With “shelter at home” orders issued around the country this last spring, many parishes are continuing livestream Masses, prayers, reflections, and other events. Pastors, staff, and volunteers are being very creative in the content they are providing – it’s incredible to see! Livestreaming Mass is essential.
Parishes want to use the streaming platform that reaches the largest audience. Many parishes are using services like Facebook Live, YouTube, Vimeo, Twitch, or others. So, which one is best for your parish?
Facebook Live.
If you are a CSM user, you already understand that Facebook is an important tool for your parish. If your parishioners are using any type of social network, it is most likely Facebook. In fact, it’s still the top social network in the United States. According to Pew Research, seven in ten U.S. adults use Facebook:
- 76% of 18–24-year-olds use Facebook
- 84% of 25–30-year-olds use Facebook
- 79% of 30–49-year-olds use Facebook
- 68% of 50–64-year-olds use Facebook
- 46% of 65+ year-olds use Facebook
If your parishioners are most likely on Facebook, you want to meet them where they’re at with your livestreaming. There is no reason to send people elsewhere if they are already on Facebook. If you want to stream to multiple places, check out Restream.
Also, keep in mind that this pandemic will end – we don’t know the day or time yet, but it will end. Think of how increasing traffic to your Facebook page during this time will impact the future of your parish. You will end up having a larger audience for news, updates, event invites, appeals and other information. According to Prenger Solutions Group’s 2019 Catholic Giving Trends survey, parishes with large followings (measured as more than one follower per registered household) reported an average offertory increase of 10 percent from 2017 to 2018. All other parishes in the study reported a 1% decline, on average. Livestreaming Mass is essential – for now and for the future.
