Tech Tips for Catholics

Tonight, I took my 4 year old daughter to go see Kelly Croy’s fantastic chalk drawing show!  Croy inspires people, young and old, to live richer and fuller lives, as a teacher, a writer, speaker, coach, father, husband, and in tonight’s case, an artist.  My daughter, an artist in her own right, was captivated by Croy’s performance.  But it was so much more than just a performance.  He brought a message, during this busy, over commercialized Advent season.  He challenged us to slow down, unplug, and meditate on the Nativity.

If you are looking for a great Catholic speaker/presenter at your Parish, company, retreat, or school, Kelly Croy is your guy.  And Kelly can customize his message to match your event theme, if given plenty of notice and information about your specific needs.  Something else that is cool, Kelly usually donates the drawing to the group that hosted him.

Below are some related links to this topic:

• TeacherCast Podcast 07 “The Wired Educator”
• Kelly Croy and the Nun Bun
• Eager buyers line up for iPhone

September 18, 2011 is National Back To Church Sunday! What is your parish doing to reach out to the community and invite people back to church?
Some churches have begun planning for this wonderful event.  Talk to your Priest and ask him if your parish is planning any kind of outreach for “National Back To Church Sunday”.  If not, ask if it would be okay to put something together.  Get others within your parish on board.

• About six weeks prior, and up through Sunday, September 18th, post something in the bulletin.
• Get some professional postcards designed, inviting others in the community back to church.  It is suggested that you mail them out about three weeks before your event.
• Put posters up in your Catholic School, Church, or other public places (Don’t litter them or stick them under people’s windshield wipers―It just comes off as lazy)
• Two weeks prior, would be a good time to equip parishioners with outdoor banners, extra invite cards, or links to a promo video or church website (assuming it is presentable)
• On the day of the event and beyond, be prepared to welcome your visitors! When I came back to church, there was a smiling face there to greet me.  Words can not describe how encouraging and reassuring this was for me at that time of my life. Put together a welcoming packet, with information about how they can get plugged-in to prayer groups, Bible studies, apostolates, volunteer opportunities, info about RCIA, etc.  One of the neat things that our church put together was a booklet describing the various symbols and decor found in the sanctuary.  Perhaps a booklet explaining the Liturgy would be great to include in the packet.  Think both inside and outside the box.  Pray about it.

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This week in tech, the buzz, has been all about Google+. I received several access keys, but when I tried to use them, I got a message stating that they had reached full capacity. Then at 10:17 PM, Jul 6th, 2011, via the web, there was a tweet — “Google+ is now open to anyone with a Google account.”

I’ve been thinking a lot about how powerful Google is becoming. Do I really want to join a social network from the leading search engine site out there? I mean, up until LinkedIn came out, you could not find me by doing a Google search for my real name. And the only reason that I decided to use my real name on LinkedIn was because I was sending out resumes, and the first picture that came up in a Google search was this guy (who happens to live in the same state as I… and has the same name… and… wait for it… HAS A  HANDLEBAR MUSTACHE!) No one would hire me if they thought this guy was me! He looked like he still lived in his mom’s basement, drives around in one of those creepy 70′s vans with the black-tinted, diamond-shaped window in the back, and who hangs out in the High School parking lot (even though he graduated ten years ago).  But I digress.

Google+ Circles: are like smaller networks within a bigger network.  So, basically it is like if you were to merge Facebook with LinkedIn, keeping the two separate, but under the same roof. You could set up a network (“circle”) within Google+ for your business people, one for your close friends, one for your high school classmates, another for your family, one for your Church family, and so on. This way you would only share certain things with a certain group of people. At first, this sounds like a great idea, however, the more I thought about it, the more I pondered whether this is a good idea.

Let’s talk about the dualistic persona for a moment. Sometimes we compartmentalize who we are, revealing only certain aspects of who we are or act a different way around certain environments. Some Christians go to Church on Sunday, but then go out and get drunk on Friday nights. Others may not cuss around their mother, but when around their friends feel the need to drop the F-bomb every other sentence. I’m not saying that we have to make every conversation a theological debate, nor am I saying every action a crusade, but what I am saying is this: Don’t let your environment shape who you are, but rather, let who you are shape your environment. Does Google+’s Circles encourage compartmentalization? Yes, but it is up to you how you choose to compartmentalize your social network(s). Are you going to have a dualistic persona, or will you be the best version of yourself, created in the image and likeness of God?

“Conforming my actions to my beliefs will force a monumental social change.” — Taraek Saab, Gut Check, p. 60

Below are some related links to this topic:

• Google+ or Minus?
• Live the “Alphabet Manners”
• 2011: The Year of Real Relationships

I thought of this fun, little game after I had recently ordered some new books on Amazon. I thought, Wouldn’t it be cool to see what others are reading? Better yet, what Catholic books are others reading?

