Mobile+Devices+and+Ministry+-+Is+My+Parish+Ready?

Assignment #1 Mobile Devices and Ministry - Is My Parish Ready?

Expected time to complete assignment: 10 minutes

Is my parish ready to embrace and use these tools in learning environments or ministry? Why or Why not?

Please respond with the following information - name, parish, city, state and your response.

Name: Susan Parish/City/State: Parish Name + City + State
 * EXAMPLE: **

Response: As a parish we are just beginning to realize that this mobile technology is more available to us. We have a youth minister that really understands and uses technology with our youth ministry group. Our RCIA coordinator knows about Poll Everywhere, and is using this service which allows a respondent to use a cell phone in polls. But overall, we are still trying to figure out what to do. A majority of our ministers and catechists are hesitant to use technology in their teaching or ministry.

Amy Queen of Peace Catholic Community Gainesville FL

We are blessed to have a pastor who is moving our parish towards more use of technology as a whole. We are use FB, Pathfinders MS youth group is using more and more technology based activities. We blog, use wikis and podcast as well as using student created movies. We rolled out a wiki to provide dinners for an employee and family after she was injured when the roof of part of church hall collapsed and trapped her. We are starting to educate our members to the ways to safely and politely integrate cellphones into education and ministries. Some ministries are more comfortable with new technology than others, but I feel that with our staff leading by example (especially with Father's example) we will make good progress.

Jose Espiritu Santo, Safety Harbor

As a parish member I have not seem the parish use or take advantage of the technology. I am currently collaborating with members of the faith formation committee on the use of web technology in the different ministries. This is the purpose I am attending these classes.

Kristi St. Cecilia, Ft. Myers I'm not sure if our parish is ready to embrace technology as a whole, but individual staff members are. Within Faith Formation ministries, I've used a blog, Google Photos, YouTube videos, and begun a parish Facebook site. Response has been positive overall from parishioners and parents... but I do know a few folks who aren't up to speed on techie stuff. Some parents (dig. immigrants) are on the computer so much for work, they prefer not to jump on for anything else. I think our challenge as ministers will be to balance efficiency, relevancy and inclusivity (keeping in mind the digital divide, whether by choice or by financial status).

Walt Our parish of St. Justin Martyr has come very far in our use of technology, utilizing video in church, creating Apple TV Posterboards, Facebook & Twitter and are beginning to use wiki's for discussions among staff members outside of meetings. Most have embraced the need to go further in understanding and training so we can meet the growing needs of our tech-savvy members. We are committed to growing in our use of technology in ways that are needed and relevant, not just because we can do something.

Diane St. Patrick, Largo, FL "Our Parish" consisting of the parish staff as a whole - no; individually - perhaps; the people in the pew - yes. Our parish staff does not communicate well through the website, email, or facebook. Our parish school is improving in the classroom, the website and in some communication with parents, but needs improvement. They do use smart boards in some classrooms. I could see mobile devices being used in the school, but not yet in the parish. Financial considerations are a big factor for the parish and parish school and sometimes when a new idea/technology is introduced, the mention of the lack of money or lack of personnel puts a stop to further investigation.

Beatrice Queen of Peace Parish

I believe that our parishioners are ready to embrace and use these tools in the learning environments of our ministries. Our parish is just beginnning to cross over the line to meet these needs. We have two staff members at this workshop and have begun conversations concerning ways in which to do so. I believe that our biggest hurdle is how to get Wi-Fi on our campus.

Thomas Morning Star School, Tampa, FL

It’s coming but we are not there yet. This course might be considered a wake up call to get ready. Factors inhibiting immediate implementation include socioeconomic status, parental permissions, and facilitator knowhow and willingness. The initial use of mobile technology in our learning environment will come from the tech-savvy students themselves and their collaborating facilitators.

Pat St. Scholastica Parish

I have not seen the parish expand on there use of technology. Some members of the staff are willing to use more technology in ministries. I have spoken with the Director of Faith Formation and we will probably use a wiki, facebook and our website in the upcoming school year. I am using a widget on our website to link the wiki, hoping that it will make it easier for parents and children to use the wiki. It is really hard to get everyone on board with the ideas, they really don't like change.

Sister Ann Academy of the Holy Names

I minister in a school not a parish and we not only use technology but have two full time IT people on staff.

Jennifer Ferreris St. James the Apostle, Port Richey Since I just moved to Tampa and am just starting a new job, I am not sure how open my parish/school would be to using mobile devices!

Glennell Munné Our Lady of Fatima, Inverness, Fl. In the two and a half years that I have been a member of the Parish, I have seen only the beginnings of technological enhancement of catachesis and evangelization. Some power point presentations, and I saw the websit for the parish was not active or populated with articles or pages, so I asked if might try getting it up and going. It now has monthly calendars, News page, and photo gallery. The basic catholic.web.com format is limited in what can be done without upgrade and since the website has not had enough "hits" or traffic the cost of upgrade is unlikely. After this course, I think it would be beneficial to survey how many homes have computer access. Remembering we have a retired, older community and some on limited budgets for cable and internet connection, still the members who have limited mobility would benefit from having easy communication via digita tech. Basic facebook or even Skype would be ideal for CONNECTION with parish activity for this population. I am hoping to establish a telephone/e-Mail network for shut-ins for wellbeing checks and comm**UNITY** building. The parish priest is blogging and is pleased to have the website up. I think he is open to the technology if it economically feasible.

Cindy Taylor Our parish of Nativity is just now able to say we are beginning tech programs. We have hired a ft Tech guy and so we are just now beginning to start some experimentation. We are streaming our sermons now on ITunes on our website and eventually we will do a podcast. Our pastor, Fr. Proulx tweeted for the first time this last week. He did well. We are going to start blogs for Fr. and my husband, Deacon Mark, who still has the same razor phone from 6 years ago with no voice mail set up! More to come on that! So we are eager, willing and beginning.

Pamela Emery Yes, Nativity is willing, ready and doing! We recently hired a young (former high school teacher) technology person - officially dubbed Electronic Outreach Director. He is passionate and energetic and connected! Wow! Return to assignment page

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