Macbook pro on a bed near a window with a website design on the screen

Bilingual Church Website Launched

Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Springfield, Missouri, launched a new bilingual website on December 8, 2021. Fr. Gaspar Masilamani, CMF, chose to launch the site on The Feast of the Immaculate Conception in honor of The Blessed Virgin Mary.

A group of parishioners spearheaded the effort: Fr. Gaspar, Glenn Eckl, Parish Secretary Roy Avila, and Website Admin Jacqueline Paz.

Matthew Henderson, a parishioner at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Springfield, also worked on the project. Henderson owns the marketing agency Henderson Media and serves as a website consultant for the diocese.

A website that reflects the diverse congregation

Sacred Heart, located on the northside of Springfield, offers services in both English and Spanish.

“It is important that people have access to the same information, whether they speak English or Spanish,” explained Henderson. “We want to offer the same user experience to both demographics of people.”

Every page on the site is offered in both languages.

Modern website design technology

This project includes:

  • A new mobile-friendly website design that looks good on desktop computers, tablets, and smartphones.
  • A content-management system from WordPress.org that allows the staff members and volunteers to handle most content changes and additions, without the need to hire a web designer.
  • Fresh content writing to describe the church and its activities.
  • Photography at of the property.
  • Website management training.

Engaging the Community

The new design also offers an improved way of delivering parish news and events.

Most parish websites require people to download a PDF of the church bulletin in order to read upcoming announcements. But new SacredHeartch.org offers important news in individual, mobile-friendly posts right on the site.

This format is easy-to-read and it makes the details easier to find. News posts are even searchable.

Henderson explains this and other theories of church website design in the article “Keys to better church web design.

About Sacred Heart Parish

Our Sacred Heart family is joined together by Christ to celebrate our oneness through common prayer life, and is sent forth to teach and serve. Our purpose as a parish is to portray in our lives the teachings of Jesus Christ by giving compassion and reconciling love to all through our prayer and action.

The parish was founded in 1882 and is located at 1609 N. Summit, Springfield, MO 65803

Learn more at SacredHeartch.or or by calling (417) 869-3646.