Bishop Loverde Blesses New Diocesan Web Site

Special to the HERALD
(From the issue of 3/27/03)

Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde (right) inaugurated the Arlington diocesan Web site on the Internet with a blessing March 21 attended by diocesan staff. Father Lee Roos, supervisor of the diocesan Management Information Systems (MIS) Office, described the Web site as serving a variety of purposes including: news items, diocesan directory, information resource, and faith formation.

The Web site is a resource to locate information on diocesan offices, parishes, schools and religious communities in the diocese. It is also a means of faith formation and spiritual development.

The Web site can be viewed at www.arlingtondiocese.org. In its initial stage there are Web pages for several diocesan offices: Bishop Loverde’s office, Communications, Family Life, Stewardship and Development and the Tribunal. The Family Life and Stewardship and Development offices were chosen for the first portion of the Web site because of the unique aspects of their offices.

The Family Life Office has six major projects that they support, such as Marriage Preparation and Enrichment, Respect Life, Project Rachel, Gabriel Project, Young Adult Ministry and Theology on Tap.

The Stewardship and Development Office supports the Capital Campaign and the Bishop’s Lenten Appeal. These efforts already use the print media for communications, so their existing print resources were able to be redirected to publish this information via the Web.

By including these areas, the long-term and immediate needs of the diocese for financial support from people throughout the diocese can be highlighted. Also included within the diocesan site are lists of Frequently Asked Questions (or FAQs as they are known), which are a staple of Internet Web sites. For instance, the Tribunal FAQ answers questions about the marriage annulment process and the diocesan Tribunal.

The diocesan Web site also contains links to existing Web sites of some diocesan-related offices, such as Catholic Charities (www.ccda.net), the Arlington Catholic HERALD (www.catholicherald.com) and the Youth Ministry Office (www.arlingtoncatholicyouth.org).

The Web site was designed by the MIS Office in conjunction with several other diocesan offices. Wilfredo Maldonado, MIS director, and his staff provided internal support for the Web server hosting the Web site; Anthony Fritz provided design and technical services for the site itself; artwork and photos were provided by the HERALD, Family Life Office, and others. Each office involved their staff in contributing the initial content provided on the Web site.

The Web site is being developed in stages. It is anticipated that additional segments will be added in the months ahead, such as Catholic Schools and the Vocations Offices.

The prayer of blessing that Bishop Loverde used March 21 expresses the new opportunities for the diocesan church to spread the good news of Jesus Christ: "Lord God almighty, we humbly praise you, for you enlighten and inspire those who by probing the powers implanted in creation develop the work of your hands in wonderful ways. Look with favor on your servants who use the technology discovered by long research. Enable them to communicate truth, to foster love, to uphold justice and right, and to provide enjoyment. Let them promote and support that peace between peoples which Christ the Lord brought from heaven, for he lives and reigns with you for ever and ever."

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