March 5, 2023

Jesus Christ: Yesterday, Today and Forever ~

This pastor’s column might seem mundane yet it’s important enough for you and the parish that I’m going to run it two weekends in a row. Please continue reading and get plugged in.

Information technology has been around for a generation now and as we all know, it is constantly improving, which is to say, it’s constantly evolving. We moved much of the data that we have on file with you to a significantly enhanced system called ParishStaq. We are also starting to transition those of us who are using on-line giving, from Vanco to a much better system called Pushpay. These two systems will work together to substantially improve our current information systems and should last for a long time to come. So once we’ve got your information transferred into these two new systems, we should be all set for the long haul. I’m excited about the ways in which ParishStaq and Pushpay will be able to enhance your parish life and faith. What do these new systems offer that the old ones didn’t?

You can think of ParishStaq as an on-line community for the parish. With it, you’ll be able to sign up for events, interact with small groups, and track your ministry commitments. It will also serve as a directory for the whole parish. You can even update your own contact information including your favorite photo of you! In a few months a parish app will come out that will connect you to ParishStaq and Pushpay (expect to hear more about this in the future). Further down the road, we hope to transition Ministry Scheduler Pro, our volunteer scheduling application, into ParishStaq. When that happens, we will be able to complete the consolidation and simplification of our information systems.

Pushpay is replacing our current servicer, Vanco, for online giving and provides a much smoother process for you to give electronically. Pushpay allows for simple giving through a variety of means, including mobile and online.

Holy Redeemer’s staff was deeply involved with the selection of these programs for the Archdiocese as a whole, and we are very excited about the ways they will benefit our mission to Glorify God and Sanctify Souls. We were chosen to be one of the first parishes in the Archdiocese to adopt it. Our being first in line gives us the opportunity to help direct the development of the software, but it also means there will be some rough edges at first. One in particular that you should know about, is that some of the emails we will send out in the next few months will say they are coming from the Archdiocese of Seattle, rather than Holy Redeemer – please know that they are from us.

So here’s what I need from you. I want you to sign up for ParishStaq and Pushpay. There are instructions below on how to get signed up for both. Every individual at Holy Redeemer should do this. We’ve already had a group of parishioners volunteer to test ParishStaq and Pushpay for us, and the feedback we have received has been that it is very simple. It only takes a couple of minutes of your time to sign up for both.

This weekend and next, our administrator Ed Brands and business manager Kevin Greenlee, will be in the narthex and parish center after the Masses to help you get signed up if needed. They will also be holding tutorials and sign-up sessions in the Parish Center during the week of March 12th. The times for these are listed below.