CHICAGO (August 2, 2004) - Visitors to the web site of the Archdiocese of Chicago will now be able to find parish information via a new interactive parish directory information service. Visitors can search for a parish by name, area or town when they click on the “Parishes” icon at the top of the web site, www.archchicago.org. All parishes, missions, shrines, oratories and chaplaincies in the Archdiocese, which includes all of Cook and Lake counties, will be included. Visitors using this service will receive basic information and a link to a web site where one is available.

The data will have a direct connection to the Archdiocesan databases so information will automatically be updated on the web when the database changes. There will also be a link to MapQuest, allowing visitors to locate a particular parish, mission, shrine, oratory or chaplaincy on a map and receive driving directions.

The parish section of the Archdiocesan web site has proven to be an important source of information and the most frequently accessed pages by visitors to the Archdiocese’s web site, according to a recent survey done by the Archdiocese’s Communications Department.

Other suggestions that came from that survey have also been implemented including addition of the Archdiocese’s organizational chart, improved coming events section with a link to the “Around the Diocese” portion of the Archdiocese’s newspaper, The Catholic New World, improved listings for local radio programs produced by the Archdiocese and a link to Relevant Radio’s national network program schedule.

Visitors seeking employment in any of the departments or agencies of the archdiocese or one of its elementary or secondary schools can now more easily survey positions available.

Polish-speaking and Spanish-speaking visitors will also find more information on events in their languages as well as classes, special devotions, and links to ethnic radio stations and newspapers and other sites important to Polish and Hispanic Catholics.

A Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) button has also been improved and the News and Calendar sections now display separate filings of news releases and public statements, a main calendar of events, a link to Around the Archdiocese and information for parish bulletins in a new easy to search downloadable format. The size of documents is now available for those wishing to download information. Recent additions to the Departments section of the web site means that users of the site can now find information on most departments of the Archdiocese and most of the agencies affiliated with them.

A similar interactive database is planned for the elementary and secondary schools. Additional improved databases for Mass schedules and Masses in other languages that are also connected to the central system will be added in the near future, thus assuring visitors of the most complete and accurate information. Maps of the six geographical regions into which the archdiocese is divided are also planned.

The Communications Department of the Archdiocese is encouraged by the wide use of the web site and welcomes continued comments from visitors in order to continually augment the site. To offer suggestions or comments visitors can click on the “Contact Us” button on the front page of the web site.

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