FAQ'S

The Everyday Catholic Communities platform is an online collection of Catholic Communities all under one umbrella. These communities are run by gifted Lay Catholics (from various parts of the UK ) who have a particular charism/gift to offer the Church. Many operate at physical locations and are simply extending the mission online.

Some may have already been operating through social platforms, but are looking to come away from these to a membership community which offers a different experience.

Some Types of Communities

Prayer Groups

Charismatic Groups

Devotion Groups 

( i.e Divine Mercy/Divine Will / Fatima/Padre Pio )

Bible Together

Learning and fellowship

Men Only Groups

Women Only Groups

Family Matters Groups

Youth Groups ( over 18 Years)

New Catholic's Groups

Lay Matter Groups

Discuss Church topics

Pilgrimage Groups

Literature & Sacred Art Groups

Catholic Author Groups

Marriage Groups

Events Groups

Each of these groups will have their own dedicated community space which will be a space for providing:

1. Feeds / messages / information on latest activities

2. Chats between group members

3. Information about the community group

4. Events calendar which informs the group about forthcoming events - online/phisical

5. Notifications sent to group members to keep them alert and informed.

6. Courses for learning

7. Talks and presentations

8. Resource material

9. Video gallery

What is unique about the platform is that members of these groups can attend other local or national community groups or prayer activities  - and are encouraged to view the other public groups which bring different gifts to the community.

Everyday Catholic communities is all about uniting Catholics by inviting them to engage, share, pray and fellowship with eachother.

Are you gifted in any of the above areas? We would like to hear from you - our 'called and chosen' team serving our community may be a fit for you! - Reach out here

St John Paul II’s great Apostolic Exhortation on “the vocation and the mission of the lay faithful in the Church and in the world”, Christifideles laici [(CL) 16]:

We come to a full sense of the dignity of the lay faithful if we consider the prime and fundamental vocation that the Father assigns to each of them in Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit: the vocation to holiness, that is, the perfection of charity. 

Holiness is the greatest testimony of the dignity conferred on a disciple of Christ … The call to holiness is rooted in Baptism and proposed anew in the other Sacraments, principally in the Eucharist. Since Christians are reclothed in Christ Jesus and refreshed by his Spirit, they are “holy”. They therefore have the ability to manifest this holiness and the responsibility to bear witness to it in all that they do.

The apostle Paul never tires of admonishing all Christians to live “as is fitting among saints” (Eph

5:3).

LUMEN GENTIUM - St Paul VI

33. The laity are gathered together in the People of God and make up the Body of Christ under one head. Whoever they are they are called upon, as living members, to expend all their energy for the growth of the Church and its continuous sanctification, since this very energy is a gift of the Creator and a blessing of the Redeemer.

The lay apostolate, however, is a participation in the salvific mission of the Church itself. Through their baptism and confirmation all are commissioned to that apostolate by the Lord Himself. Moreover, by the sacraments, especially holy Eucharist, that charity toward God and man which is the soul of the apostolate is communicated and nourished. Now the laity are called in a special way to make the Church present and operative in those places and circumstances where only through them can it become the salt of the earth (2*). Thus every layman, in virtue of the very gifts bestowed upon him, is at the same time a witness and a living instrument of the mission of the Church itself "according to the measure of Christ's bestowal".(197)

Besides this apostolate which certainly pertains to all Christians, the laity can also be called in various ways to a more direct form of cooperation in the apostolate of the Hierarchy (3*). This was the way certain men and women assisted Paul the Apostle in the Gospel, laboring much in the Lord.(198) Further, they have the capacity to assume from the Hierarchy certain ecclesiastical functions, which are to be performed for a spiritual purpose.

Upon all the laity, therefore, rests the noble duty of working to extend the divine plan of salvation to all men of each epoch and in every land. Consequently, may every opportunity be given them so that, according to their abilities and the needs of the times, they may zealously participate in the saving work of the Church.

Everyday Christian Marketing is a Catholic Marketing agency providing services for our Catholic Church since 2016. We provide parishes, dioceses, religious orders and lay missions with digital solutions. Our Charism is best captivated in fulfilling the mandate found in Matthew 5: 15-16

15: Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but upon a candlestick, that it may shine to all that are in the house.

16: So let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

The Mission is supported by a team of Lay professionals situated in various parts of the UK. They volunteer their time, and their expertise - to help bear fruit for the Glory of God.

