Just weeks before most diocesan offices move to a new pastoral center
under construction, the Diocese of Peoria has completed a redesign of
its home in cyberspace.

A new-look Web site for the diocese debuted July 18 at www.cdop.org following months of planning and input involving nearly every Curia department, including The Catholic Post.

“As you visit our Web site you will see evidence of all the talented and
faithful people who carry out God’s work through their service to his
people,” writes Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, in a welcoming message.

“You might be seeking information about diocesan events, vocations,
a Catholic school or religious education program,” he continued. “Hopefully, our Web site will provide you with the information you are seeking and/or direct you appropriately.”

Making sure it meets those goals involved a multi-level effort coordinated by Lynn Grandon, director of the Office of Respect for Life and Human Dignity. The new site was designed by DLA Creative of Peoria.

Visitors are greeted by a home page featuring a rotating photo display
that “gives people a real feel for the Catholic Diocese of Peoria, even
at an initial glance,” said Grandon. The photos, many from the archives
of The Catholic Post — whose Web site was also redesigned — show the diversity of Catholic life and ministry in central Illinois.

In addition, the diocesan home page has easy-to-navigate links to dozens of diocesan departments and related sites, breaking news headlines, a diocesan calendar, and an invitation for inactive Catholics to return that features the doors of St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria.

Also a mouse click away is information on Mass times around the diocese, daily Scripture readings, a “Saint of the Day” reflection, and podcasts of Bishop Jenky’s homilies.

“It’s a living document,” said Grandon of cdop.org. She invited people to “dig in” to the diocesan site. Each page has a similar design to ease navigation, and most repeat the signature colors of deep red and gold found on the home page.

“We wanted to give it a warm and friendly feel through the use of color and photography,” said Marc Lefebvre of DLA Creative.