We criticize the Church a lot for lagging when it comes to its use of technology. And she deserves it.
Should our presentations, events and services be more professionally polished and technologically impressive? Yes.
Should our websites and design work be reflective of the seriousness with which we take our work? Absolutely.
Should we, the champions of communion, also be the foremost champions of the latest communication methods? Of course!
But in the end, these are not what we should be known for most. The opportunity for us is a much greater one. And it's one that is deeply and directly connected with the core mission of the Church in the first place.
The challenges running the Church, working for justice, evangelizing, administering works of mercy, etc. have always been the same. All over the world, there are needs that require resources. There are questions that require answers. There are people who need help. There are hungry who need food. Etc.
And the challenge for us has always been finding ways to connect them.
Today, with the advancements of technology, we can acheive these ends both in more effiecient ways and in completely new ways. This is why Church leadership should be the champions of these new technologies — because they are directly connected with achieving the same mission the Church has had from the very beginning.
So using these new fangled communication tools is not just a matter of "reaching people where they're at" or "communicating in the ways people are communicating." It's those things, too. But if you reduce new communication technologies to a kind of mere preference of one generation to communicate one way over another, then you miss the best part. They also offer something much more practical to the work of the Church. And *that's* precisely why everyone in the Church should be a champion of them.
Now things like feeding the hungry take on even deeper meaning. Not only can technology and new media help us to actually feed good food to more hungry people more effectively, but how many more hungry souls out there can now be fed in so many other more profound ways?
How much more easily can we now find those in need? Whether it's a hungry person on another continent or a suffering person in a chat room down our street.
How much more clearly can we now define, communicate and address the problems causing these needs in the first place? How much more easily can we find and identify those in the world who may have resources to help? And then clearly communicate to them the need in a way that inspires them to give more and to support the cause?
How much more easily can we nurture the relationships that need to be nurtured, build the networks that need to be built, and to tell the stories that need to be told? And do so in ways that move people to put their faith into action?
New technologies - and communication technologies in particular - offer opportunities to do the work of the Church more effecitvely than ever before. Making the most of these opportunities is what the Church should be known for online.
Not (just) for being creative marketers, polished communicators or tech-savvy leaders, but for being the ones who use technology and new media to uniqely make important connections in order to better serve the corporal and spiritual needs of the world (therefore being a better Body of Christ).
In 20 years from now, I hope the world looks back on us today and that is our "online" legacy.
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I needed this today. Thank you.
Hey Matt: I am also in the IT field, but a little bit older than you. Dude, I remember the dual 5¼ inch floppy disk days of DOS 2.0 command line prompts. I still remember my edlin. So, I’ve seen it come a long way.
Do I want to see more innovation and application of technology within our Church? Yes! Am I pleased with the progress we have made so far? Yes! From what I see, the real issue is not the technology, or even the innovation. The real issue is knowledge and acceptance of technology by our clergy, religious, teachers and laity. WE need an innovative approach to our own learning about the faith, and keeping current on religion. There is so much out there, if we just take the time to look.
In November 2011, when we put into use the revised Roman Missal, my pastor did almost no education to the congregation as to why the words changed. We just went along with the new program. Then a few months after the change, I found some great Youtube videos produced by Life Teen and CatholicYouthMinistry.com. They are targeted to Middle School and High School youth, they have a sense of humor, and they hold my interest and my teen’s interest. And they are informative! In a few short minutes, I learned so much about how the Holy Spirit works through the translation of the Mass. Now, the translation is alive for me. I even downloaded the videos for the kids to put on their iPods. The boys still prefer Annoying Orange more, but watching and learning through this new media is not painful for them.
It’s out there; we just need creative ways to find it and then spread the word to the less tech savvy. Here are a couple ideas that I have:
• Every parish should use the net to find the Holy Father’s prayer intentions, and missionary intentions, for the month. We should include these in our Prayer of the Faithful for the month and identify them as our Holy Father’s intentions. Now we are praying as a universal Church, in harmony with our Holy Father. Think of the spiritual power we would have storming heaven with all of us praying his prayer. Just think about how our love and faith would grow as we pray with our pope.
• Parishes form internet discussion groups. Not everyone is tech savvy, but bring a laptop and an aircard to the parish, and show the other folks what you found. Scripture, teachings, commentary, social justice, orthodoxy and so much more is out there. We have to start evangelizing the tech medium as an avenue to the evangelization of the Word.
Matt, I’m grateful to you for the information you provided for the on-line education series by John Paul the Great University. I’ll take them in a few months, once I finish up my on line Master’s degree. I’m 55, but tapped into on-line education. I’ll never stop with the education in my faith. I’ll tell you that I have never been so personally identified with the universal Church. I even found it cool during the Fortnight for Freedom when Archbishop Lori requested we take our cell phone in church and text “Liberty”. This Church is alive!
Very well-written!!!
You know, the Pastor at our parish is always available for an unannounced chat with me and works long hours serving our church community. I’m less concerned with his use of technology. Although I do agree that it is a medium the Church could use to reach more people!
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