updated on 3.16.20 at 10:22am CST
Having worked for the church in a rural area for the past ten years and while striving to share and teach what I’ve learned to others across the country, I’ve discovered some incredible resources to help gather, teach, and grow online. Given the current circumstances throughout the world, I thought I would share with you my list of resources that I’ve found to be most helpful in doing so.
Note: I’ll maintain a quick list recommendations and ideas I’ve received from others at the bottom.
Also note that some of these links are affiliate links which means I will make a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you make a purchase or sign up.
Online Teaching and Meeting Platforms
Teachable – I use Teachable to create and sell online courses and to organize lessons. You can see how I use it here. This would be a great tool for schools and churches looking to put curriculum online and need to track progress.
Zoom – This is the more professionally used conferencing and meeting platform if you’re looking to host larger groups of people.
Google Meet – This is what I typically use for meetings of no more than 4-6 people.
Skype – One of the most popular online meeting tools.
Catholic.Social – A new platform that’s free of ads, easy to create groups, start discussions, etc.
Great Online Resources from Catholic Publishers
YDisciple – Some of the best content online geared towards young people.
Formed.org – It’s like Catholic Netflix!
Ascension Presents – An extremely simple way to offer at least something each week during this time is to get your small group to sign up at Catholic.Social, post a weekly video from Ascension Presents and discuss it online! We have several groups doing this already!
ProjectYM – has launched ProjectYM Live – a youth ministry offering that will be online!
Dynamic Catholic – has a TON of free online resources. Probably their most popular is Decision Point.
Content Specific to COVID-19 and Our Faith
- Ted Sri Podcast Episode – The Coronavirus and Missing Sunday Mass
- Ministry Leaders Anonymous – Coronavirus & the Domestic Church
Other Miscellaneous News
- Sophia Institute is holding a series of webinars on holding virtual classrooms. You can check them out here.
- CatholicBrain.com is giving FREE access to their monthly plan through Divine Mercy Sunday. Register Here and use the code divinemercy20
- Zoom has temporarily taken away it’s 40 minute limit for the free plans.
- Magnificat is offering complimentary access to it’s online version in response to Coronavirus.
- Pflaum is offering it’s Gospel Weeklies for free
Other People’s Lists!
- Catechist.com – Free online resources to use at home during Covid-19 outbreak
I’ve reached out across the interwebs for other ideas and news and will add to this as I get more. Check back!