An App for Every Diocese

Jeff Geerling is one of the brightest Catholics I know, and for the last year and a half he's been working on the Catholic Diocese App. Designed for both iPhone and Android, it's free and simple so that every Catholic diocese or organization that wants an app can have one.

The coding is basic enough that even non-developers should be able to help dioceses get up and running with the app in just a few minutes, once they get the hang of the process. While there's plenty of help at CatholicDioceseApp.com, Jeff made this quick video showing how you can customize the App to your diocese or organization's needs in about five minutes:

According to Jeff, the basic steps include:

Downloading the Zip archive of the Catholic Diocese App from GitHub.

Replacing graphics like the App Icon, Default image, and news icon with your own.

Changing a couple strings in Localizable.strings and another file.

Building the app, then submitting it to the App Store.

Customizing the Android version of the app is similar, but requires a couple different tools.

Find out more at CatholicDioceseApp.com and if you're a tech-minded Catholic be sure to join Jeff's growing community at OpenSourceCatholic.com.

(HT: Jeff Geerling)

Posted on: September 4, 2012 in Blog, New Media, Technology
Tagged:

http://www.facebook.com/dbettinelli Domenico Bettinelli

I think one important bit of information we should include is that if a volunteer would like to do this, they should really contact the diocese first and let them know they would like to do it. First, the app will look like it's an official product of the diocese and therefore it should have the blessing of the diocese (so to speak; it doesn't need an actual blessing). Second, the diocese might already be working on an app and so we don't want to confuse users when it comes out. The aim is to help the diocese in new media.

I too want to thank Jeff for this great app, especially how easy he's made it for any user with intermediate computer skills to get the app customized and running. While we have several apps in Boston already, I can think of some religious orders that might appreciate having an app like this, not to mention some of the smaller dioceses with fewer resources.
- http://www.brandonvogt.com/ Brandon Vogt
  
  Totally agree. Great point, Dom!
  
  Is there any plans in Boston at the diocesan level to help organizations like religious orders and parishes create their own apps?
  - http://www.facebook.com/dbettinelli Domenico Bettinelli
    
    We haven't waded into the app creation yet. We're still just trying to make sure every parish has a website.
kevindayton

I can't say enough about the work Jeff has done with this project. It literally took me 3 hours to get a diocesan app running, and most of that was getting parish data converted. I will be demoing it for our archbishop sometime soon and can't wait to get his thoughts.

Brandon, thanks for highlighting Jeff's great work.
- http://www.brandonvogt.com/ Brandon Vogt
  
  Wow! Great to hear a success story. Keep us updated on what the bishop and diocese thinks about the app, Kevin. Sometimes they can be a little protectionist about things like this so I'd be interested to learn how they react.
  - Kevin Dayton
    
    I'll let you know. I am scheduled to meet with the archbishop tomorrow afternoon to discuss a number of CNMC12 topics, and this app will definitely be part of it. Please pray that he will be receptive to what I have to say and that I say it well.
    - http://www.brandonvogt.com/ Brandon Vogt
      
      You got it! Remind me which diocese you're in?
      - Kevin Dayton
        
        Thanks! I'm in Oklahoma City.
  - Kevin Dayton
    
    Brandon, I met with the archbishop today, he was excited about the app idea. He is very interested in making it part of his strategy. So hopefully, there will be more to come!
Bmart14

Is there something like this that can be applied at a parish level?
- http://www.brandonvogt.com/ Brandon Vogt
  
  I'm sure it can be adapted to the parish level. For example, instead of showing parishes on the map, you could show parish buildings.
http://www.lifeisaprayer.com/ Jeff Geerling

Thanks for spreading the word, Brandon! I've been getting some great feedback about the app, and I really do hope that dioceses that don't have quite the resources of Boston, St. Louis, and some other large ones that are already working on apps can benefit from this.