--- title: "Beyond the Event Flyer: How Phoenix Catholic Uses Social Media to Build Community" description: Discover how Phoenix Catholic uses social media & personal connections to create a welcoming community for college students to grow in faith & leadership. image: https://blog.newmanconnection.org/hubfs/phoenixcatholic-Instagram-4188-ig-18385408171238412.jpg --- [![Horizontal-2](https://blog.newmanconnection.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Horizontal-2.png?width=1679&height=428&name=Horizontal-2.png "Horizontal-2")](https://connection.newmanministry.com/) ![Students2.Blog.Header](https://blog.newmanconnection.org/hubfs/Students2.Blog.Header.png "Students2.Blog.Header") # The Newman Blog #### Helping College Students Grow Their Faith. ## What's Happening - Filter By Topic - [All](https://blog.newmanconnection.org) - [Faith Forward Stories](https://blog.newmanconnection.org/tag/faith-forward-stories) - [Campus Ministry](https://blog.newmanconnection.org/tag/campus-ministry) - [Catholic](https://blog.newmanconnection.org/tag/catholic) - [Faith Forward Movement](https://blog.newmanconnection.org/tag/faith-forward-movement) - [Evangelization](https://blog.newmanconnection.org/tag/evangelization) - [Student Stories](https://blog.newmanconnection.org/tag/student-stories) - [Catholic Blog](https://blog.newmanconnection.org/tag/catholic-blog) - [Lent](https://blog.newmanconnection.org/tag/lent) - [Student Story](https://blog.newmanconnection.org/tag/student-story) - [Faith Journey](https://blog.newmanconnection.org/tag/faith-journey) - [Spirituality](https://blog.newmanconnection.org/tag/spirituality) - [Prayer](https://blog.newmanconnection.org/tag/prayer) - [Leadership](https://blog.newmanconnection.org/tag/leadership) - [Saint](https://blog.newmanconnection.org/tag/saint) - [Called+](https://blog.newmanconnection.org/tag/called) - [Catholic Lifecycle](https://blog.newmanconnection.org/tag/catholic-lifecycle) - [community](https://blog.newmanconnection.org/tag/community) - [ministry](https://blog.newmanconnection.org/tag/ministry) [Campus Ministry](https://blog.newmanconnection.org/topic/campus-ministry) # Beyond the Event Flyer: How Phoenix Catholic Uses Social Media to Build Community ![](https://blog.newmanconnection.org/hubfs/phoenixcatholic-Instagram-4188-ig-18385408171238412.jpg) #### Share [mailto:?body=https://blog.newmanconnection.org/how-phoenix-catholic-uses-social-media-to-build-community](mailto:?body=https://blog.newmanconnection.org/how-phoenix-catholic-uses-social-media-to-build-community) ![Newman Connection](https://blog.newmanconnection.org/hubfs/%E2%80%A2%20LOGOS%20%E2%80%A2/Newman%20Connect%20App/Screenshot%202025-06-30%20at%208.28.46%20AM.png) Written By [Newman Connection](https://blog.newmanconnection.org/author/newman-connection) On Nov, 4 2026 5 minute read For college students looking for a place to belong, the first invitation to Catholic campus ministry might not come through an email or an event flyer. It might come from seeing a group of students on Instagram laughing together, sharing a meal, or enjoying time with friends. At Phoenix Catholic, the Catholic campus ministry at the [University of Wisconsin-Green Bay](https://connection.newmanministry.com/colleges/university-of-wisconsin-3/), those everyday moments are an important part of reaching students and helping them discover a community rooted in faith. Morgan Sleaford, Phoenix Catholic's Student Outreach Coordinator, has found that showing students what community looks like can be more effective than simply telling them about an upcoming event. ### **Showing Students the Community, Not Just the Event** **![Phoenix Catholic students with priest](https://blog.newmanconnection.org/hs-fs/hubfs/phoenixcatholic-Instagram-4188-ig-18115329077109194.jpg?width=4096&height=2730&name=phoenixcatholic-Instagram-4188-ig-18115329077109194.jpg)** Social media has become one of [Phoenix Catholic's](https://www.phoenixcatholic.org/) most effective outreach tools, particularly Instagram. But not every type of post generates the same interest. *"Most of the students see the posts on Instagram, specifically the posts that have actual pictures of other students, not the posts that are posters promoting an event."* It's a simple but important distinction. Rather than relying primarily on graphics announcing activities, Phoenix Catholic gives students a glimpse of the friendships, fun, and hospitality they can experience firsthand. Plus, there's plenty of community life to share. Every Wednesday, students gather at the Mauthe Center for Mass followed by a free dinner. The evenings often continue with social activities like trivia, recreational sports, or ice skating. These gatherings create opportunities for students to relax, build friendships, and get to know one another. For Morgan, who completed her undergraduate degree at UW-Green Bay and is now a graduate student, those relationships are personal. After years of involvement with Phoenix Catholic, she describes building a community of people to grow in faith with as her favorite part of the ministry. Wednesday dinners remain her favorite event. It's that sense of community she now helps other students discover. When students see photos of their peers enjoying time together, sharing meals, and building friendships, they can begin to picture themselves as part of that community. The goal isn't simply to fill seats at an event. It's to help students recognize that there's a place for them. ### **Making the First Connection Personal** **![Students from the Phoenix Catholic Center](https://blog.newmanconnection.org/hs-fs/hubfs/phoenixcatholic-Instagram-4188-ig-18134615632737253.jpg?width=4096&height=2730&name=phoenixcatholic-Instagram-4188-ig-18134615632737253.jpg)** Getting