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In this new world of technology-based interaction and socialization, different faiths have felt the pressure to integrate new media into their communities.

Catholic parishes and individuals across the country have begun regularly using Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, blogs and other electronic forms of communication to reach out, connect and even evangelize.

In the Albany Diocese, some have taken steps while others are exploring new possibilities.

"Media today is so dynamic and Christ is dynamic," said Fran Rossi Szpylczyn, a blogger and office manager at Immaculate Conception parish in Glenville. "It's another way to express the light of the world."

Indeed, Pope Benedict XVI himself encouraged the Church to see the new opportunities that come from social networks. He invited Christians to spread the Gospel not only by establishing relationships and fellowship, but also by "giving birth to a new way of learning and thinking."

Mrs. Rossi Szpylczyn's experience with the new wave of media and technology comes from her years as a Catholic writer, blogger and social networker.

She told The Evangelist she began dabbling in blogging (online journaling) "by accident" and didn't think much of it. But when she realized the possibilities of sharing one's faith through a blog, she recognized the power behind it.

Though, at 53, she does not consider herself part of the "tech-savvy" generation, she appreciates the enormous resources for sharing and connecting that are made available by the internet and new technology.

Meet and greet
"Through the web and blogs, people are opening up and revealing themselves. They're no longer anonymous. They're connecting, and there's something sacramental about that," she shared.

Mrs. Rossi Szpylczyn runs the blog for her parish, St. Edward the Confessor in Clifton Park. She posts reflections on Scripture readings, links to news and other religious blogs, poetry by parishioners and reflections parishioners write during Advent and Lent.

While interest is building slowly, she sees the blog as a great resource to the community and hopes to see it grow as people become more comfortable with the technology.

Along with new technology and forms of networking comes the fear that many people are becoming accustomed to artificial interaction.

"There is this image of angry and lonely people sitting behind their computer screens," said Mrs. Rossi Szpylczyn. "Computers are sometimes considered impersonal, but there was a time when the phone was considered impersonal, too."

She argued that, in fact, the use of these new technologies can only help in spreading practical information and in socialization and communication. This was also the finding of a recent national survey by the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project.

The poll found that 75 percent of all American adults are active in some kind of voluntary group or organization and internet users were more likely to do so. Eighty percent of internet users participate in some form of group activity, while 56 percent of non-internet users do so.

Social media users are even more likely to be active: Eighty-two percent of social network users and 85 percent of Twitter users are group participants.

Kaitlyn Tebordo Wood, a graduate student at RPI studying language, literature and communication, has been researching new forms of media and their relationship to religion.

"Churches are trying to attract youth and the un-churched by making it familiar to them," said Mrs. Tebordo Wood.

To do so, she said, churches use new media, concert spaces, television and video: "Every church wants to seem real and authentic to the non-church people [who] visit."

Until now, such technologies have predominantly been used by churches in youth ministry and teen liturgies. However, Mrs. Tebordo Wood pointed out, "What happens when the Church grows up? What will happen when those teens aren't 18 anymore and have to go to a regular Mass now, and don't have that media to relate to?

"Times and technology will change, so allow media to help you. Whatever reached them is going to keep them."

Mrs. Rossi Szpylczyn agrees: "What would St. Paul do? He was the master communicator. He used all of his resources to reach out."

St. Ambrose parish in Latham has implemented a media ministry at three weekend Masses and hopes soon to bring it to a fourth. The director of media ministry, Mary Alice Hunt, explained that it is an effort to "enhance the experience of the Mass."

During liturgies, prayers and song lyrics are now projected on a screen. Videos and images are displayed during homilies.

"What I've noticed from this is that more people are praying and singing aloud during the Mass; it keeps their attention rather than distracting them from the real reason we're all there: Christ," said Ms. Hunt.

Be mindful
Despite the advantages, the concerns of many Catholics about the detriments of technology and its omnipresence in the world today are relevant.

With the possibilities of an online Church community and technology such as simulcast Masses, what would happen to the sacraments and the need for a parish priest? How does the growing influence of technology affect older generations less familiar with media and future generations?

Both Mrs. Rossi Szpylczyn and Mrs. Tebordo Wood believe the Church can find a middle ground.

"The new is always scary and there's always concern about losing heritage, community and charity among people," said Mrs. Tebordo Wood. "But media ministry shows that you can be a normal human being in the world and still be a Christian."

Mrs. Rossi Szpylczyn noted that "there's no substitute for real presence in the end, and each church has to ask themselves, 'Is this the focus or is this the complement?' But the important thing is to be alive in this age."

(02/03/11)[[In-content Ad]]

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