Our Youtube Channel - The Welcoming Parish

Now you can view all uploaded videos related to our parish and its many activities by subscribing to our youtube channel - The Welcoming Parish.

A video media player has also been embedded in the bottom of this blog.

Are Priests Afraid of Facebook?

by FATHER JOSE DE JESUS PALACIOS 02/19/2010

“Priests should use the Internet to evangelize more.” That’s what Pope Benedict’s World Communications Day message says. “But how?” That’s the question many priests have. The Register asked some experts. This is part three in a series.

Young people, above all, need us to be on the Web.

There are so many ways this can happen: personal blogs, participation on social networking sites like Facebook and even the community that Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, archbishop of Naples, Italy, has set up.

In December 2008, he said, “I’m now on Facebook because I’m convinced that there is no limit to friendship, and that a pastor shouldn’t be limited in the ways he gets to know people. If the people are on the street, I’ll go to the street; if they’re on Facebook, I’ll get on Facebook.”

As priests, we’ve been educated in a community and we carry out our ministry for a community. That’s essential to keep in mind, since we’re leaders in the new virtual communities. We have to be able to enrich the virtual world with the real world. Our relationship with that “virtual community” will thus become true direct human contact, what’s necessary for evangelization.

A while back, I discovered that young people, especially in Latin America, were going crazy about Hi5.com, a social networking site like Facebook. I began to participate (http://palaciostorres.hi5.com), and I was impressed to see how quickly it was growing among our young people. I spend lots of time on the site, where I constantly find parishes, diocesan youth groups, friends and old students of mine.

It’s a community where people have asked me for prayers, for spiritual counseling, for help in their vocational discernment, and even for more specific answers on things like Mass and confession schedules. It’s unthinkable that someone not know what parish they belong to, right? Well, it’s often normal for young people. Just as they would “look things up” on the Internet, they want to be able to find and get to know their parish and its priests there too.

Then I launched a social networking site for priests (http://adsumus.ning.com) to commemorate the Year for Priests. I invited the priests of my diocese and some priest friends with whom I study at the university. Many were called, but few chose to accept the call, and even fewer published articles, images and videos. Even though many young people and married people wanted to join, I only accepted seminarians and priests. Part of the reason why there was such a low response, I think, is a certain fear that priests have of being present on these social networks.

Something else: I help out with my diocese’s website (www.diocesisdecelaya.org.mx). I don’t write articles, since I’ve got so little free time, but I help out as a priest.

For years now, I’ve been offering Mass for the intentions of whoever asks. Between 30-50 e-mails get to me every day with all kinds of intentions, even from outside the diocese.

It’s not the only initiative of its kind, but it makes me think how much the people of our age need God. The good things the Church does aren’t news for the mainstream media — it’s not part of the logic of the news cycle — so it’s up to us as priests to get the news out. It’s not enough to do good; we have to communicate it using all the resources we can — even Internet — to shed light on the events that, even though they seem small, build up the Church.

The new means of communication allow us to be true “fishers of men” on the immense ocean of the Internet, but we have to remember what our priestly identity and mission is: Since we are “other Christs,” our ability to communicate will always depend on our ability to listen to Christ and contemplate him who is our model par excellence.

It’s not enough to have a computer linked to the Internet. You need a truly Christian education and mindset, rooted in a life of communion. But you also need to know how to get the greatest results for evangelization. Instruments are never good or bad in themselves, but moderation and self-discipline are particularly important in the case of the Internet.

The Internet gives greater speed and mobility to all kinds of written and audiovisual communication: Anyone can transmit anything on a global scale. Since the pace of culture creation and information access is constantly speeding up, the Church has a wonderful opportunity to deepen its dialogue with the contemporary world.

So even more important than designing a website is the content that will really help to create a “web of communion.” That content has to help people be more human.

Our Holy Father Benedict XVI, in his message for the 44th World Communications Day in the context of the Year for Priests, talks about “The Priest and Pastoral Ministry in a Digital World: New Media at the Service of the Word.”

The Pope realizes that priests today are called to their eternal responsibility of being “other Christs” in the great task of evangelizing new public spaces. They have to give witness of their self-giving and their love for the Church, and they have to transmit the Heavenly Father’s merciful love.