a student's attention is only the beginning. The next step is helping them move from seeing the community online to experiencing it in person. For Phoenix Catholic, hospitality plays an important role. Students who discover the ministry through social media see a welcoming community where food, friendship, and shared experiences are part of everyday life. Personal communication matters, too. Morgan has found that messages through[Called](https://called.app/) offer a more immediate way to reach students than traditional email. "The best thing honestly right now is messages on Called. It isn't as personal as a phone number, but it is more personal and instant than an email." Phoenix Catholic also invites students to join its Called group chat, where they can connect with other Catholic students and receive updates about ministry activities. Together, these approaches reflect an important outreach principle: meet students where they are and make it easier for them to take the next step. ### **From First Visit to Missionary Disciple** **![Chapel at Phoenix Catholic](https://blog.newmanconnection.org/hs-fs/hubfs/phoenixcatholic-Instagram-4188-ig-17953366731268746.jpg?width=4096&height=2730&name=phoenixcatholic-Instagram-4188-ig-17953366731268746.jpg)** At Phoenix Catholic, welcoming a student is just the beginning of a longer journey. The ministry's mission is to guide students along a *bridge of discipleship*, helping them belong to a community of faith, encounter Christ through prayer, and discover their vocation to serve. Students have many opportunities to take those steps. Alongside weekly dinners and social gatherings, Phoenix Catholic offers Sunday and Wednesday Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, small groups, and retreats. Students can also participate in service projects, music ministry, and leadership opportunities. To better understand how students grow within the community, Phoenix Catholic identifies three levels of involvement: **Connected:** A student who has attended at least one event and whose contact information the ministry has collected. **Engaged:** A student who has attended three or more events, demonstrating continued participation in the community. **Missionary Disciple:** A student who has stepped into a leadership role, such as an outreach coordinator, small group leader, or student organization officer. This framework helps the ministry look beyond initial attendance and recognize the different ways students become involved. A first visit matters, but so does what happens afterward. Does the student return? Are they building friendships? Are they growing in faith and finding opportunities to serve? Phoenix Catholic's student leadership provides opportunities for that growth. Students serve as organization officers, help welcome newcomers, participate in liturgical ministries, and lead within the community. The same students who first discovered Phoenix Catholic through an invitation can eventually become the ones extending that invitation to others. ### **What Other Campus Ministries Can Learn** Every campus is different, but Phoenix Catholic's experience offers two practical ideas that other campus ministries can adopt. **1. Show the community, not just the calendar.** Take a look at your ministry's social media. Are most posts promoting upcoming events, or are they showing students what it's actually like to be part of your community? Consider sharing more photos of students gathering after Mass, enjoying meals, participating in activities, or simply spending time together. Authentic moments can help prospective students imagine themselves belonging. **2. Think beyond the first connection.** Getting a student to attend one event is meaningful, but it's only the beginning. Consider how your ministry defines connection and what steps help students move toward deeper involvement. A simple framework, such as Phoenix Catholic's three levels, can help your team recognize progress and identify opportunities to invite students to participate more. ### **Creating a Place to Belong** At Phoenix Catholic, outreach is about more than getting students to attend an event. It's about helping them discover a community where they can build friendships, encounter Christ, and eventually become leaders who welcome others. That journey might begin with something as simple as an Instagram photo of friends sharing a meal. From there, it can grow into a Wednesday dinner, a small group, a retreat, or an opportunity to serve. For Morgan and the Phoenix Catholic team, each invitation is an opportunity to help another student find the kind of community that has made such a difference in their own lives. Through[Faith Forward](https://connection.newmanministry.com/faith_forward_movement/), Newman Connection is grateful to partner with campus ministries like Phoenix Catholic that are finding meaningful ways to welcome students and help them grow in faith. Because sometimes, the first step toward belonging is simply seeing a community you want to be part of. **Learn more about our Campus Ministry Partnerships.** **[![ ](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4720238/interactive-199791797327.png)](https://blog.newmanconnection.org/hs/cta/wi/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLKN5%2FFV7DtEtwdgRZ3xstSXAQVD4rKKLe%2FjWIDwBBkLEZfGRGzvyslI6kz234oazEHhWkhdNyxAJyNbpX12rF%2B6CxT4CqbqoaJ5PHzi7UgBTLnl%2BWhgKSFroQ%2Firuu7FQA7CKORweH8BhtAQ3dTJPj8rCI%2B5SQ7T5qDmLqNIxnZn%2Fl9pgz3rLstinHtjyuq9qpyuD5qOpaWIUG17W7KYRdOvfN4UsGNTaq2WKIXCQ%3D%3D&webInteractiveContentId=199791797327&portalId=4720238)**   ### Recommended Articles: [Campus Ministry](https://blog.newmanconnection.org/topic/campus-ministry) ##### [Touring Colleges? 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