Social Networking Websites now play a very important part in the life of the Church. It can be creatively enhanced for the benefit of the parish and church. This contemporary communication method is becoming more obvious for parishes. Churches need social networking sites. 'Facebook' is the most popular social networking site in the world today and becoming much more popular with churches and parishes.

The Challenge

We are challenged to meet our parishioners where they are at, or might be, in the near future. The social networking tentacles are reaching further into the various demographics affecting our parish communities, often way beyond the awareness of church leaders. It is now common for people in their 50s and 60s to have one or more social networking accounts.

Assumptions Underlying Social Networking Websites?

There are a number of interesting assumptions an ever expanding group of people, with representatives in most age groups, of the 21st century make:

• People like to build trusting relationships with others before doing 'business' (Churches need to be open to appreciating this belief and then adapting the way they communicate with such people.)
• The busyness of life often limits face-to-face opportunities
• The relationship does not need to be a face-to-face encounter, even though this is often preferred
• 'anonymity' allows for a less inhibited sharing of ideas and thoughts. (Easier for some people to make a comment when the contact person isn't actually in front of them. Similar for some people when using telephones or email.)
• The internet often provides the answers people are seeking (How often do you hear more and more, "Google it!")
• Digital communication is the easiest and quickest means of communication
• Digital communication allows for multiple conversations simultaneously
• People using these forms of communication eventually trust in the results due to their experiences.

Why Consider Social Networking Websites?

To reach this ever growing group of people in our communities we must meet them where they are at!

In many circumstances, this may not be your 'cup of tea'. But you do have control over who sees and comments on your church social networking pages if you follow the security directions. You may limit membership to only parishioners and hence only these people will see what you say and show.

It is, however, a successful method of informing an ever growing group of your community of whatever it is you would like to inform them about.

Below are the details contained on the Facebook page of the St Mary's Parish, Coomera and shows some ways this social networking site is used by a church parish:

• Parish and Contact Details
• News from the Parish Priest and Responses from Parishioners
• News about Youth and Children's Activities and Responses
• Upcoming Parish Events
• Parish Photos
• Parish Priest Recommended Websites for Parishioners

Social networking sites can be used effectively by churches and parishes. Once a number of challenges, misconceptions and assumptions underlying social networking sites are initially explored, each parish will be able to make the decision whether to proceed with a social networking webpage.

 

The 'Churches Need Social Networking Websites' blog post was written by Bryan Foster, author of Church Marketing Manual for the Digital Age (2nd ed), 2011 - the paperback and ebook manual for Church communications and marketing personnel - 304 pages of easy to read and implement summarized points, which allow for a considerably large number of quality stategies and examples to be detailed and available for church marketing personnel - with copyright remaining GDPL. Book available from Amazon.com and Createspace.com

The Review of Mary MacKillop Website  at marymackillop.org.au/ begins with full praise to the website's designers. First impressions at the homepage encourage the reader to delve more fully into the website. Images of Mary MacKillop from various stages of her life set a wonderful scene to explore this marvellous website much further.

Blessed Mary MacKillop was canonized in Rome on 17 October, 2010. Mary is the first Australian to be canonised. As this is such a significant event for all Australians, especially the Catholics of Australia, it is marked by a count-down clock on the canonisation page.

The clean homepage invites you to enter either through the image and photo banners to:

• Beginnings
• Growth
• Challenge
• Influences
• Legacy

or through the toolbar below to:

• Timeline
• Pligrimage
• Pryaer Space
• Canonisation
• Support Our Work Donate Now

The Canonisation webpage has a large variety of links to some truly, very special webpages, including:

• Canonisation News Articles
• Mary MacKillop Blog
• Liturgical Resources
• Mary MacKillop Songs
• Canonisation Events
• Mary macKillop Merchandise
• Educational Resources
• Canonisation Ceremony
• The Process of Canonisation
• Mary's Path to Canonisation
• After Canonisation

The Canonisation Ceremony:

The Canonisation of Blessed Mary MacKillop Ceremony is taken from the marymackillop.org.au website:

09.30am

• The reading of a brief biography of each Blessed being canonised.
• The preparation for the ceremony – features short readings or prayers written by the Blessed. At this point there will be a prayer or hymn (chosen to fit the biography which has been submitted by each Postulator).

10.00am

The Rite of Canonisation – the Mass celebrated by the Holy Father

• The pope begins with a greeting.
• The Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints accompanies the Postulators to the Holy Father and requests the Holy Father to proceed with the Canonisation of the Blesseds using the formula: Most blessed Father, The holy Mother Church, asks your Holiness that these blessed ones be written in Book of Saints and thus be invoked as such by all Christians.
• The Prefect then presents a brief biography of those to be canonised.
• Prayer and Litany of the Saints follows with the concluding prayer to the Litany
• THE HOLY FATHER SOLEMNLY PRONOUNCES THE OFFICIAL FORMULA OF CANONISATION.
• ALL RESPOND with the sung AMEN
• The relics of the Saints are placed near the altar
• The choir /cantor sings alleluiax3
• The assembly repeats the above alleluia x3
• The choir/cantor sings a brief acclamation.
• The Prefect thanks the Holy Father and asks that arrangements be made that the Apostolic letter be written regarding the Canonisation
• Holy Father responds – may this be so!
• The Prefect and the Postulators exchange a sign of peace with Holy Father
• THE EUCHARIST FOLLOWS AS NORMAL – the Gloria, the opening Prayer, the Readings etc.

