Build an engaging Advent webpage in five easy steps

Here’s a simple way to keep your website fresh with new content this Advent: Create a beautiful page highlighting all the Advent-focused events and information happening at your organization. Keeping it all in one place allows people in your community to quickly find ways to deepen their participation in this special season.

Here are a few steps to set up a central hub of all things Advent for your flock.

1

Create your page

Create a new page using the Site Map (example pictured below). When setting it up, be sure to give it an alias like “advent.” This way you can easily promote it later (see Step 5).

Then use the page image option to place a vibrant photo near the header of the page that will enhance the content below. Consider images from your organization’s own Advent traditions like the Advent wreath and candles or a giving tree decorated with ribbon.

2

Select a layout

Since this page will have a different purpose than other pages on your site, consider giving it a unique layout. Find the best layout option by selecting the Page Settings located in the bottom left corner of the screen.

For a clean appearance, consider using a Sections Layout. You can add a row of buttons, create tabbed content, and design a beautiful page with digestible chunks of information organized in horizontal content regions.

3

Add special content, news, and events 

It’s likely your organization has events to enrich your community’s participation in Advent. Such occasions may include clothing and gift drives for families, prayer or book groups, special adoration hours, or extended confession schedules. Or you may want to share stories, like how many coats were collected during the parish drive, or your pastor’s weekly Advent reflections.

Let all these events and stories fill your Advent page by using a News section or Events section. After populating items within the News or Events modules, individual items will  be seen on your Advent page (as well as your main calendar and news pages too).

If you already have Advent-related items on your main calendar or news pages, simply access the individual event or news item’s settings, and select the Pages tab. Then, tag the item to appear on the Advent page as well.

4

Include Advent Catholic Content

Finish off your page with a Catholic Content module that automatically populates current content for the liturgical season. Look for special modules, like Advent reflections by Bishop Barron. Or simply add the Today’s Readings module to share Mass readings for each day in Advent.

Automatically add daily Advent reflections to your website

Need more Catholic content for your website? We've got you covered! Keep an eye on your content tray for the Advent Reflections module, is always made available shortly before the Advent season begins! Simply drag-and-drop the module onto a page to automatically display daily reflections from Bishop Robert Barron.

5

Make your page visible and share it

Finally, make the new page visible on your homepage. Add a photo in your Homepage Feature Region, or a custom homepage button, linking to the new page.

When you set up your page, using an alias like “advent” helps further promote your content. So when you share information about an Advent event in your bulletin, follow it with the statement, “Visit mychurchname.org/advent for all Advent events, reflections and prayers.” The URL is also easier for people to understand or remember when advertised on a video board or used in a verbal announcement.

And don’t forget to post about it in social media, include links within emails, and use the alias on bulletin board flyers.

Now that you have an Advent page, think about ways you can create pages to enagage your audience during Christmas, Lent and Easter. As each liturgical season approaches, you'll have an easy opportunity to publish fresh, new content for your eCatholic site. Happy Advent!