Catholic New Media Conference Matures

Catholic bloggers, podcasters, vloggers, programmers and a holy host of online junkies like me met the first weekend in October outside Kansas City at the scenic Savior Pastoral Center for the fourth annual Catholic New Media Conference.

(Fr. Roderick from SQPN holds the mic while Sean Patrick Lovett from Vatican Radio listen with other bloggers and podcasters.)

Personally, I enjoy many of their blogs, podcasts and vlogs. In fact, I have been an online “fan” of much of their work for close to six years. Meeting Fr. Roderick, Kevin Knight of New Advent and Sr. Anne Flanagan, F.S.P., the Nunblogger, was like meeting old friends but for the first time. Also, Bishop Chris Coyne, from the Archdiocese of Indianaoplis, pictured above, was actively blogging and tweeting during many of the presentations.

Pat Gohn‘s presentation “You Can’t Spell Technology without Theology” revealed that, as we struggle with technology, we need to know our theology as Catholic communicators. She pointed us to specific Church documents supporting our “social communications” online that stress community and conversation.

(Pat Gohn points out magisterial teaching on media.)

During one presentation, the speaker voiced his concern about a need for finances for new start-up software and media ventures, a sort of “Catholic Silicon Valley” for new ideas. Many who have worked in various aspects of media expressed concerns about a “living wage” working for the Church and whether there were finances to fund some of these ventures.

(Me happy to finally meet Sr. Anne Flanagan, the Nunblogger.)

With the announcement that the 2012 event will be in Dallas, in August with the Catholic Marketing Network‘s conference for bookstores, along with the Catholic Writer’s Guilds’ conference, SQPN’s Catholic New Media Conference matures into a conference where a wide variety of media minds meet to learn, share and seek understanding about our Church’s mission in media.

(All photos by Scott Maentz from his #CNMC11 set at Flickr)

About the Author

Barbara Baker

Barbara Baker is Franciscan Media’s Director of marketing, sales and internet. She and her husband work with the Archdiocese of Cincinnati’s Family Life Office at their monthly pre-Cana weekends. Barbara spends too much time with her iPhone.