That’s why I believe that every priest has to take as his own the words that St. John Vianney puts on Christ’s lips: “I charge my ministers with proclaiming to sinners that I am always willing to receive them, and that my mercy is infinite.”

We need men who are able to cast this great “net” of Christian witness and to transmit a clear and specific message. We are called to cast a net to draw hearts to the Church; it has to be a net woven from living threads, from shows of charity and solidarity, examples of love.

Proclaim God’s mercy. Even online.

Father Jose de Jesus Palacios, a priest of the Diocese of Celaya (Mexico), studies Church communications at the Holy Cross Pontifical University in Rome.

Spreading Christ's Love Through Facebook

Church in Australia Suggests Getting Involved, Being Careful

SYDNEY, Australia, DEC. 4, 2009 (Zenit.org).- The Church in Australia is affirming its desire to take advantage of social networking sites as a way to communicate the love of Jesus Christ, though it is recommending caution in certain respects.

A social networking protocol was approved by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC) during its Nov. 23-27 plenary meeting in Sydney.

The bishops cite Benedict XVI in observing that communication technologies have "extraordinary potential" and can be considered "truly a gift to humanity."

But in taking advantage of social networking opportunities, the bishops affirmed that representatives of the Church "need to be aware of appropriate boundaries and activities when communicating in the name of the Church in an online environment."

Being friends

The ACBC protocol makes the clear affirmation that on or offline, respect for human dignity must be priority.

The prelates then list a series of observations to help everyone from bishops to youth ministers to exercise proper caution.

For example, the protocol notes the dilemma of having a public or personal profile on MySpace or Facebook. It observes that with a personal profile, there can be "a way of controlling who appears on the person’s page as a 'friend'"; whereas with a public profile, there is no control over "who appears as a 'fan' on your page, but it has the advantage of people understanding that 'fans' are different to 'friends' and that no acceptance or rejection of 'fans' is implied."

The episcopal conference stipulated that there should be permission from the bishop for a Church worker to set up a personal profile where those to whom he is ministering are his "friends."

"It is advisable that people exercise great care and judgment in accepting 'friend' requests from people to whom they minister, especially young people," the protocol recommends. "In this way, appropriate boundaries can be maintained."

"Moderation of official Church social networking activities is crucial," the bishops further affirm. "Comments which are rude, disrespectful or even bullying in nature should be immediately removed."

Left out

Finally, the ACBC points out an issue that can sometimes be lost in the discussion, which they titled "the digital divide."

The prelates said it is important for all Church entities, and particularly those involved in youth ministry, "not to rely exclusively on social networking as a means of communication."

The protocol explained: "To do this could be to exclude the poor -- those who cannot afford a computer, who live in remote localities with poor Internet connectivity, who struggle with illiteracy or who face other challenges which place them outside of the online world.

"Going to Church and hearing others talk about their social networking experiences can be profoundly isolating for those unable to take part. Social networking should only ever be one of a range of communication methods that we use to invite people into closer relationship with Jesus Christ."

For full text: www.catholic.org.au/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=936&ItemId=158

Facebook, Wikipedia and YouTube in the Vatican

Preachers of Truth Meet Sellers of "My Own Truth"

By Jesús Colina

ROME, NOV. 13, 2009 (Zenit.org).- There are not a few voices in the Church calling for the message of the Gospel to make better use of the Internet -- Benedict XVI's is among them.

And yet, when representatives of some of the most successful Internet initiatives met in Rome today with the European bishops' Commission for the Media, a great difference in mentality became obvious, even if there was also evidence of a genuine desire for mutual understanding.

The chamber of the former hall of the synod of bishops -- which the producers of "Angels and Demons" rented for millions of euros -- witnessed two views of reality: On one hand, an institution, the Church, founded for 2,000 years on the proclamation of Truth; and on the other, exponents of successful business initiatives, which arose a few years ago, based on giving everyone the chance to express "his own truth."

The meeting occurred in the context of a four-day conference that began Thursday in the Vatican, promoted by the Commission for the Media of the Council of European Bishops' Conferences (CCEE).

Networking prelates

The meeting began with a survey among the bishops and representatives of the episcopal commission.

