendar.

When something changes, you update it in one place and everyone sees the right time.

Step 4: Invite your team

Parish communication should never depend on one person. With Tabella you can add unlimited admins and collaborators, so your pastor, office staff, and trusted volunteers can all help.

A good starting team might be:

  • The parish secretary or office manager
  • The pastor or a parochial vicar
  • One or two ministry leaders who share news often

You can always add more people later, as your community grows.

Step 5: Publish your first post and invite parishioners

Now the fun part. Write a short welcome post that tells parishioners what to expect: “This is where you’ll find our weekly announcements, Mass time changes, and parish news.” Add a photo from a recent parish event to make it feel personal.

Every post can reach parishioners’ phones as a push notification, and you can pin your most important announcements to the top so nobody miss them.

Then spread the word:

  • Announce it after Mass for a few weeks in a row
  • Add a note and a QR code in the printed bulletin
  • Share the link on your website and social media
  • Ask ministry leaders to invite their members

For parishioners who don’t use apps, Tabella sends a weekly email summary of your announcements, so nobody is left out.

A few tips for your first month

Post regularly. Even one or two posts a week helps parishioners get into the habit of checking the app.

Keep it simple. Short posts with a clear message and a photo work better than long blocks of text.

Be patient. Some parishioners will join the first week. Others will need a few reminders. That’s normal.

Ready to get started?

Bringing your parish communication into one place is easier than it looks, and it can save your staff hours every week. Tabella is free for every parish, with no subscriptions and no limits.

Claim or request your parish community today and start connecting with your parishioners this week. If you have questions along the way, the Tabella help center is there to help.

Tabella: Your Parishes, Ministries, and Content. All in one safe Catholic space.