Evangelization Througha Parish/RCIA Facebook Page?

[InternetWoman]

At the end of our RCIA process we ask folks for suggestions on how to improve the experience. This year we had multiple suggestions about using facebook. I’m wondering - does anyone out there in CAF-Land know of a parish or an RCIA program that uses facebook? And what do folks think of this? Since I have yet to use facebook I’m unsure of its advantages or disadvantages. Thoughts?

 

[jmcrae]

At the end of our RCIA process we ask folks for suggestions on how to improve the experience. This year we had multiple suggestions about using facebook. I’m wondering - does anyone out there in CAF-Land know of a parish or an RCIA program that uses facebook? And what do folks think of this? Since I have yet to use facebook I’m unsure of its advantages or disadvantages. Thoughts?

I think it would be very unwieldy. Use a static web page to advertise the times and upcoming topics, but don’t make it interactive.

Keep the interaction within the walls of the classroom. You don’t want people venting their angst (of which there is plenty in RCIA, due to the enormous emotional and psychological stress that occurs during the process of conversion) on your RCIA’s FaceBook page.

You also don’t want people thinking that they have “participated in an RCIA class” merely because they posted something to your FaceBook page.

 

[Elizium23]

I highly encourage the use of Twitter and Facebook in evangelization and organizational efforts such as this. Facebook can be a great way to coordinate things such as when you will meet next, dissemination of documents, and public sharing of photos and links.

The Holy Father has encouraged us to use new social media in the new evangelization. I believe that approaching these things with caution, knowing the privacy and security issues, the Church can benefit from social media in ways only imagined when the printing press became a reality.

 

[puzzleannie]

At the end of our RCIA process we ask folks for suggestions on how to improve the experience. This year we had multiple suggestions about using facebook. I’m wondering - does anyone out there in CAF-Land know of a parish or an RCIA program that uses facebook? And what do folks think of this? Since I have yet to use facebook I’m unsure of its advantages or disadvantages. Thoughts?

we have a parish website, not exactly interactive but you can download registration forms, and other forms, schedules etc.
the bulletin is emailed to those who request it and is linked to the website
all events and announcements are also on the parish facebook
CCD-RCIA has its own pages on the website, and I just set up my personal CCD cebook because teens and adults told me that is the best way to communicate meeting dates, events etc.

nobody I know has the skill to make it interactive and I don’t know what purpose it would serve, not even fully sure what it means

there is already an option offered to those in unique situations who can’t make regular RCIA/Confirmation meetings is to complete part of the study through catholic.net who has a catechism 101 feature for on-line study

I also have somebody working on an on-line adult ed course, she does this for a living as a college professor and is on the RCIA team so is the perfect person.

the parish website is thru catholic.org so it already has the good Catholic links

we have to be careful with facebook about friending, esp. youth as this is a rather new thing, and some youth ministers etc. got in trouble with myspace relationships, and it is so easy for someone to post questionable stuff that shows up on yours so right now my posts are open to all but nobody can post on my facebook and I don’t respond to friends except when specifically asked to provide info they need for CCD/RCIA

every DRE and youth minister I know has facebook or something similar as does the diocesan catechetical office, it is the usual way we share info with colleagues.

however we still have some parishes here in the Valley, which is a poor diocese, who do not even have computers

 

[AntalKalnoky]

At the end of our RCIA process we ask folks for suggestions on how to improve the experience. This year we had multiple suggestions about using facebook. I’m wondering - does anyone out there in CAF-Land know of a parish or an RCIA program that uses facebook? And what do folks think of this? Since I have yet to use facebook I’m unsure of its advantages or disadvantages. Thoughts?

   (1) The  Worldwide  Outreach  of the   Catholic Church  is the * Legion Of Mary*,  in  Every  Country, numbering  almost  2  Million.  Every  Pope  since the  1920's  Has  recognized us   as  The  Evangelizing  door-to-door  outreach of each   Parish.  Your   Pastor  has  to recognize it  as  an  Outreach,  not just    welcoming   new  Parishioners.                                                                                                                
    (2)    Our  Very  productive  RCIA  are  briefed  before  Catholic initiation about the  Legion of Mary  being The  Outreach of the Church,  Very positivelly  mutually.   
             