This website is definitely worth the visit. In fact, I would encourage all Catholics, especially those from Australia, to visit this website and to gain a truly remarkable appreciation of this most incredible women and to explore how she is very much the role model for all Australians!

The 'Canonisation of Mary MacKillop - Review of Mary MacKillop Website at marymackillop.org.au/' blog post was written by Bryan Foster, author of Church Marketing Manual for the Digital Age (2nd ed), - the paperback and ebook manual for Church communications and marketing personnel - 304 pages of easy to read and implement summarized points, which allow for a considerably large number of quality stategies and examples to be detailed and available for church marketing personnel - with copyright remaining GDPL. Book available from Amazon.com and Createspace.com

 

Love is the meaning of life. To love and to be loved being the main purpose for our whole existence. Why then do so many people allow all the other lifestyle issues, values, resources, relationships, etc, get in the way? Why then do so many people let the distractions interfere and often dominate their lives?

Most people would believe that the desire to love and be loved to be an intrinsic part of life - you are born with it. You are born to love and be loved. That people living a balanced life, where they are loved and loved others within their family and friendship circle, truly appreciate this message. Once this message is appreciated and lived, then it is the normal thing to do when relating with others and the world.

However, somewhere along the way, many get distracted for so many reasons and then lose that true focus. The human frailties of greed, selfishness, envy, failure to forgive and be forgiven, lust, gluttony, etc, come to the fore and seductively entice people to follow this distracting and destructive pathway.

This transfer of priorities may even occur in early to mid-childhood, where parents or other significant adults or people within the young person's life, live an alternate destructive lifestyle, which is seen by the young person as the norm, and hence worthy of following (even if subconsciously). This then becomes the accepted lifestyle as they grow up.

People may then follow this pathway until challenged to do otherwise. Challenged to see the destructiveness of these chosen ways, challenged to confront the situation they then find to be wrong, challenged to become a better more loving person. This challenge often comes at a time of complete lowness / loneliness within their lives.

To love and to be loved is the meaning of life. It is the primary and quite raw need within all people. It is not only a basic emotional and social need of each person but it is also the main spiritual desire and need.

Appreciating that love is the meaning of life brings with it the challenge to love and to be loved in all its manifestations. To not get distracted and damaged by allowing all the other stuff to get in the way. This belief should be at the core of all church and religious school philosophies and theologies.

When 'Love is the Meaning of Life' then the future holds no bounds.

Love rules! Most people would believe that the desire to love and to be loved is an intrinsic part of all humanity.

The 'Love is the Meaning of Life - Human Frailties Affect Loving Relationships' blog post was written by Bryan Foster, author of Church Marketing Manual for the Digital Age (2nd ed), - the paperback and ebook manual for Church communications and marketing personnel - 304 pages of easy to read and implement summarized points, which allow for a considerably large number of quality stategies and examples to be detailed and available for church marketing personnel - with copyright remaining GDPL. Book available from Amazon.com and Createspace.com

 

The difficult, challenging question posed by an interviewer will often occur at a media interview - it needs to be responded to during the interview or shortly afterwards.

The last resort is the, "No comment," response. If time is needed to gain an accurate response, then advise the interviewer that you will find the answer and get back in as reasonable time as possible.

In the Church setting this can be quite a challenge, particularly when church personnel are not experienced to receive such requests or skilled with the necessary response techniques. There is also the inherent fear of damaging the Church's hard earned reputation if the response is incorrect or not given in a credible way.

Below is a suggested response for the Church marketing personnel. This includes:

• Being prepared for the interview and anticipating negative questions
• Interview techniques to assist.

Be Prepared - A Response Method

• Anticipate the sort of negative questions which might arise and prepare good responses.
• Have your key 3-4 positive points you would like to make.

It may also be necessary to make arrangements with the interviewee prior to the interview, and before the journalist arrives, that the Church Marketing Manager would interject respectfully if the interviewee was getting particularly stressed or confused during the interview. This is particularly necessary if the person being interviewed is a child / student. There is always a duty of care to assist the child firstly and respond to the interviewer only secondly.

Key techniques during the interview when asked a difficult question requiring a response are usually:

1. Acknowledge the weakness (apologize if needed)

2. Agree that plans are afoot to improve the situation

3. Continually revert back to the 3-4 key positive points you want to make.

 

The Serious or Controversial Issue - Interview

Dealing with a serious or controversial issue involves having staff well trained with important interview techniques. These techniques are usually coordinated by the church's authorities who have qualified staff to train urch personnel.

The techniques above would often form the basis for such difficult interviews. These interviews often result from alleged controversial or illegal incidents, involving staff or parishioners.

These days the difficult media question is a stock question of the journalist's profession. There is nothing better for a church's reputation when these questions are responded to well and those being informed through the interview see a professional approach being shown and implemented. Be informed, prepared and skilled with the various interview techniques.

The 'The Difficult Media Question During an Interview - a Response' blog post was written by Bryan Foster, author of Church Marketing Manual for the Digital Age (2nd ed), - the paperback and ebook manual for Church communications and marketing personnel - 304 pages of easy to read and implement summarized points, which allow for a considerably large number of quality stategies and examples to be detailed and available for church marketing personnel - with copyright remaining GDPL. Book available from Amazon.com and Createspace.com