I’m happy to post on this good Good Friday about a new New Media expo for Catholics: CatholiCon. This bit from their website explains just what it is:

“In addition to Sacred Chant, Art, and the Liturgy, we’ll also explore the New Evangelization as it is taking place in podcasting, vidcasting, blogging, and social networking.

It’ll be expo style, which means that attendees will be able to browse the floor, looking at the latest in new media gadgetry, hang out in a coffeebar environment, or attend the keynotes and workshops.

We’ll worship together, we’ll learn together, and we’ll certainly have a lot of fun.”

The event will be in Houston, TX on August 26-28, 2011. So you have some time to plan for it. But you can already register for it on their website.

Something I’m very excited about is the keynote speaker: Fr. Z (aka Fr. John Zuhlsdorf)! He is the author of the extremely popular blog What Does The Prayer Really Say.

The schedule is packed with artistic, practical, liturgical and technical things. And since I’m not too far from Houston (I grew up there), I will be making every effort to be at this expo. It will be a great opportunity to build community and learn more about new media.

One final part of CatholiCon that I really like is the incorporation of the Catholic New Media Awards into the expo. There will be a banquet on Saturday evening with, I’m presuming, some kind of awards ceremony. I think this is going to be a great part of the weekend. I mentioned an idea not too long ago to have a Catholic New Media awards ceremony at the CNMC because of the natural fit. Well now the Catholic New Media Awards have their very own expo - which works, too!  If they have an award for best fella who wears boots and blogs about new media at the Register…maybe I can win a beautiful little golden trophy of the Archangel Gabriel holding an iPhone while skyping with Mary. I’m just sayin’.

Here’s a little promo video for CatholiCon: