How to Create a Parish Content Calendar
A simple way to plan ahead and find more opportunities to share the Catholic faith.
“CAUTION: Dates on calendar are CLOSER than they appear.”
Have you ever created a content calendar for your parish?
It's a simple idea, but it can make planning your parish content so much easier. Instead of sitting down each week, or each day, wondering what you should share on Facebook, put in the bulletin or add to your website, you can look at the month ahead and make a plan.
I've been using a content calendar for years, and it works. It helps me see what's coming, spot opportunities I might otherwise miss and avoid staring at a blank screen wondering, "What on earth should I share today?" Or end up sharing nothing at all.
But there's another reason to plan.
Our parish communications shouldn't be only about announcing what's happening in the parish. That's important, of course, but we're also called to evangelize and to help our own parishioners grow in their faith. If we want to make room for that kind of content, we need to think about it ahead of time.
The good news is that creating a content calendar doesn't have to be complicated. Here's how I do it.
Step 1: Get the Month on Paper
I don't use anything fancy. I start with a blank piece of paper and write the dates of the month—1, 2, 3 and so on—down the page, leaving room beside each one. That's it.
At this point, I'm not deciding how much content I need, where I'm going to share it, or what I'm going to create. I'm simply looking ahead and getting the possibilities on paper.
Step 2: Start Looking for Opportunities
Now I start looking at the month from a few different angles. I'm not trying to use everything I find. In fact, this is something I have to remind myself of because I generally get quite excited about all the amazing possibilities!
Instead, you're simply looking for the opportunities that make the most sense for your parish. As you find them, write them beside the appropriate date on your page.
Here are the four places I look.
1. The Church Calendar
I always start with the Church calendar.
• What are the major solemnities and feast days this month?
• Are we beginning or ending a liturgical season?
• Are there particular Sunday readings that offer a natural opportunity for something you could share during the week?
The Church calendar is full of possibilities for content that can teach, inspire, encourage prayer and help people better understand our Catholic faith.
2. The Saints
Next, I look at the saints and blesseds whose feast days fall during the month.
Ask yourself:
• Are there well-known saints people will recognize?
• Are there saints connected to your country or community?
• Is your parish named for a saint whose feast day is coming up?
• Is there a lesser-known saint with a particularly interesting story?
A saint's feast day can give you all kinds of possibilities: a quote, a short biography, a prayer, a graphic or simply a link where people can learn more
3. Secular and Seasonal Dates
I also look at what's happening outside the Church calendar.
National holidays, Mother's Day and Father's Day, major sporting events, back-to-school season and other widely observed occasions can all provide interesting content opportunities.
I always look for the Catholic connection. Is there an interesting Catholic story, person or angle connected to something people are already talking about? Google can be very helpful here, and AI is particularly good for brainstorming possible connections you might not have thought of.
Parish life is an important part of your communications
but it doesn't have to be all of your communications.
4. What's Happening in Your Parish?
Finally, look at your own parish.
Are there:
• First Communions or Confirmations?
• Parish dinners, picnics or special events?
• Anniversaries or celebrations?
• New programs or ministries beginning?
• Special Masses or devotions?
Of course, you'll need to promote many of these things beforehand. But thinking about them now also gives you the chance to plan for what you might want afterward. If First Communion is coming up, for example, do you want photos to share afterward? If there's a parish picnic, is someone going to capture some of those moments?
You don't have to figure all of that out right now. Simply recognizing the opportunity ahead of time makes it much less likely that it will pass you by.
And remember, parish life is an important part of your communications—but it doesn't have to be all of your communications.
Take a Look at What You've Got
Once you've worked through those four areas, take a look at your page. You may already have more possibilities than you could possibly use. That's a good problem to have!
You haven't written a caption. You haven't created a graphic. You haven't even decided which ideas you're actually going to use. Don't worry about any of that yet.
You've done the important first step: you've looked ahead and identified the opportunities instead of waiting until you suddenly need something to share.
Plan first. Create second.
For now, you've got the beginnings of a parish content calendar—and a much better starting point for deciding what your parish could be sharing in the month ahead.
Want a Head Start?
I've already done some of the date-finding for you.
Download the 2026 Parish Content Planning Calendar, with important dates from the Church year, saints' feast days and widely observed secular dates to help you start planning.