Moderator Jim McDonnell of the Signis World Catholic Association of Communication asked the bishops, priests and some lay experts in communication -- just under 100 in total -- how many had a profile on Facebook. More than one fourth raised their hand.

Nearly everyone in the group was familiar with Wikipedia and about 10% had collaborated in editing one of its entries.

Almost everyone had also viewed videos on YouTube and about 15% had used the site to post one of their own.

Approximately 10% had used or followed Twitter.

The networkers

Then came the presentations from the Internet representatives. Christophe Muller, director of YouTube alliances in Southern and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa, illustrated the philosophy that gave origin and life to Google.

In particular, he praised the Holy See's decision to make a place for itself on YouTube. And he presented a promotional video showing how the great of the world -- from Barack Obama to the Queen of England -- use this platform. Among them is Benedict XVI.

Delphine Ménard, treasurer of Wikipedia, France, explained how the collaborative encyclopedia does not seek to give a view of truth, but rather aims for all points of view to be represented.

For his part, Christian Hernandez, in charge of the commercial development of Facebook, showed how Christian initiatives have arisen in the Facebook world that range from a Shrine of Lourdes profile, to "Jesus Daily," a profile that offers phrases from the Gospel, and has more than one million followers.

Among these initiatives, he also presented Benedict XVI's profile. What he did not say is that this profile was created by an unknown individual who has fraudulently taken the Pope's identity.

In a subsequent conversation with ZENIT, Hernandez said that today, this issue was brought to his attention at the Vatican.

He said that Facebook has blocked a Vatican profile page, but for the fraudulent Benedict XVI profile, he was unable to offer a solution.

Apples and oranges

As the meeting moved to the questions-and-answers stage, it was evident that there was clear difficulty in understanding.

On one hand, the prelates acknowledged the limits of the Catholic Church, which seeks to dialogue on the Internet, but by and large uses basic pages: About 70% of Catholic institutional sites have not introduced interactive elements of Web 2.0.

Then as well -- contrary to what they expected -- the bishops did not find themselves in a meeting with communication experts, but rather with representatives of enterprises with a very specific business model. This model is their primary interest and leaves aside humanistic considerations.

"Can one still speak of truth on social networks based on the idea that each user has his truth?" one of the prelates' working groups asked the Internet representatives.

The representatives of the three enterprises agreed that "power" has now gone to the users; users "control" the media -- but they will be able to seek truth more effectively knowing how to use the media.

Virtual Tour of Basilica of St. John Lateran - the Mother of all Churches

Ever wanted to visit the Basilica of St. John Lateran but just never could get to Rome?

Now you can, thanks to a breathtaking virtual tour created by Villanova University in Pennsylvania. The tour also includes the baptistry and cloister.

Click here to see for yourself.

As the cathedral of the bishop of Rome (the pope), containing the cathedra Romana (papal chair), St. John Lateran, dedicated by Pope Sylvester I in 324, ranks above all other Catholic churches in the world, even above St. Peter’s Basilica.

The tour has gone online just as representatives from Facebook, Google-YouTube and Wikimedia attend a Vatican conference on “The Culture of the Internet and the Communication of the Church.”

Held by the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, the three-day meeting will bring together media representatives from bishops’ conferences from all over Europe.

Speaking to Italian television, the council’s president, Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli, said the Internet “is an excellent means of communication” and that the Church is seeking “to be present where the people are, especially the youth.”

And although Pope Benedict XVI prefers to write by hand and send traditional letters, Archbishop Celli said he does use the Internet and e-mail.

“He sends his own personal e-mails — he does!” the archbishop said. “He doesn’t have a dedicated e-mail address,” he added, “but he very much appreciates the new technologies.”

All the messages to and from the Pope, the archbishop said, go through the Vatican.

Archbishop Celli said the Pope receives “very many” messages. “Of course, he cannot reply to all the millions he receives in his mailbox, but he certainly offers his prayers to those who write.”

Vatican's Youtube Channel

Check out Vatican's latest youtube channel bringing you the latest news and information.

http://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

Here, the Pope speaks about how the internet can be the "new way of speaking to God."



Other Catholic webchannels:

H2ONews
The Catholic Community Television Network (CCTN)
Catholic News Agency (CNA)