BOTH/AND

BOTH/AND

Managing Events and the Parish Calendar

BOTH/AND Client Guide

Two Related Tools

Your site may use two different tools:

  1. The parish calendar shows the maintained schedule from an approved external calendar or ICS feed.
  2. WordPress Events creates individual website pages for selected events that need more explanation, imagery, registration, or promotion.

They are not automatically the same system. Your handoff record should identify which person maintains each one.

Updating the External Calendar

Make routine calendar changes in the parish’s approved calendar account—not by editing the calendar page in WordPress.

  1. Sign in to the parish calendar using the parish’s own process.
  2. Add or correct the event.
  3. Confirm the date, time, timezone, recurrence, location, and description.
  4. Make sure the event belongs on the public calendar.
  5. Save the event.
  6. Allow the expected refresh time, then check the website calendar.

Never place private pastoral appointments, counseling, personal contact information, private meetings, or other sensitive details in a public calendar.

Publishing a WordPress Event

Use a WordPress Event when the parish wants a dedicated public page.

  1. Open Events.
  2. Select Add New.
  3. Enter the event title.
  4. Add the required start date and the end date when applicable.
  5. Add a clear description answering who, what, when, where, and how to participate.
  6. Add approved imagery, registration links, livestream links, or contact information as needed.
  7. Preview the event.
  8. Publish and inspect the public event page and Events archive.

Events without a valid start date cannot be organized correctly. Past events move out of the upcoming-event view according to their dates.

Avoiding Contradictions

If an event exists in both the calendar and WordPress Events:

  • Use the same title, date, time, and location.
  • Decide which system is the source of truth.
  • Correct both systems when essential information changes.
  • Check cancellation and rescheduling information carefully.

Service Times

Normal weekly service times may also appear on the homepage, Visit page, and footer. Changing the calendar does not necessarily change those locations. Contact BOTH/AND when the parish’s normal service schedule changes.

Final Check

  • ☐ Date, time, timezone, recurrence, and location are correct.
  • ☐ The event is appropriate for public display.
  • ☐ Calendar and Event page agree.
  • ☐ Registration and outside links work.
  • ☐ Cancellation or exception information is clear.
  • ☐ The result works on a phone.

Return to the Client Guide