Mobile+Devices+for+Ministry

Mobile Devices for Ministry Homework: Respond to this question: ** Is my ministry (or parish) ready to embrace these tools and use these tools in learning environments or ministry? Why or Why not? ** Time to complete assignment: 10 minutes

Please respond with the following information: Name, Parish, City, State, and your response.


 * EXAMPLE:**
 * Kathleen Jones, Our Lady Of Victory Parish, Crestview, FL, is using mobile phones with Junior High School students. Several of our catechists have smart phones and they have discovered that their students have access to smart and regular phones. They are using the Reminder app. They are beginning to explore how some of the mobile apps can be used in the classroom. We have a hard time getting some of our youth and parents to turn in paperwork. It would also be a great tool to use when we have to communicate with the whole group, just send out one text.**


 * Sr. Caroline Cerveny's Group **

Alicia Chiappini - Christ the Servant Parish at Our Lady of Peace church in Canton, OH. My parish is ready to embrace these tools we already use many of them in many areas of our parish including our school. We have wifi built into all areas both in the school, parish, and areas of general meetings. We have a website that gives information about our parish but have also taken some further steps using apps such as: myParish, facebook, and youtube.

//timone davis, St. Columbanus (Loyola University Chicago, Institute of Pastoral Studies), Chicago IL.// The parish school, Augustus Tolton Catholic Academy, is ready to embrace these tools as it is a S.T.R.E.A.M (Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) school. The parish on the other hand is partially ready. As the trainer for our lectors, I will be creating ways for lectors to use their mobile devices to enhance their personal reflections on the scripture readings. I will note the apps I use so I can make recommendations to people on how to get started.

Ann Marie Carswell, Parish of Mater Christi, Albany, NY - I would love to use more technology, particularly mobile technology, in my ministry and I don't think it fair of me to say parishioners are not ready. I think until I present them with the opportunity to engage in using these apps can I truly know their preparedness. In the past I have suggested phone apps for their prayer life but have no gauge as to whether anyone used them. I would like to create a paish project of creating videos and podcasts that may then lead to more interactive uses such as livestreaming presentations and taking questions via twitter.

Our youth ministry has a twitter page, it is not updated often and doesn't have many followers. Our church has a Facebook page that should be updated more often. Some of the parish is ready to embrace these tools and others not. We have some work to do. I am anxious to try introducing it to my 4th graders and also to promote the idea more to our teens. Margie Hynes

Diane Willis - Immaculate Parish, Owensboro, KY. I don't feel our parish as a whole is embracing the tools for ministry. We've used "old" ways and we get frustrated as to why people aren't responding. We are now looking at communication companies that will keep us abreast of the current trends. **BUT**, I'm hoping our faith formation program is going in the direction of using devices in our sessions/classes. Sometimes it seems that our parishioners (especially adult) get complacent in how they learn (ie - let's watch a DVD), and so I get complacent in how I present. They don't tweet, so I don't. They don't use a wiki, so I don't. However, this course this summer has prodded me to look at new ways, current trends in my ministry. I believe I am/will be embracing these tools for ministry (such as using the phones in the classroom, blogging, tweeting, trying out some new apps), etc. In the blog I listed as to how I would do that.

Fran Peters- Queen of Peace, Hawley, Pa- just like anything new, it will take a lot of practice and patience to get people to change. the more mature generation has mostly said, 'not going to do this'. But if we start now, the next generation will be ready.

.Cici Dishman St. Jude Thaddeus Beaumont, Texas, yes our parish is embracing these tools. We are currently moving in this direction in order to keep up with the world and to have a way to reach more parishioners.
 * Debbie Converse's Group **

Ethel Smith, Eastlake United Methodist Church, Palm Harbor, Florida. Our church does a fantastic job of communicating through our website, newsletters and emails. The groups I'm involved in mainly uses Facebook, texts and emails to communicate. I'm sure our youth groups are using more advanced social media tools, but I'm not familiar with them. My plan is to gain as much knowledge as I can from our youth and mission leaders to see where we're at, and bring in what I am learning in DDBC to the programs.

