The three words that will strike fear and scrambling in the heart of every bulletin editor:

Early Transmission Deadline

Tis the season for a slew of early bulletin deadlines, and I know you're tempted to slash pages, cut everything that isn't vital, and deeply regret your Lenten observance of fasting from coffee.

Here's the problem:

The Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday bulletins are likely the two most important bulletins you'll create all year.

Why? Because they'll also likely be the ones seen by the most people this year.

Particularly people who wouldn't normally read the bulletin...because they're not even in church the rest of the year to get one.

(Plus the fact that people get there early to save their spot and end up reading the bulletin to pass the time.)

I know you've got a shrinking countdown until files are due with the printer.

But — don't hate me — I want you to scratch everything you had planned for those.

Because they're too important an evangelization tool to throw together in haste, putting things in just to fill the space and get them done.

(No judgment, 100% have been there.)

Don't worry, I'm not totally mean. I planned out what I think you should do instead.

Here's how I would structure your Palm Sunday and Easter bulletins to touch the hearts of those who don't regularly go to Mass:

(I'm assuming you have an 8 page bulletin, but adjust to the page count you have — for a 12 pager, you could spread the devotional over two pages, add in the letter or a kids' page, or give two pages for upcoming events to let them have more breathing room.)

Cover

An intriguing photo from your actual parish, ideally of people doing things and looking happy and welcoming. We want it to the invoke the reaction of "Wait, what are they doing there?" or "Wow, I want to be happy like that!"

Pair that with a text box asking an intriguing question that will be answered inside that gets them to reflect (more on that in a minute).

Page 2 - Info

For these next few weeks, we're going to cut anything that isn't completely necessary and focus ONLY on the information people would need who don't normally go to church often.

Obviously all of the main parish contact info (website, phone number, etc.) but I want you to really focus here on the big sacraments that reverts would be looking for: Marriage, baptism, and OCIA.

If you have space, a plug for Adult Faith Formation is great here too. Anything that is aimed towards reverts is A++.

For these next few weeks, I would cut the list of staff, who has the traveling statues/images, and any other information that goes in on autopilot to fill space.

Page 3 - Invite

For Palm Sunday, this should be a full page Easter invite. For Easter, this should be a full page Divine Mercy Sunday invite (more on that in the next newsletter, for now, just trust me and block off the page for it).

Page 4 - Devotional or The Letter

To bridge the gap between Palm Sunday and Easter, and then Easter and Divine Mercy Sunday, provide short daily reflections that they can pray on during Holy Week and the Easter Octave.

(Bonus if you can get them to sign up for them digitally and you can email/text them daily throughout Holy Week with the reflections.)

To be effective, they have to be simple and aimed at someone who isn't going to Mass regularly. Ask yourself "What are they struggling with?" and try to come up with reflections that find their natural conclusion in drawing closer to Jesus through the Mass without being preachy or judgy.

As always, these should be written for and aimed at those who are not as far along in their faith journey.

Within the devotional for Holy Week, highlight any Holy Week Masses and services, again in language that resonates with the non-practicing audience.

Alternatively, you could adjust this Christmas letter aimed at "C&E" Catholics to your Easter theme and include that instead.

Page 5 - Upcoming Events

The main goal here is not to get people to attend these events (though it would be great if they did). It's to give them a sense of your parish, what kinds of things you offer,

In other words, I don't care if these are save the dates for things happening a month to three months from now. The #1 goal is to give people a sense of the vibrancy and community of your parish, that you have things to offer them, and that it's a place they want to be even outside of Mass.

Bonus points if these are more "seeker" type events — and if you have an Alpha, ChristLife, or The Search coming up soon, I will be over here cheering because this is the PRIME time to promote these kinds of events to the exact audience you're trying to reach.

Don't have anything super exciting coming up? Sub in a full page of cheery photos from recent events to give a sense of your community and family feel.

Page 6 - Mass Intentions and Prayer Lists

Obviously we're not cutting these, I don't want you to be attacked with pitchforks. But they can get moved to the very back for these few weeks.

But even with these routine items, save a few lines to explain them. Why do we offer Masses for people? Do they have anyone they'd like the church community to pray for?

Page 7 & 8 - Advertisements

For obvious reasons

The basic point: Try to look at everything you're putting in these bulletins as though you have never heard of any of it before.

Another way to put it: What if this bulletin was the only tool you had to convince people to start coming to Mass regularly?

How would that change the language you're using and what you would include?

I know you're super busy, and this is throwing a curveball at the last minute.

As such, I was REALLY hoping to actually have some of these actually pre-designed as low-cost templates to just grab and use to save you some time, but they're not quite done yet.

I'm going to do my best this week to see if I can get a few of these done, though, so say a prayer that my 4 month old actually sleeps, and I may pop into your inbox later this week if I'm able to get them done!

But either way, all I ask is that you please consider at least implementing one of these suggestions above, even if you don't have time for a full overhaul.

We never know how the Holy Spirit may be working in the hearts of those who will pack our pews in the next few weeks, and the bulletin just may be the tool He needs to break through to them.

Prayers for inspiration and extra pockets of time as you work on these two most important bulletins of the year!

For His greater glory,

Emily