Pope Francis and the Vatican's Use of Social Media

       Msgr. Paul Tighe, Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, discusses the Vatican's approach to social media, Facebook, and other e-digital outreach.  He also comments on the styles of communication employed by Pope Francis.

The interview is on a YouTube file. It lasts about 20 minutes. Right click on the link below, then left click on your mouse.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Y58qHtdSZq8

Msgr. Paul Tighe

New Book -- New Evangelization: Passing On the Faith Today

        "This is a new moment in the life of the Church, a new Pentecost. It's our turn now, to share the great gift we have been given, the gift of our Catholic faith, and renew the face of the earth."

                                                                                                             --  Cardinal Donald Wuerl

          For the first time since the term New Evangelization was coined by Blessed John Paul II, 250 bishops from all over the world were called to Rome by Pope Benedict XVI, during Fall 2012, to discuss it, define it, and determine what it really means to Catholics today. In an exclusive first-hand summary of the three-week Synod, the leader of the gathering, Cardinal Donald Wuerl, provides a succinct, specific and tactical roadmap for where Catholics and parishes and dioceses go from here, including:

     ---What's the point? The three most important priorities of the New Evangelization

     ---What am I up against? The three isms that get in the way of sharing and growing the Faith

     ---What do I do? How to galvanize people around one simple truth of the Gospel message

     ---Where it all began: The four theological foundations of the New Evangelization

     ---Learning from the best: The four characteristics of great evangelizers

         In addition to personal and group reflection questions at the end of every chapter, Wuerl also shares his own personal faith sharing experiences with non-Catholics and Catholics alike and how the insight he gained shaped his own view of the New Evangelization.

$4.95  --  91 Pages  -- Online orders:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1612786987/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1612786987&linkCode=as2&tag=natioconfefor-20

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Pope Francis Publishes Letter on Faith

A ninety page encyclical letter, titled Lumen fidei, or “Light of Faith,” by Pope Francis, was released today in Rome.


The new text includes outreach to people open to God but who have not yet arrived at the fullness of belief.

It says: To the extent that they are sincerely open to love and set out with whatever light they can find, they are already, even without knowing it, on the path leading to faith.

Francis also claims a genuine concern for others, even among non-believers, represents a stirring of faith. The document adds, Anyone who sets off on the path of doing good to others is already drawing near to God.

Christians should not be arrogant about this. Lumen fidei says instead that, on the contrary, truth leads to humility.

Noted American spiritual writer and Jesuit priest, Fr. James Martin, noted that the new statement could help “the seeker, the doubter, the agnostic and even the atheist.”

Lumen fidei is a heartfelt attempt to speak to anyone searching for God, Martin concluded.

Based on reporting by John Allen in the National Catholic Reporter, July 5 (2013).

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