Peter Jones, Holy Family Catholic Church, Ft. Worth, TX. We are slowly beginning to adopt new technologies. They already play a significant role in our high school youth program and some of what is being learned there is being expanded, though in fits and starts. They are using flocknote, for example, as a key communication tool for general information such as the parish calendar. Also, our priest is a great cook (and brewmaster!) and so he brings parishioners into his kitchen, he teaches them how to cook, and in the course of it they discuss some aspect of faith… and they film the whole thing and post it on youtube. The production quality isn’t stellar, but the idea is a good one. They release one video per month, a week before our monthly “feeding our faith” potluck where we enjoy a meal, hear a speaker, and have a discussion. Great time! (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjqOGjC7hdZ1xTPYv8bB39g)

‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍Damary Madera, St. Robert Bellarmine, Chicago, IL - We are trying to move into that direction (Facebook, Twitter) slowly. We are taking baby steps to be socially out there for communication purposes for families. As far as our ministry being ready to embrace these tools(Apps in the classroom), I think we'll get there eventually.‍‍‍
 * Claudia McIvor's Group **
 * ‍‍‍Elizabeth Potito, Most Holy Trinity, Cresco PA. We do have a Facebook page for Youth Ministry, and Youth Ministry is using Remind. I would say we are moving toward readiness. Our Pastor wants to make better usage of new technology. However, our young Associate Pastor is not on board; he keeps talking about "how when two or three are gathered in his name" and doesn't find community building in virtual meetings. He's already said he is against having a wiki for adult faith formation classes, so I can't imagine he will respond positively to using new technology for teens and youth.‍‍‍ **

‍‍‍Mary Kane Mauer, St. Paul Church, Valparaiso, IN, Diocese of Gary. I was operating under the assumption that St. Paul was not ready until I began looking at how technology is being applied. We use the PDS system for parish registration and financial records. We have published talks by our visiting professors from Notre Dame & Valparaiso University on both our parish website & YouTube. (People moving into the area probably use the website more than parishioners.) Parish school and RE and Life Teen publish Facebook pages. Principal & Faculty communicate with parents by email. The school has white boards & computer technology classes for all grades. I personally communicate by email with a number of parish committees and do most registration for adult ed sessions online. Our Edge (middle school) and Life Teen (Confirmation & high school) communicate by email with their students and use multiple A-V tools for Life Nights. The school faculty and some RE Catechists use digital devices in the classroom. We have an internet connection in our social hall where most of our adult ed programs take place. I would say that St. Paul has wadded deep into the waters of digital technology and will continue to gain in usage and skill.‍‍‍

‍‍‍Jane Martinson, St. Thomas Aquinas, New Port Richey, FL. Our parish has a website and a Facebook page, both of which seem to be well maintained. I don't yet know how my pastor will respond to use of a wiki to promote learning and discussion of Catholic Social Teaching, although the Pastoral Ministries Coordinator seems open to the idea. As to mobile devices as learning tools, I have seen no evidence of their use as yet. But then again, I have not posed the question to our Faith Formation Team Leader. In any case, I intend to give her my copy of Toys to Tools upon completion of this course. Having read through the lesson plans, I see plenty of fun activities that could contribute to faith formation among children and youth.‍‍‍

‍‍‍Karina Gomez, Our Lady of Guadalupe,Chino, CA. Unfortunately, my parish doesn't have the necessary infrastructure to begin a catechetical program based on the use of technology. At this moment, I can promote the use of apps among parishioners to read Scripture, daily readings and reflections, devotions, and the life of saints. I can also group students to work on a guided assignment using their cell phones.‍‍‍

Jennifer Sieve, our parish has made many technology advances in the past couple of years, but it is not quite ready for this leap in technology. WiFi is not available in all the classrooms.

