How eCatholic Is Making Your Parish Website AI-Ready

For twenty years, a parish website had a simple job. It needed to look good and rank well on Google. That era is changing.

Today, people are increasingly using AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini to find information. These tools do not read the internet the same way people do.

At eCatholic, we have rolled out a new update to all our websites. This change is invisible to your parishioners and requires no work from your staff. However, it will have a major impact on how people find your parish over the next decade.

The Shift Toward Answer Engines

Experts predict that traditional search volume will drop significantly by the end of 2026. This is because AI chatbots are now answering questions that people used to ask Google.

When someone asks an AI about your parish, the AI "reads" your website on their behalf. If the AI cannot understand your site clearly, it might provide a bad summary or miss your information entirely. This is why we are focusing on Answer Engine Optimization (AEO). It is the new way to ensure your parish stays visible in an AI-driven world.

Why AI Struggles With Standard Websites

Modern webpages are full of "hidden" code. While a parishioner only sees your articles and photos, an AI sees a massive block of technical markup. This causes two main problems:

1

Speed and Cost: AI systems process text in units called "tokens." Reading through hundreds of lines of code and markup to find one sentence is inefficient and slow.

2

Accuracy: When an AI reads a complex page, it can get confused. It might mistake a footer notice for a Mass time or miss a schedule because it was tucked inside a button. This is often where "AI hallucinations" come from.

Our Solution: A Clean Version for Machines

Every eCatholic website now automatically serves a clean, text-only version of your content to AI agents.

When a person visits your site, they see your beautiful, branded design. When an AI "crawler" visits, it receives a simplified format called Markdown. This format removes the digital clutter while keeping your headings, lists, and links intact. This allows the AI to understand your message with total accuracy.

Why This Matters for Your Parish

Parish information is high-stakes. If an AI gives the wrong time for confession or misrepresents a school program, the consequences are real. We prioritized this update to ensure that the "AI intermediary" between a seeker and your parish gets the facts right.

Recent research shows that AI tools are more likely to cite websites that are clear and factual. They also prefer content that has been updated recently. By removing the technical barriers, we are making it easier for AI to trust and share your parish’s information.

What Your Staff Needs to Do

The short answer is nothing technical. The system is already live and working. Your team can continue dragging modules and updating schedules exactly as they do now.

To make your site even more AI-friendly, keep these three tips in mind:

1. Write Clearly: Use direct answers and simple headings.
2. Stay Current: Update your event times and staff directories regularly. AI favors "fresh" content. If writing a post, include the year (2026).
3. Cite Your Sources: When quoting the Catechism or Scripture, name the source. This helps AI verify the information.

Looking Ahead

Our job is to handle the complex technology so you can focus on ministry. This update is a quiet but vital foundation for the future. As AI becomes used more by people to explore the faith online, your parish will be ready.

At eCatholic, we are focused on the horizon, future-proofing your web presence so you can evangelize effectively in the digital realm. This update is part of our commitment to keeping your parish on the cutting edge, ensuring you can always reach people where they are with the Good News.

How often does your staff currently review the "evergreen" information on your site, such as your parish mission statement or sacramental prep details? Maybe time for an update?