Introducing Flocknote

Our new Parish Data Base

If you are old enough, you might remember the parish priest going from door to door visiting your home. Part of the duty of priests were to visit all homes within the parish boundary to ensure that the parish census was up to date. Going door to door visiting every house on a street certainly ensured that priests knew who their parishioners were and their concerns, challenges and issues. It was all possible because back then parishes were smaller and at least mum was usually at home during the day looking after the children.

How things have changed!  To go knocking door to door today on any street you would be lucky to find anyone at home. Families have become smaller, parishes have become bigger, both parents are working and people and families are continually on the move, relocating because of education, to find work or to be closer to family. Keeping track of who is a member of a parish is near on impossible!

This was bought home to me at Caloundra during the Covid lockdown. As priests we decided to contact all parishioners via the telephone just to touch base, to see if they were going OK and to help keep everyone connected. Even though we made hundreds of telephone calls, it soon became apparent that our parish data base was wholly inadequate – we called some people twice or three times, others we missed all together!

Since before the turn of the century, parishes across Australia have been using the PACS data base programme.  As you can imagine, this programme is no longer fit for purpose. So, for the past 3 years the Australian church has been working in collaboration with the software designers to develop a new parish database programme called Flocknote. Flocknote is an online database and communication platform designed by Catholics for Catholics. It allows parishes to securely store parishioners’ contact details to allow for smooth and effective communication – something that is essential to help us as a parish to connect, communicate and use the latest technology to better proclaim the Good News.

Since the start of September, parishes across Australia have been rolling out the new Flocknote data base and now it is our turn. We need all individuals and families to register.

Using the QR code sign in and complete the details – it is all paperless – and by completing the details we build our data base.

Log into https://maroochydore.flocknote.com/register to complete the registration or scan the QR code below.

Not confident with computers? Take home a paper data form and bring it back to church next weekend – we will have volunteers ready to help you become a registered parishioner.

Stella Maris Parish Office

Adjacent to the Stella Maris Church – Office Hours 9am—2pm Weekdays

T: 5443 3488

E: [email protected]