The Diocese of Sacramento has launched a new Web site at www.diocese-sacramento.org that includes new content and expanded functionality.

The Web site includes information on the administration, policy and functions of the diocese, as well as a welcome message from Bishop William K. Weigand and an archive of his “Feed My Lambs” columns published in The Catholic Herald.

Visitors to the Web site will find information on the teachings of the Catholic faith and pastoral resources in sections covering worship and prayer, evangelization and catechesis, family, and youth and young adults.

New sections devoted to social service ministry and ethnic ministries in the diocese provide information on outreach efforts to distinctive populations in need of assistance, special services or support networks.

A new database on the Web site allows visitors to search information on parishes and Catholic schools in the diocese. A directory look-up function helps visitors find information on staff members and departments of the diocese.

Expanded content on vocations provides visitors with resources for those considering ordained ministry or religious life.

A section on the diocese’s Lay Formation Institute gives details on the program which provides opportunities for adults throughout the diocese to become more knowledgeable of the Catholic faith, to grow spiritually, and to receive training for specific ecclesial ministries within the Catholic community.

In addition, the Web site includes extensive information on giving to the diocese, including the Annual Catholic Appeal. A feature to be added soon will include the capability for online donations.

A section on Catholic Cemeteries includes information on Catholic burial traditions, cremation, cemetery rules and regulations, arrangement in advance and bereavement ministry.

The Web site also includes a news and information section, with links to the Web sites of The Catholic Herald, El Heraldo Catolico (the diocese’s monthly Spanish-language newspaper), Catholic News Service and Our Sunday Visitor newspaper. Visitors can also access the weekly news from the diocese delivered via e-mail to pastors and parish staffs and a diocesan calendar of events.

Other “quick links” on the Web site cover topics including annulments, becoming a Catholic, daily Scripture readings, job announcements, marriage preparation, parish financial management, safe environment programs for children, sacramental preparation and youth ministry.

The new Web site helps carry out Pastoral Initiative 1 of the Diocesan Synod, which called for providing resources for faith formation and evangelization through the use of well-maintained diocesan and parish Web sites, noted Mercy Sister Eileen Enright, vicar for pastoral ministry for the diocese, who oversees communications efforts.

“We will keep the Web site updated on an ongoing basis and hope to include other features, such as streaming video and online registration for workshops and classes offered by the diocese,” she said.

Sister Enright encouraged visitors to the Web site to e-mail their comments — if it is easy to use and whether it offers the information they seek — to webmaster@diocese-sacramento.org.

Photos for the Web site are being provided by the staff of The Catholic Herald and El Heraldo Catolico.

The Web site was developed for the diocese by Sarah Kalmon-Bauer and Lynette Magnino of Artful Messaging, a creative communications group, and Sky’s the Limit, an interactive media and Web site development company based in Sacramento.

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