“Enoria”, this digital tool for parishes that is a hit
“We went from 61 members in 2020 to 624 today. We never imagined this. » Élodie Massa – sole employee of the non-profit association – and the entire Enoria team can be proud of the progress they have made. Dioceses and parishes in France, Belgium, Switzerland and even a French-speaking parish in Dubai have chosen to join their online management tool. This makes reserving a parish hall child’s play. Just like registrations for the various services: baptism, catechism, marriage preparation… No more need to travel during office hours, which are often restricted. “Online registration makes life easier for families,” appreciates Élodie Massa, whose parish, in Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône), converted in 2020.
Enoria was launched in 2010 by Father Raphaël Cournault, priest of the diocese of Paris. Holder of a master’s degree in computer science, he dreamed of devoting less time to the administrative management of his parish. Since then, volunteers have been responsible for the continuous improvement of the application. Élodie Massa is, among other things, responsible for training new members.
The all-purpose app
The assistance provided by Enoria is varied. The priest can find the contact details of people who have benefited from a service from the parish. He can follow up with them to invite them to an event likely to interest them, such as a sacred music concert or the back-to-school meal. No more digging through countless loose papers in the hope of finding their email! “We can also invite parents who had their baby baptized three years earlier to awaken to faith,” adds Élodie Massa. Some send, the day before a catechism session, a reminder SMS to the parents of registered children: they thus note a higher attendance rate. A priest even uses the software to geolocate the homes of his faithful. This allows him, when he goes to their village, to contact them for lunch or coffee with them.
To benefit from this tool, a parish must pay 600 euros per year; but the most deprived can benefit from a reduction by contacting the Enoria office. “The price should not represent a barrier,” assures Benoit Collier, the treasurer, “at a time when there are fewer and fewer priests and volunteers, this tool is crucial for finding committed people and building stronger links between they. »