Picking Up the Pope’s Online Message

29 January 2010

Earlier this week Pope Benedict XVI published his message for World Communications Day.  The important message focuses on the use of new media - in particularly during our current Year for Priests.  It has been welcomed by one of our priests who’s adept at communicating the Church’s message through innovate media.

Last month Father Robert King wrote about the Holy Father’s chosen theme for the message: ‘The Priest and Pastoral Ministry in a Digital World: New Media at the Service of the Word’.  Now, having read the message on the Vatican website, Father Robert tells us why he thinks communicating well is so important.

Father Robert said: “In declaring this to be the Year for Priests, Pope Benedict XVI has invited the Church to pray for its priests. During this year it is equally important for priests to reflect on the ministry we exercise at the service of the Church.

“In his message for the 44th World Communications Day the Pope celebrates the innovative use of new and emerging digital media. In order for a priest to be a prophet he has first to understand the world and age in which he lives and communicate in a way that is both accessible and understandable.

“As a diocese we are very fortunate to have an internationally acclaimed website.  A website that enables priests and people to communicate using rich variety of media.  While the Pope's message affirms the good use we have made of digital communication, he challenges us to develop further the good work we have begun in proclaiming the Gospel that calls us to be a people of hope to today's people.”

You can tune into Father Robert’s cultural reviews every week on the award-winning Face to Faith on Bristol radio station BCfm.  Father Robert’s tried his hand at film-making.  He covered the visit of the relics of St Thérèse of Lisieux.  He’s also a frequent contributor to BBC Radio Bristol’s Thought for the Day and last year he won a radio Oscar as part of our gold winning podcast ‘The Budgerigar and the Prisoner’.  Father Robert was also invited to be a judge for an international film festival.

Father Robert also presented the popular ‘Father King’s Conversations’ on cliftondiocese.com.  His weekly podcast series explored faith and culture with fascinating local people.  There’ll be a new series later this year.

As well as his media ministry Father Robert is our Vocations Director.  He has been instrumental in bringing our students for the priesthood to a wider audience within and beyond our diocese, encouraging them as they write for cliftondiocese.com with their Sunday reflections.

The ‘Vocations’ section of cliftondiocese.com is packed with videos of students and priests telling personal stories of the vocations.

Father Richard Barton is another of our priests whose broadcasting has become popular.  He presented one episode of 'Holy Footseps' and was our historical consultant for the series that brings to life amazing stories of saints associated with the Clifton Diocese.  Father Richard has plans for a new series, taking us to many fascinating places with rich Catholic history around the West Country.

More of our priests are playing their part, using cliftondiocese.com as way to help people prepare for Lent.  A series of Lenten reflections will be published every Sunday during the season

The First Sunday of Lent (21 February) will see Bishop Declan writing a pastoral letter.

On the Second of Sunday of Lent (28 February) our Dean of Swindon and Parish Priest of St Mary’s in the town will write our reflection.  Father Liam Slattery is our contributor on that day.

Father David Mills of St Edmund, Calne writes on the Third Sunday of Lent (7 March).  Father Michael Robertson of St Bonaventure’s in Bishopston, Bristol will give his reflection on the Fourth Sunday of Lent (14 March).

Meanwhile, Canon Thomas Atthill of The Sacred Heart Tisbury and All Saints Wardour will be our writer on the Fifth Sunday of Lent (21 March).

Concluding our series of reflections Canon Brian McEvoy will be the priest we hear from on Palm Sunday (28 March).

Our annual pilgrimage to Lourdes is a highlight of many people's year.  The visit to the French shrine inspired our Pilgrimage Director Deacon David Wakefield to produce an innovative series of mini-podcasts - direct from his iPhone.  Our iPilgrimage series proved popular with people who couldn't go to France but could listen to the sounds of Lourdes on cliftondiocese.com.

Bishop Declan is frequently communicating his messages.  His recent pastoral message about the Ad Limina was made available in video as well as the tradition audio version, following the lead he set with his pastoral letter for the Feast of the Holy Family.

‘Called to be a People of Hope’, our pastoral guidelines that enable us to focus our efforts for the coming five years are at the heart of the Clifton Diocese’s activities and much has been communicated about the many publications related to our pastoral activities.

Many parishes are stepping up their online presence.  Only yesterday we heard about Father Frank Bermingham and his use of online media.  In Wellington, Father Bob Rainbow is always first with the news.  He often reports for cliftondiocese.com and is consistent in his supply of positive news to local newspapers and radio stations in Somerset. 

Of course other organisations playing their part in the life of our diocese also spread their message through the internet.  The Catholic Women’s League and Union of Catholic Mothers have joined together to ensure their message about next month’s Fast Day go to as many people of possible.