Here are the rules:

1. Take a picture of your Catholic bookshelf
2. Post the picture on Twitter (using whichever service you prefer)
3. Use the hashtag: #myCatholicBookshelf in your tweet

That’s it!

Well, it is that time of year again—resolution time! And even though polls show that less than half of us plan to make new year resolutions, I thought I’d share mine. Earlier this month, I received the latest copy of Collide Magazine in the mail. I just started subscribing to the magazine after signing up for a free issue; an issue where they had recommended a site by a Catholic web designer, and a Podcast of the Daily Readings. For a Christian magazine with a mainly Protestant/non-Denominational audience, I thought this was pretty rad. So as you could imagine, after receiving this month’s issue and noticing the words, “OUR FINAL ISSUE!” on its cover, I was pretty bummed. In the final issue there is a great article by Ben Simpson titled, Powering Down: Breaking from Media to Build Up Your Soul. In the article he speaks about how we, as Christians wanting to grow in our faith, should consider fasting—something that we Catholics have been practicing since the earliest times of Christiandom (Mark 2:20; Luke 2:37; Matt. 6:16-18; Acts 13:2-3; etc.) But, the fasting that Ben suggests is one not from food, but from media. Ben goes on to list several reasons why practicing a media fast would be good for the soul.

Why Practicing a Media Fast would be Good for the Soul:

• You’ll discover a renewed appreciation for your tools. Technology is absolutely amazing, and it tells of the creativity of human beings and the God in whose image we have been made.
• Our habits need constant evaluation, and a media fast creates space to assess our media usage habits.
• A media fast allows you to take stock of your humanity. Too much television, too many movies, too much checking Facebook and Twitter on your smartphone, you are filling your life with noise that can cause you to lose track of who you are and who God has created you to be.
• You’ll be able to exercise greater presence with those around you.
• Fasting from media actually improves your thinking and calms anxieties.
• Fasting from media will help you to sharpen your own perception of reality, to reflect more on your vocation, your relationship to Jesus, and the state of your soul.

Now, some of you are probably starting to hyperventilate at the very thought of a media fast. But, when we speak of a media fast, we are not talking about a complete and total shut-off of all media. When we fast during the season of Lent, we don’t stop eating completely; this would be very unhealthy.  Perhaps you could fast from media for one day a week, on the weekends, or in the evenings. It is really up to you how you observe your media fast. Maybe, during the fast, you only want to limit the number of times you check your Facebook and/or Twitter. Or maybe you’d cut back on the number of hours you watch cable news. Whatever your media fast looks like, be sure not to replace one form of media with another. Use your extra free time in prayer, reflecting on Scripture, visiting your Grandparents (with your cell-phone turned off), volunteering at your Parish, etc. Ben concludes his article, “As Christians, we have access to a medium more powerful than anything humankind has ever produced or imagined. By the Holy Spirit, we are endowed with a spiritual power that brings healing to the nations, hope for the future, and encouragement for the weary.”

A few weeks ago, I caught an interview with Billy Graham, where he was asked, “If you could do it all over again, would you do anything differently?” He responded, “Yes! I would study more; I would pray more; and travel less.” The reason that he would have traveled less was because it took too much time from prayerful meditation and study of Scripture. It also took away quality time from his family. I barely travel, but the amount of time that I have spent online has often gotten in the way of my time with family, and, more importantly, my time with God.

So, for my New Year resolution, I have decided to spend more attentive and quality time with family and friends. This includes doing a little media fasting, spending more time in prayer, reading more, and spending more face-to-face time with those I have formed friendships with online and offline. We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below. Happy New Year!

Below are some related links to this topic:

• 2010: The Year Technology Replaced Talking
• Please Stand By: There is Nothing Wrong with Your Television
• Windows Phone Reminds You: “Be Here Now”
• Are you giving up Social-Networking this Lent?

My wife and I teach 7th Grade CCD this year. We are finding it to be a bit of a struggle compared to the 5th Grade “angels” that we taught last year. In spite of the rules that we established on the first day of class, we are constantly seeing cell phones in use during class! Besides laying out the ground rules of the class, we had each student, ranging between the ages of 12 and 13, fill out a little survey. We asked questions like, “Do you own any of the following: iPod, Bible, Video Game System(s), Catechism, Cell Phone, Computer, Rosary, etc.? How often do you Pray? How often do you read your Bibles? How often do you attend Mass? Do you have a relationship with Jesus?” All but one child said that they have a relationship with Christ, but the majority of the kids seldom attend Mass, pray, or read their Bibles. This begs the question, What are our young people basing this relationship on? Relativism plagues the thought of many young people (as well of some parents of young people!) View the results of our survey here.