Christine Butler, St. John Vianney, Lithia Springs GA. Our parishioners may or may not be ready. We have WiFi throughout the buildings and people ask for the password all the time. The problem is the leaders. The only see the old way of doing things and are not willing to try anything new. I am so frustrated and probably should not have taken this course. I see advances and opportunities to meet a younger generation in new and exciting ways and then come back to the parish and encounter leadership that is unwilling to have a registration form online for Religious Ed. The response, "Paper has always worked just fine for us." -- I didn't even get a chance to say, "you can print out the information after they enter it, if paper is your first love." I started telling my daughter about some of the apps you have demonstrated and she went on to tell me about additional apps to check out and other things we could do... so I believe the youth are ready and willing.

Ann Krueger, St. Alexander, Villa Park, IL: Our parish has a facebook and twitter account. It is maintained and changed on a regular basis. Faith Formation just opened a word press account for my catechists to use for a book discussion. However, my catechists seem slow to jump on and register for this. I have made the decision, as DRE that there will be a greater use of technology - working with the internet in the building is another story. Strength or signal varies from room to room in the Faith Formation program. And all parents are not on board about using data. This year assigning classrooms will include strength of wireless system in the rooms.
 * Katie Choudhary's Group **

Nathan Aronson, Holy Innocents, Victorville, CA: Our parish has a Facebook account, and youth ministry has accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Google+ and we extensively use Remind. All are updated frequently, and we have a fairly good response from the parish on those. Parents keep up with us on Facebook, the students stay tuned on Twitter and Instagram, and everyone gets Remind. And our parish Facebook page currently has 741 followers.

In the cell phone is easy to download the app for Facebook, twitter, and other application that are very helpful to used it in our minister. I will use Facebook because is so friendly and a lot of people know who to use it. In my ministry we are using facebook in order that people is inform of events, workshops and others. (Maria Antonia Amao)


 * Kellie De Leo's Group **

I am uncertain why there are no other remarks on this page, but I am catching up, so I will continue regarding how I feel my church or parish uses mobile devices for ministry. My church does send out e-mail blasts regarding important information, but it is up to the parishioner to have it delivered to the device that he/she is most comfortable with, which is e-mail on a computer. I receive them on my phone and ipad. At one time, I proposed a class that would be available on line (thru You Tube) but was told that not all of our parishioners have computers because they are elderly. This is born out by the Pew Research listed in the webinar which I pulled afterwards: 44% of adults over 65 do not go online. In the last year, though, the Church is making better use of online resources; still, a lot of our parishioners don't use cellphones regularly. (Jenny Luse - Kellie's group) Katy Feeney, Immaculate Conception & Assumption, Tuckahoe, NY Our parish has had a website, but I have had great response to the website I created for the Religious Ed program. It had online registration for this year, FAQs, information needed, etc. The response was very positive. I'd like to capitalize on the knowledge I've gained through DDBC in social media and expand our reach to the students and parents. The parents of our children in the program are all digital savvy - and some digital natives, and they greatly appreciate being able to connect through website and digital media.

‍‍‍Eileen Doyle, Good Shepherd, Rhinebeck NY The parish has a facebook page which thanks to this class I am now able to post on...Because it is summer I only posted one event which was our VBS. I am definitely taking babysteps here but I am moving forward. My 8th year catechist is very tech savvy and she likes to have the students bring in their cell phones and so that has been successful within the realm of the classroom for prayer and other catechesis. I am obviously learning from this class and feel I will be utilizing some of the technologies I have been exploring in our religious education program. I want to set up a wiki page for catechists for discussion and exchange of ideas but that is not regarding this particular module...I feel like I am alone in this endeavor but I do have a catechist who is willing to help me in this and that is an important element in all this. In faith, Eileen‍‍‍

‍‍‍Roberta Pace, OUr Lady of the Desert, Apple Valley, Ca. Our Parish does not have a digital tech to set things up. We do have a computer person who comes and sets up wifi and makes sure our computers are up to date and functional. We have trouble using the wifi because of the strength and the variety of passwords used in different areas of the camups and sometimes it isn't fast enough to stream things online without breakingup. We do have an online web page butnot frequently used by us because the person who does it for us is in Texas and everything is sent to her and she puts it in. In other words, cumbersome.‍‍‍

