Helping people find reliable answers about faith
More and more people, young adults in particular, look up Catholic teaching online and run into a crowded mix of sources. The Diocese of Haarlem-Amsterdam started ExploreCatholic to point them toward trustworthy ones, and its app makes that guidance part of the day. The diocese built the app with AppPresser's app builder.
Launched at a New Year's reception
The diocese covers the northwest of the Netherlands, including Amsterdam and Haarlem. It introduced ExploreCatholic on January 10, 2025, at its New Year's gathering, and the Android and iOS app followed less than four weeks later. The diocese built the app itself on AppPresser.
Curating instead of producing everything
ExploreCatholic does not try to write every article in house. It partners with selected Catholic sources in the Netherlands and abroad and brings their work together in one place, labeled clearly so readers know where each piece comes from.
A typical morning with the app
The app is in Dutch. It opens on Vandaag (Today), where a reader finds:
- a question of the day
- the day's readings
- one recommended Catholic website, app or initiative
From there, the news tab shows stories from diocesan and international Catholic outlets, each with its source and date. The Meer (More) tab leads to prayers, the Liturgy of the Hours, the Missal and a digital chapel. A faith questions section explains doctrine and spirituality in plain terms and lets readers send their own question to the editors. An activities calendar and a church finder help people plan and find a parish that fits.
Who uses it
Seekers exploring the faith, young adults looking for dependable answers, and parishioners who want readings and prayers at hand. For the diocese, it is a direct line to people where they already spend time.
Technology choices
The platform uses WordPress with WPML for multilingual content, a custom theme and MonsterInsights. Articles published on the site flow into the app through AppPresser.
A model for dioceses and ministries
Acting as a trusted curator can serve people better than trying to publish everything. An app brings that curation to the phone, which is where the searching happens.
Thinking about an app for a church or ministry?
See what AppPresser offers. You are also welcome to contact our team for help.