The platform will be accessible for a pre-launch exploration and familiarity. Invited members can begin to use the system then.  This initial preview (soft launch) commences on the 22nd April 2024. Only those who have requested access via the site - click here will be given the access links on the day. Those who do not register for access will not be able to have a viewing until the site is officially launched on the 1st May 2024

To register and use the Catholic Communities social platform - It is required that users must be over the age of 18. The platform does not permit children to operate memberships.

The above said, there will be useful resources for children which parents can access for helpful teaching.

The new communities platform is not an online social platform - although it has the very best of technology used by the secular social platforms  - it is a different experience, in that our community comprises members who have rooted connections through established in-person groups or activities. The community portal provides  resource and information to support members as we strive together to learn more about our faith.

Here is the list of the services which will be available to members:

• Private password protected spaces  to ensure each community has spaces privacy
• Activity Feeds for each member to share information
• Chat facilities to encourage member discussions
• Rescource information (files) to re-enforce the groups purpose
• Events Calendar with included links for video events online
• Other groups at other regional locations
• Notifications - from fellow members
• Video Gallery - For learning
• UK Courses for members to attend
• Polls & Surveys 
• And so much more

The added benefit is that we don't have to worry about secular algorythms filtering or stopping our messages reaching members. and - our community is not shared with secular groups or open for general social chat as you find within the online social platforms.

There are no costs for members to join and participate in the groups - Everday Christian Marketing (Our platform provider) has invested thousands of pounds into the infrastructure to ensure that the platform can be offered free to our Catholic Lay.

The continued development will be funded by the platform sponsors  (Catholic suppliers of goods and services), who will have an opportunity to promote their goods to our community within designated spaces.

The community will contain a courses section where partners and members can deliver training or awarness of particular themes - some of these may have a cost to attend - but this is a very small secion of the overall community.

Community Group Leaders

We have a national team of Lay volunteers who will be responsible for leading the community groups. Each of them have particular gifts/charisms and skillsets suited for their area of responsibility .

Community Group Moderators

Each community space will have designated moderators to ensure that the conversations are representative of the community ethose.

Unacceptable Behaviour 

Bad language - personal derogatory remarks or conversations that are offensive to our Catholic belief will be removed and participants cautioned / asked to leave.

As a member of any group you can choose not to show certain information within your user settings.

Also, if you decide to attend an online event, you can turn your video off to ensure privacy.

The system has many privacy features to ensure that remain in control of who is able to make contacts with you.

If you have a gift/charism which you feel the community could benefit from, then we certainly encourage you to reach out to us, to see how we can fan the flame so to speak.

It is important to note that our group leaders are experienced Lay within the Catholic Church, and are currently grounded in the faith with direction from the  Church in the form of religious guides or spiritual direction.

If you have experience running a group, and would simply like to move it into the community, then this may be easier than starting something new - as we always recommend that good councel is taken at parish/church level before you embark upon such a new mission

The Everyday Catholic Community platform was provided because of the secular nature of the current platforms which include facebook and Twitter. these platforms are increasingly distracting with:

Annoying adverts which are not faith orientated, 

Restricted reach of our messages due to the algorithms

increasing volatile behaviour from actors who simply want to disrupt of message 

We encourage you to reach out to us, where an initial trial can be arranged to establish whether or not the Lay Communities platform is a fit for you. It is a different experience when compared to a social platform - but we feel it is more enriched and meaningful.

Major advantage

All community spaces/groups will have a huge opportunity by being visible to the UK's Catholic Lay membership community.

Allowing access can be on requested - password protected to ensure that only those who fit the mission can access.

Yes - The Everyday Catholic communities has a special feature which will turn off the visibility of the parish community to others within the larger community.

That way you simply give the parishioners the link and only they will see the Parish space - it will be secret, and invisible to all but the specific parishioners given access by your parish secretary.

We are currently in the process of running trial for parish clients - please reach out for this free service if you would like to start a parish online community 

The infrastructure, up-keeping and management of the Catholic communities platform is a significant investment. In order for products and services to be marketed within the community suppliers must have sponsorship agreements. There is an annual cost for this - but those who are appointed sponsors will have designated areas to promote goods and services; and the community management will assist in promotions.

Please note that community members/users will not be permitted to sell or monetize withing the feeds of the communities.