                                                                                                                                      (3)  We  participants  have  grown  significantly in our own  spiritual  growth,  as  a  result  of  our  weekly  participation.  :heaven:  We find that 60%  of  all households  don't have  a  Religion/God   connection/involvement. :doh2:                                                    
    (4)  We  all    follow the recognized remarkeable  Policies  of  Frank Duff's  Handbook,  which  have  been recognized  as  Ideal,  all inclusive.   Our  Pastor  Fr Peffly, himself  a  then record setting  Junior  Legion Member  (Half  of his  Presidia  became  Catholic  Clergy)  has  7  Presidia in Our Parish.  He  also  published definitive  articles,  a couple  of Paperbacks, on  how  ideally  the  Legion should Operate, mutually  respectful  helpfully,  all positive.  I  hope to  furnish   References  later.                                                                                                                           
     (5)   The  key  first  introduction, every  door, is  "Hi;  Our  Pastor,  Fr  ....,  has  asked us to  Visit  all Our Neighbors.  (It  has  proven patently ideal,  often   welcomed)   After  introducing ourselves,  the  next  question is  also patently  ideal:  "Has  your  household/You  had   any  religious   connection?"   (Past  Tense,  word for word)  Most open up  then.....    Both  Lines  are Fr  Peffley's,  and  Proven Ideal  in practice.

 

[InternetWoman]

(1) The Worldwide Outreach of the Catholic Church is the * Legion Of Mary*

I was thinking of outreach for RCIA.

And door to door is nice - but does not reach the younger members, they are all wired to their iphones!

I think I’m hearing from others “consider using it but be careful how.”

 

[AntalKalnoky]

I was thinking of outreach for RCIA.

And door to door is nice - but does not reach the younger members, they are all wired to their iphones!

I think I’m hearing from others “consider using it but be careful how.”

Our Door-to-Door meets families, often young people; we always mention RCIA, Baptism, Knights of Columbus, as appropriate. (We find many former or inactive or Catholic educated people; The First thing they want is to Baptize their babbies, or have their Civil Marriage sanctified Catholic Marriage, if qualified)… RCIA is not for kids. Our RCIA info is by Personal Knowledge, Parish Bulletin, and again, RCIA personal Contact; we have RCIA Info flyer in our Packets for every household, home odr not, Per Frank Duff’s outstanding Packets. We found that young people often want to try Religion, if their Parents are totally outside Religion. True also for CCD: Parents, often not religious, discover how ideal Catholic things are; all Sometimes. But a lot of Sometimes adds up!. … I don’t have iPhone; it’s Very new technology. We find electronic presentations are rarelly looked at, or read. We have Online Parish Bulletin, and notice of special events. We find New Catholic Graduates of RCIA are the ‘best salesmen’, to Their associates.

 

[AntalKalnoky]

A definitive article on Evangelizing a Parish by my Pastor, who has done it, is: [SIGN] Sanctifying, evangelizing and catechising a parish [/SIGN], [Homiletic & Pastoral Review](http://homiletic & Pastoral Review), Oct 2010, Fr. Francis J Peffley.

 

[smad0142]

A little late to the conversation, but my parish has a facebook page and it has proven very successful. We have reached people as far away as the Ukraine and Phillipines from Denver. The link is my signature, check it out and “like” it. We would also welcome any material and practical tips on how to do Legion of Mary door to door evangelization. PM with any info.

 

[puzzleannie]

At the end of our RCIA process we ask folks for suggestions on how to improve the experience. This year we had multiple suggestions about using facebook. I’m wondering - does anyone out there in CAF-Land know of a parish or an RCIA program that uses facebook? And what do folks think of this? Since I have yet to use facebook I’m unsure of its advantages or disadvantages. Thoughts?

the parish has a facebook and I have one for CCD news and events
In the past Father has asked if RCIA candidates would be open to sharing about their journey, but most are reluctant to do so about such a personal experience.