When God called us to be Catechists, we had to sign a form that listed all of the “inappropriate” things that we were not to do. I think that some of these guidelines came about no thanks to the Priest scandal. For the most part, these rules are not altogether bad, but I think that some —not all— can hinder us from reaching out to the youth. Although the topic of Facebook was not on this list of guidelines, it could very easily fall under one of the other rules against contacting an individual student directly, or sending information home without first getting it approved by the head of the program. So, here lies the dilemma, How do Catechists and Teachers enter into the world of our Catholic young people without walking a fine line? Jonathan Sullivan has some great advice in his video, “Social Networking: A Primer for Catholic Teachers and Catechists”.

Five Key Points that Jonathan shares:

• Don’t set up “dummy” accounts to gain access to your students (not only is this a bad idea, but it violates the user policies of most social networking sites)
• Don’t friend students (unless they are over 18 or a relative)
• Report inappropriate behavior
• Monitor what others are posting about you
• Assume everything is public

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In the heart of “1000 Journals” I’d like to send out 5 blank journals into the Catholic community. The holder of the journal has the special opportunity to share their faith with other Catholics in words, art, or whatever other way the spirit moves them. When the holder of the journal has created an entry page, he now has the obligation of passing it onto another faithful person, with the hopes that the journals will one day be completed and returned to me. When I have received a completed journal, I will share the journal pages, in both picture and video form, online so that others can enjoy. I have titled the project “One Voice, One Church.”

With the funds, I plan to purchase five really nice journals and items to make them unique and set them apart from just any ordinary journal. Each journal will have specific guidelines and directions on how the current holder can keep the community updated on the specific journal’s whereabouts. Also, some of the funds may go toward the shipping of the journals to different parts of the World (Japan, Canada, and opposite sides of the United States). Be assured that if we go above and beyond the goal of $125, that the extra funds will go towards better journals or perhaps we could up the number of journals that we send out. But, if we do not reach the goal, then the project fails and we all go back to our boring lives ; )

Ultimately, I hope that people have fun with this project and that we will be inspired by one another, and by the gifts that God has given us!

I’m asking any and all who read this to help me spread the word about this project. Feel free to rip the audio from my YouTube video and use it in your Podcast, Blog about the project, Share the project with your Facebook and Twitter friends, tell someone about it while you are socializing after Mass. The link to my Kickstarter Page is” http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/710603221/one-voice-one-church-5-journals and the hash tag that I plan to use on Twitter once the project is funded will be #1voice1church.

Thanks for being a part of this!

- Josh

In a fairly recent article, written by William J. Doherty, Ph.D., he points out the importance of eating meals as a family.  He says, “Research has continually confirmed that eating meals as a family affects nearly every area of a child’s life.  Kids who eat regular family meals get better school grades, are better off psychologically, receive better nutrition, don’t smoke as much or do drugs, and are less sexually active as teens.”  He goes on to say, “… it’s not only the quantity of family meals that contributes to their life satisfaction, but also the quality of meals. For years, experts on family meals have preached turning off the TV — but now texting, iPhones, and video game consoles also compete with family dinner.

Tom McGrath and Bret Nicholaus have teamed up to improve our “quality of meals” with The Meal Box.  The Meal Box contains 54 cards, each one featuring a creative question guaranteed to spark fun family conversation during family meals.  The questions, such as If you could have the voice of any famous person, whose voice would you have?, are sure to engage everyone in the family.  The reverse side of each card features a quick “Food for Family Thought” tip from family expert Tom McGrath.

“The Meal Box” card game would make a great expansion pack for the “Loaded Questions” or “Loaded Questions Junior Edition” Board Games!

And now, you can Get The Meal Box on your Kindle! This would be great for long, family road-trips.

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Over at UniversityParent.com, there is a terrific article entitled Social Media Do’s and Don’ts for College Students.  The facts and ideas presented in this column are important to review with your children of any age who may be using Social Media.  Around our house, my kids are constantly reminded that their Facebook pages are their “online resumes” — future college choices, employers, and even their own parents will be closely watching their online activities and judging their characters as a result.

The information in this article is also pertinent to adults of any age who are active online.  Think twice before you type, post a photo or video, or hit “send”.

This post is courtesy of the Productivity @ Home Blog.

This Saturday (June 27, 2009) is the second annual Catholic New Media Celebration! This year the celebration is being held in San Antonia, Texas.

In case you missed last night’s San Antonio radio interviews about the Catholic New Media Celebration Click Here.

So whether you are attending or not, here are some great sites to follow the festivities, speakers, musicians, and anything else going on at CNMC 2009:

SQPN.com will be the headquarters for streaming video, live tweets, and a place to virtually hang out during the celebration.

TweetGrid.com is a great way to follow multiple #hashtags during an event such as #cnmc09.  If you post any pictures with the according #hashtag via TwitPic, TweetPhoto, yFrog, or the such, a thumbnail of the image will appear within TweetGrid.  Pretty cool!

HashTags.org is a great way to see stats on a particular #hashtag.  Though it does not post all tweets relating to a particular #hashtag, it is a neat way to find other people who are tweeting about specific hash-tags.

Of course there is TweetDeck and other sites that may also be useful to follow live events — What are you using?  Let us know.