My mother turns 67 in a few weeks. She created a Facebook page the other day. She’s not the typical age for joining the digital world, but I understand her decision to embrace technology.
Five of her ten grandchildren are on Facebook, and their lives have become so busy the only way to keep up with them is to go where they hang out.
And so that’s what she did.
As Catholics, we could learn some things from grandmothers who tackle new social media for the sole purpose of connecting with the grandchildren they love.
I’m intrigued by the dynamic duo that we find in Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. The first one called us to the New Evangelization and the second one continues that call by directing us to go where the crowds gather. It’s no longer Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). It’s no longer the highways and byways (Luke 14:23). Now, the crowds meet on the Internet superhighways. Facebook. My Space. Twitter. The blogosphere. Podcasts.
Pope Benedict understands this. That’s why his Message on World Day of Communications 2010 encouraged priests to get on Facebook. That's why he has encouraged the faithful to have a presence on the Internet. Basically, he has asked all of us to go where the people gather.
In his 2009 message, the Holy Father called this generation the digital generation and highlighted the “extraordinary potential of the new technologies” which permit us to communicate almost instantaneously with anyone in the world. What we can do with our laptops and iphones is quite amazing.
But to whom much is given, much is required (Luke 12:48). And that is certainly true with the gift of the new media. Do you have access to the Internet? Are you on Facebook? Do you have a blog? Well, that’s a little like giving one of those early Apostles a private jet and letting him loose on the world. The possibilities are endless.
The Holy Father concluded his Communications Day message by turning his attention to young Catholics. He encouraged them to share their faith in the digital world. If you are already part of this digital generation, then his message is for you in particular, because you “have an almost spontaneous affinity for the new means of communication,” Pope Benedict says. And for this reason, you must “take responsibility for the evangelization” and spread the Good News to a “digital continent”.
Don’t be afraid to put up a status now and then that shares a little of the love you have for your Catholic faith. Don’t shy away from writing a post on your blog that indicates that you love Jesus Christ and His Church. Tweet about it. Let it be a natural part of your communication with the Internet community that surrounds you. Consider it your digital continent and you are the one being sent to spread the Good News.
It’s quite easy, really. How about this for a status: On my way to Mass . . . my favorite part of the week.
Or wondering if I have any Facebook friends who are thinking about the Catholic faith. Would love to sponsor you. Call or text.
It isn’t easy to be salt of the earth to this digital continent. One of the hardest things about Facebook and other social media is that you can’t wear more than one mask. You can’t be one thing to your friends and another thing altogether to your grandmother. Everyone sees your status. Anyone can read your tweets.
It’s a good time to begin reconciling the image you present to the world with the real person you are inside. If you are a Catholic who loves the faith, let it show.
Go into all the world, including the digital continent, and share the good news.
Five of her ten grandchildren are on Facebook, and their lives have become so busy the only way to keep up with them is to go where they hang out.
And so that’s what she did.
As Catholics, we could learn some things from grandmothers who tackle new social media for the sole purpose of connecting with the grandchildren they love.
I’m intrigued by the dynamic duo that we find in Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. The first one called us to the New Evangelization and the second one continues that call by directing us to go where the crowds gather. It’s no longer Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). It’s no longer the highways and byways (Luke 14:23). Now, the crowds meet on the Internet superhighways. Facebook. My Space. Twitter. The blogosphere. Podcasts.
Pope Benedict understands this. That’s why his Message on World Day of Communications 2010 encouraged priests to get on Facebook. That's why he has encouraged the faithful to have a presence on the Internet. Basically, he has asked all of us to go where the people gather.
In his 2009 message, the Holy Father called this generation the digital generation and highlighted the “extraordinary potential of the new technologies” which permit us to communicate almost instantaneously with anyone in the world. What we can do with our laptops and iphones is quite amazing.
But to whom much is given, much is required (Luke 12:48). And that is certainly true with the gift of the new media. Do you have access to the Internet? Are you on Facebook? Do you have a blog? Well, that’s a little like giving one of those early Apostles a private jet and letting him loose on the world. The possibilities are endless.
The Holy Father concluded his Communications Day message by turning his attention to young Catholics. He encouraged them to share their faith in the digital world. If you are already part of this digital generation, then his message is for you in particular, because you “have an almost spontaneous affinity for the new means of communication,” Pope Benedict says. And for this reason, you must “take responsibility for the evangelization” and spread the Good News to a “digital continent”.
Don’t be afraid to put up a status now and then that shares a little of the love you have for your Catholic faith. Don’t shy away from writing a post on your blog that indicates that you love Jesus Christ and His Church. Tweet about it. Let it be a natural part of your communication with the Internet community that surrounds you. Consider it your digital continent and you are the one being sent to spread the Good News.
It’s quite easy, really. How about this for a status: On my way to Mass . . . my favorite part of the week.
Or wondering if I have any Facebook friends who are thinking about the Catholic faith. Would love to sponsor you. Call or text.
It isn’t easy to be salt of the earth to this digital continent. One of the hardest things about Facebook and other social media is that you can’t wear more than one mask. You can’t be one thing to your friends and another thing altogether to your grandmother. Everyone sees your status. Anyone can read your tweets.
It’s a good time to begin reconciling the image you present to the world with the real person you are inside. If you are a Catholic who loves the faith, let it show.
Go into all the world, including the digital continent, and share the good news.
Amen sister!
ReplyDeleteDenise - This is something that's been on my mind quite a bit. I have professional profiles set up on sites like twitter and linkedin for my digital marketing and PR business and, frankly, I struggle with how to make use of those professional profiles to share the Gospel. Do you have any suggestions for that type of scenario?
ReplyDeleteDear Hugh,
ReplyDeleteYou are ahead of the curve in that you are at home with technology. It sounds like you simply need to ask the Holy Spirit to help you know how to remove all the STOPS when it comes to revealing your Catholic identity and love for Our Lord. Start small. If your week includes practicing the faith in some way (Mass, Adoration, etc) consider posting a tweet about it. If you are wondering what to do with your Twitter profile, you may need to keep it professional. If there is some flexibility in what you say in your profile, then add that you are Catholic &/or involved in the New Evangelization of the digital continent. If putting this in the profile section will affect your professional status, save info like this for random tweets.
As for LinkedIn, consider adding something in the profile to indicate that you are involved in Catholic Social Media or Catholic Evangelization. Most people who connect with me through LinkedIn do so because their search revealed that I am a Catholic writer, etc.
Take it slowly at first. Keep your witness to snippets in tweets and consider adding that you are Catholic in your profiles if possible. Keep it random. Keep it light. (At least at first) If you only talk about the faith at the expense of your professional status, you may lose readers. Let it be a gentle flow of the Holy Spirit, sincere and easy. The most important thing is that your faith really matters to you. Then, tap into the gifts you received through Confirmation. In the Catechsim, we read that one of the results of Confirmation is that you are gifted to share the faith in a winsome way.
So, pray: Come, Holy Spirit. Be my helper and guide. Inspire me to let my faith be part of the fabric of my professional and personal encounters, even when I am moving in and through the digital continent. All for your glory, Lord. Amen.