Living Stones

Getting social? by Ken Perry

In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, the importance of social media as a communications tool was highlighted as Facebook was used as a major tool for local information gathering, community organizing and fundraising.  St. Francis Parish on Long Beach Island was one example.  Since Long Beach Island was evacuated and residents were not allowed to return for some time after the storm, the pastor gathered the community together using FB to communicate with parishioners as they began to assess the damage and begin recovery efforts in the area.  Members of St. Rose, Belmar, another example among many, organized a hugely successful parish clean-up day in the wake of the storm using social media. 

If social media can be so effective in crisis situations, what about our day to day lives in our Catholic communities?

A recently published report by CARA (Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate) noted that, although nearly half of Americans use Facebook at least a few times a week, few incorporate technology into their practice of worship or to practice their faith.  Does this mean that we should put our energy elsewhere?  Or does it point to something else?

The same report by CARA reports that only 13 percent of Catholics report their parish has an active Facebook page.  Why would Catholics look to social media to help support their faith if 87% of parishes don't have anything helpful there in the first place?  

The communication tools we have at our disposal in our modern era are unparalleled in human history.  We are called by Christ to spread the Gospel. So what are we waiting for?  Is your parish actively using social media?  Tell us about it!

 

 

Half of Over 65s Online by Ken Perry

A recent Pew research study indicates that as of April 2012, 53% of American adults age 65 and older use the internet or email.  This is the first time that over half of seniors are online.  Although still the lowest group percentage-wise, this represents another reminder of how parishes need to increase efforts to evangelize online - especially give how the 65+ population has been growing rapidly in our diocese. 

It also represents a real opportunity for parish communities to strategize how they can reach out to seniors not only sacramentally but also to connect seniors to the life of the parish during the week!  Some of the tools available include a dynamic parish website, social media (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, etc), email prayer chains, homilies online, video conference for workshops/prayer groups and even apps.  What ways are you currently reaching out in your parish?

Does One Size Fit All? by Terry Ginther

The newsletter of the Parish Evaluation Project this month featured some of the insights of John Roberto describing the need for different approaches to four broad segments of a Catholic congregation:

• Active Parishioners - "come to church regularly and practice their faith in the world"; volunteers and financially supports parish ministry
• Participating but Uncommitted - come to church but not involved or interested in other parish activities
• Spiritual but not Religious - "high on the hunger for God scale, but just don't come to church"
• Unaffiliated and Uninterested - "plugged into their active and demanding world, leaving little room for reflection and spiritual growth." 

It's worth taking a look at this free monthly newsletter and discussing it with your Parish Staff, Pastoral Council or other parish ministry group (http://www.pepparish.org/newsletter/).

It seems to me that Jesus was adept at knowing his audiences, their needs, and the things that concerned or motivated them.  He met people in the midst of their lives and touched upon their deepest desires.  Jesus taught and prayed with people; but he also healed, forgave, gathered and ate with people too.

In the earliest days of the Church, the disciples of Christ were inspired to place the "Good News" in context so it would have maximum meaning in the lives of those who heard it.  Each of the four Gospels addresses a particular group--Jews or Gentiles, those living in Jerusalem or elsewhere in the Roman Empire--that they might come to believe in the Christ.  If one Gospel was not sufficient, can one approach be enough?  

When you think about how your parish invites and involves, does your parish take a "one size fits all" approach?  How do you, or how could you, use different approaches to purposefully engage each of the different groups? 

 

Who is Our Brother's Keeper? by Ken Perry

More and more coorporate America is looking to invest in communities.  The headline post reads, "Invest in Communities to Advance Capitalism".  Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz writes in a blog post for the Harvard Business Review.

"As corporate citizens of the world, it is our responsibility - our duty - to serve the communities where we do business by helping to improve, for example, the quality of citizens' education, employment, health care, safety, and overall daily life, plus future prospects," ...Simply writing checks for charity projects doesn't cut it. "We must go deeper," he says."

While on the face of things, money invested back into communites can be a helpful thing, I can't help but wonder -- where is the church in all this?  Are we abdicating our responsibility as Catholic Chrisitians to love our neighbor and to serve as Christ did?

In the same way, we are called by Christ to invest in our own local communties.  Not just whoever happens to come to our events, but to reach out and serve the wider community in which we live in significant and meaningful ways.

St. Theresa's Parish in Tuckerton is parish that is a great example of thinking about new ways to reach out.  It's the largest food pantry in the area and has partnered with local food stores to help distribute food to those who in need.  Concerned about the lack of young families in church, Fr. Mick Lambeth began inviting a core group of young families to get together and begin to talk about outreach strategies.  The group is called "B3 - Bringing Faith, Friends and Family Back", and is now planning strategies and events to connect with those not in church on Sunday.

So where does your church community stand in all this?  In what ways are you already being salt and light in your community ?  In what ways can you improve the lives of others in your local community to serve-- not in the name of not capitalism--but in the name of Jesus Christ?