July 17, 2009
Facebook, podcasts, webcams offer ways to stay connected
By MARY ANN HUGHES (Message staff writer)
Technology can connect us — in ways unseen even 10 years ago.
There are popular social networks on the Internet like Twitter and Facebook; they are open to everyone, but you must register to join. There are podcasts which allow parishes to share their weekend homilies. And there are webcam connections which allow the homebound to watch weekend Liturgies from the comfort of their family rooms.
Father Alex Zenthoefer is the associate pastor at Holy Rosary Church, Evansville, and the chaplain at Mater Dei and Memorial high schools, both in Evansville.
He said, “I started using Facebook about a year and a half ago just as a way of staying connected to people and catching up with old friends, which has worked out well. Now I have quite a few parishioners as friends, which has been a good way of getting feedback from homilies or having extended conversations about what I talked about. It has been a great way to stay connected in that way.
“Since I am a chaplain at two high schools I have several friends from the high schools. Since it is a public venue, it’s a pretty safe and effective way to communicate with them. I will say that all of the high school students that I am friends with invited me, which tells me that they are not worried that a priest has access to what they’re putting on their Wall.
“I have also found that Facebook is a great way to stay connected to people after a retreat, especially when you live a great distance from each other.”
He added, “The great fear that I have about Facebook, ironically, is that we would forget how to interact with each other face-to-face. It’s easy to talk to a computer or to instant message someone in a flash, but not feel connected with them.
“It seems to me that Facebook is an expression of our need to stay connected with each other, though I don’t think it can connect us in the way that we all are really searching for.”
He believes that “no matter what the social networking site may be, my sense is that people want to be with people. I only hope that a quick post to someone’s wall doesn’t replace authentic and healthy human relationships.”
Father Zach Etienne, the pastor at St. Mary Church, Ireland, said, “I actually hadn’t planned to join Facebook. Finally, my sisters talked me into it. Besides staying in touch with people in my current priestly ministry, Facebook has helped me get in touch with friends from my past: close family relationships from growing-up years, cousins, high school classmates, college classmates, campers and counselors from my three college summers in the Pocono Mountains, former Kid’s “R” Us staff members and seminary friendships.”
Paul Schutz is the director of music at St. Mary Church in Evansville. He explained that his parish is using the podcast format to “record and post homilies, formation talks and music recordings from our music ministry on our website, http://www.stmaryevansville.org.
“We have seen a significant increase in web traffic since we started doing it, and we’re exploring new ways to connect via the web through our marketing project and other opportunities.”
St. John the Baptist Church in Newburgh also offers homily podcasts on its website which are updated each week. There is also a webcam connection at the parish website www.sjbnewburgh.org/webcam/live/index.html. On it, one camera faces the sanctuary, and the other one faces the choir. The website offers instructions for using the webcam.