What is the first thing you look for

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SerraSemper

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If you are a young man discerning the priesthood or consecrated life, or woman discerning consecrated life, what is the first thing you look for on a website? Contact info? News about the diocese/community? I ask because I am helping with a website and would greatly appreciate your (name removed by moderator)ut. Thank you!
 
All websites have many common things; therefore, I’d like to mention some of the things that I see some websites do not have and they are important to me:
  • vocation stories and pictures of members of that particular orders.
  • their works.
 
Good Day!

I worked on a web site not too long ago… Suggest you have a F&Q (questions & answers) section for sure… along with a section on the history and spirituality, and info on qualifications.

If you want to take a look at the site, go to www.dhmna.org

Have a blessed day!

:blessyou:
 
SerraSemper said:
If you are a young man discerning the priesthood or consecrated life, or woman discerning consecrated life, what is the first thing you look for on a website? Contact info? News about the diocese/community? I ask because I am helping with a website and would greatly appreciate your (name removed by moderator)ut. Thank you!
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I think the first thing I look for before looking at anything else is if they wear a habit. It’s not that I dismiss them completely if they don’t, but I have a calling to wear the habit. After that, I look for Vocation Stories and/or pictures of their life; newsletters are always good! 👍 I also look at the ministry and charism of the order.
 
I look for the pictures first, because I want to wear the habit, too 🙂
Then, I usually check vocation page (“joining us”, “become a sister” and alike) and look what is their age limit (damned age limits! They are real pain for middle-aged discerners!)
Then, I usually look to “About us” to learn what these sisters do, what’s their apostolate and mission.
Then, I visit a page about history of congregation or about founders.
Then, just explore anything else they have on the site 🙂
 
I would recommend showing the respective community in action relative to their particular charism.

Many people fear that a religious vocation means a boring life. I highly recommend including videos of the community working and being active.

Also, updated news to let those interested know that the community is active and thriving.
 
What I like to look for -

1 - Scan the page for a current picture of a nun and see if she’s wearing a habit. If not, click “Back” on the browser and return to Google.

2 - If one nun is wearing a habit, see if all nuns are wearing the same habit. (Some will have an elderly (in their 90s) nun wearing a traditional habit, and maybe some older nuns (60s-80s) wearing a partial, or no habit). If not, return to Google.

3 - Check their daily schedule. Is the Rosary said frequently? Divine Mercy Chaplet (if not, then private prayer time)? Daily Mass before breakfast?

4 - Make sure they’re Roman Catholic, and not non-Catholic or an order in schism.

5 - Take a look at their charism/spirituality/discernment process (or page) and any apostolic ministry they do. (I think I’m leaning towards (Discalced) Carmelite vs. Fransciscan)

6 - Check out any vocation stories (especially if they’re also a convert).
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Inity:
I look for the pictures first, because I want to wear the habit, too
Then, I usually check vocation page (“joining us”, “become a sister” and alike) and look what is their age limit (damned age limits! They are real pain for middle-aged discerners!)
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Being a recent convert (this past March), I’d have to wait another 2 1/4 years (1 year under most age limits of 35…). I’m really just in the curiousity phase about it, probably because it’s all still very new.
 
This is normally the order I look at things on a website:
  1. Pictures (It’s easy to tell if the community is young, vibrant, joyful, in habits, etc from the pictures)
  2. Charism and Apostolate
  3. Prayer (What devotions the community has, etc.)
  4. Daily Schedule
  5. Vocations - Retreat Schedules
  6. Everything Else
May God bless your work with the website. JPII - Pray for us and the use of technology!!!
 
Deffinatly pictures of daily life to see what it is like. Pictures of the convent/monastery.
 
The first thing that I look for is:

Who are you, what do you do? Tell me about your charism.
 
SerraSemper said:
If you are a young man discerning the priesthood or consecrated life, or woman discerning consecrated life, what is the first thing you look for on a website? Contact info? News about the diocese/community? I ask because I am helping with a website and would greatly appreciate your (name removed by moderator)ut. Thank you!
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Just a few thoughts on the design itself. Make sure you use the alt-text for all major images. And please, limit your usage of current fashions such as flash, java, javascript, etc. They are way too overused today!

You might want to check out the Viewable With Any Browser Campaign.

Check your page with browsers such as lynx and links (I use these two alot – even for general usage). This will help you concentrate on structure and content and not just visual appeal. Take a look at the OpenBSD page for one good page design (you know how to look at page source, right?). Remember, the internet is a vehicle for communication and information exchange, not just for ‘eye candy’.
 
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