Diocese of Phoenix hosts first-ever Communications Summit for nearly 50 parishes

The Diocese of Phoenix Office of Communications held its first Communications Summit on Friday, Oct. 9, at the Diocesan Pastoral Center in downtown Phoenix. Nearly 100 attendees representing 48 parishes participated in the training, which was designed for pastors, parish staff, and communications personnel.

The summit provided instruction on managing weekly bulletins, overseeing parish websites and social media, and using communication tools such as Flocknote. Participants attended sessions on crisis communications, event promotion, social media strategies, and radical hospitality. The program included an update on the new Catholic Sun and concluded with a roundtable discussion for parishes led by Jennifer Ellis, the diocese's content and strategic partnerships manager.

Guest speakers included Bishop John Dolan, diocesan communications director Brett Meister, and Joyce Coronel, the manager for evangelization and sacramental life. Christel Mosby, chief marketing officer for Grand Canyon Education, also spoke. The day began with Mass celebrated by Fr. Dan McBride and Fr. Don Kline and ended with a tour of the diocese's new digital studio.