Evangelization
Social Networking Success for the Catholic Parish
Jan 28th
Social Networking, Catholic Style
This is a subject that scares everyone except the youth themselves. As St. Ignatius says, “You must enter through their door and leave through Christ’s.” I often hear how youth events are not well attended. Poor to nothing usually. Why commit so much hard work to something and have no one benefit?
When I asked Matthew Pinto what he thought a youth minister should do he said, “Be a Marketing Guru.” Go out and bring the youth in. Every successful salesmen knows the key to lasting sales is networking. They go to dinners, golfing, seminars, etc. How do you network with youth? They are online. Go online just like you would go golfing.
Sensitive subject
Many times I say social networking and people get scared or ancey. Yes there are problems, but with simple steps you can decrease them and reap the benefits. A little education goes a long way.
Here is what I do and have found works.
1. Investigate what the youth are using. (I have a sister in high school. I just ask her friends and watch her). Today they are using Facebook, Instant Messaging, Texting, and limited email.
2. Join in strategically. With Facebook all my friends can see what I post and I can notify them when I am doing something. They are forced to see my updates. So I put updates like, “Youth Group Tonight 7pm” “iTunes Gift Certificates Tonight Only at Youth Group.”
3. Tell them to text their friends as soon as they get to youth group. Make sure to text your leaders to remind them about youth group. Create an IM logon and your teens as friends. When you are away for Youth Group set your away message as “At Youth Group…See you There.”
Don’t be sacred, be educated
Staying up to date on technology is important because it can help you become more effective. I have seen the positive results with my own eyes. Do the research for yourself on sites like www.digg.com, www.facebook.com, www.zoho.com, www.ning.com, www.google.com/docs, www.cnet.com These are just to name a few they frequent almost ever other day.
What are you best ways of attracting youth to youth group?
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Loading ...Vatican Ecourages Priest to Use Technology
Jan 23rd
The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI released a statement today calling priest to make use of the internet and current media tools to reach people with the message of Jesus Christ.
The great German Shepherd of the Church is calling priest to use the technology of the day to spread the Gospel. What impact will this have on a seminary or priest who may struggle to adapt and learn emerging technologies? It should have none because if they are open to the Holy Spirit, the Spirit will provide.
Priests are thus challenged to proclaim the Gospel by employing the latest generation of audiovisual resources (images, videos, animated features, blogs, websites) which, alongside traditional means, can open up broad new vistas for dialogue, evangelization and catechesis.
Who better than a priest, as a man of God, can develop and put into practice, by his competence in current digital technology, a pastoral outreach capable of making God concretely present in today’s world and presenting the religious wisdom of the past as a treasure which can inspire our efforts to live in the present with dignity while building a better future?
MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS
POPE BENEDICT XVI
FOR THE 44th WORLD COMMUNICATIONS DAY
Example
Rev Dan Good is a ‘good’ example of a young man who is using technology to spread the Gospel. This Catholic seminarian uploads beautiful pictures on Flickr to share the witness.
If you are searching for Catholic photos of Churches, seminarians, or life, stop by and visit Rev Dan Good’s Flickr page http://www.flickr.com/photos/theologicalclowning/
Looking for some ideas for Mass, Christmas Concert, or a liturgical event? Check out these Catholic photos.
Have a comment, question, or suggestions? Please Share it!
Beautiful
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(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Bring People Back to Mass
Dec 16th
CatholicsComeHome.org, run by Tom Peterson, produces fantastic Catholic commercials. I have worked with Tom on projects in the past. He is a practicing Catholic who takes his faith seriously.
If you are interested in bringing more Catholics back to Mass, have seen a rapid decrease in mass participation, or want to engage in an evangelization effort in your area contact Tom.
While I was teaching in a Catholic school I would use these commercials as openers to talks; however, their best use would be across a diocese.
Inspired by the Holy Father’s call to a new evangelization, Catholics Come Home reaches out to inactive Catholics with inspiring TV commercials and an interactive Web site.
“Six months after the CatholicsComeHome.org media campaign ended, a comprehensive analysis was conducted, which revealed the average increase in Mass attendance (returned Catholics, new converts) was 12 percent, even though population growth in the Diocese of Phoenix was flat during that period. This equates to an increase of as many as 92,000 souls who came home!”
Ryan Hanning
Director of Adult Evangelization, Diocese of Phoenix
If you are interested in donating to the project: click here.
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(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Flyers that Don’t Waste Your Money
Dec 5th
How many times have you seen a flyer made in Word with a little clip art? Yes it’s fast, easy, and takes no time, but it also doesn’t work. Youth today are used to glossy, fast looking, professional flyers and posters. They quickly overlook the cheap ones and they only satisfy your desire to “do something.”
Flyers and posters are important because they help make the invisible, visible. I used to go around speaking about adoration events and how much youth benefited from them. I saw the youth benefiting right in front of my eyes…vocations to the priesthood. It wasn’t until I had a professional looking poster put together that people were able to visualize the event and come. Even for myself it helped me realize what I was doing.
1. Outsource your job. Hire a professional designer. Find a college student. By a template online. Trade their time with some of your time. One time I let someone borrow my truck and they made me a poster.
2. Be creative, funny, and use color. Your poster doesn’t have to be unique.
3. Don’t over do it with information. Simple to the point with a web address.
4. Distribute Properly. Print them and then put them up where youth will see them…Schools. I like in bathroom stalls. That worked really well at college.
5. Less is More. Print on demand instead of printing to many and having leftovers. I like 11X17.
6. PDF. Turn the poster into a PDF and send it to all of your contacts so they can print it out and hang it up…Outsourcing works.
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(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...The Most Productive Time to Reach Catholics
Dec 2nd
Recently I rushed to the hospital, rosary in my hand, to visit a sick family member. Time was of the essence. Upon arriving at the hospital parking lot I saw the metered parking places. On a whim I asked the Lord for a spot with time on it. I pulled up to the first spot and was surprised to see 29 minutes on the meter. Astonished at the quick answer to a prayer I pulled further trying to experience the goodness of the Lord. Next spot. 1 hour 27 minutes. Perfect. God shared his generosity of time with me.
The Most Effective Ministry Opportunities Are in the Bookends
Many times in ministry we are quick to arrive right on time (or late) and leave as soon as the event is over. We plan our talk, quarterback the plays, and count down the minutes remaining.
Have you ever noticed when at a youth group, young adult meeting, Sunday Mass, or a Knights of Columbus meeting, it can be difficult for people to participate. I am a guilty, too! Opening the hymnal to sing is tiresome, sharing about how the Lord worked in your life is like pulling teeth, and finding volunteers for the 39th annual clothing drive can be like putting up the Christmas decorations at my grandparents house…a chore!
Instead of looking to just minister during the specific times of the sacraments, meetings, or events, look to the bookends. I mean the 15 minutes before and after.
As the youth are coming into youth group make a point to share with them something about the faith. As people walk out of Mass, stop and invite them to participate in Eucharistic adoration. As John Smith is leaving the Knights of Columbus meeting ask how is Aunt Peggy is doing in the hospital and when would be a good time to bring communion.
These are the moments when being generous with your time can greatly make your ministry more effective. In big group situations people can become shy or just go along with the crowd mentality; hence, the personal invitation can make the group situations more productive. It can also help people grow in the pray life. Giving encouragement or being available for followup discussion can greatly be a reason for conversion to Christ.
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