‍‍‍Bernadette McSparron, The Parish of Mater Christi, Albany, NY I am ready to embrace and use these tools and our kids are ready, as well...but, our Catechists are not so ready yet. I need to sit down with them and explore with them the numerous apps and various technology they can use in their sessions or, to stay connected with their students when not in session. 10th & 11th grade seems to be the 1st place to start because they all have smartphones. With middle schoolers it is different because they all do not have smartphones and their parents are a bit wary about the security aspect of using them. I am going to encourage our catechists to start with at least one app this semester.</range id="589385052_3">‍‍‍

Elizabeth Jones-Degelia, St. Pius X, Dallas, Tx. <range type="comment" id="589385052_4">‍‍‍While my parish has a FB page, it does not get updated as frequently as it should, photos, events etc. I do not feel that the ministry I am answering about (CCD) is on the radar, yet. While the school is doing all that can be done with the devices they have, CCD is still read the book answer the question at the end of the chapter. We do not have wireless access, projectors, computers or any technology other than the FF director emailing cathechists questions or information. I feel that a grant needs to be written for a class set of mobile devices (IPads) and as well, catechists need to be trained to use the mobile devices. It would also mean asking the school to allow faith formation to use the wireless network. This module has been extremely helpful. I am not sure How to approach the Faith Formation Director about using Technology in the classroom setting. I do see how using technology in the classroom will, "Open Wide The Doors" to evangelization, learning and sharing our wonderful Catholic Faith.</range id="589385052_4">‍‍‍

<range type="comment" id="590025340_1">‍‍‍Joan Lawson, Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Austintown, OH (Diocese of Youngstown, OH) Our parish has two FB pages, a situation that it now on the table to be sorted out. Our website is used by approximately 500 separate visitors each week, which shows commitment on the part of parishioners and visitors. Use of mobile devices during CCD sessions is mixed, mostly based on the inclination of the catechists. Some use them to have the children look up bible verses, or check out videos or prayer apps. Even those catechists not inclined to use them are aware not to label the devices as bad. The CCD program does not at this time lead a concerted effort to utilize the tools during sessions, but all catechists are encouraged to use them as comfortable. The more it is discussed, the more the non-users will be emboldened to adopt them. The major concern would be that not all children in a gathered group would have a device.</range id="590025340_1">‍‍‍

Mary Kennedy, Blessed Virgin Mary Queen of Peace, Hawley, PA Our parish is new to technology and we are taking baby steps to become more proficient. We are beginning to use Facebook as a social media tool. We also rely on Remind to stay in contact with the teens and parents in our youth group. One of our biggest challenges is that our catechists are primarily retired seniors who are not comfortable or proficient with technology. I planned an in-service for our first meeting to introduce using youtube videos in the classroom. We do use mobile devices with our youth group but I don't believe we're quite ready for mobile devices in the classroom yet.
 * Deanna Bartalini's Group **

Therese Recinella, Diocese of Corpus Christi, TX This seminar raised a lot of questions for me and a number of thoughts about how far away we are in general with the use of digital technology in our parishes and diocese. There are number of things that we are working on at the diocesan level, which have been initiated by our pastoral services team. One is online formation and integrating online formation with live formation for Catholic school teachers, pcls, parish catechists, youth ministers etc. We are just beginning to build...At the parish level here, I have noticed what I would term as a disparity with regards to access. This disparity is usually rooted in the economic situation of the parish. However, if a parish cannot afford and/or does not have the resources to tap into improving their wifi for example, it will have an effect on access. Of the 70 parishes and 30 missions, 14 have Catholic schools and 4 are diocesan wide or independent. This means the vast majority of parishes rely on religious education programs to form their children preK-High school. The children are on their phones. We are for the most part not there with them. Most parishes have webpages, however some do not and rely on a Facebook page which has its limitations. There are many glimmers of hope however. I see a desire on the part of pastors and those in parish ministry to integrate technology with formation and within the parish in general. Some parishes provide youtube videos of parish adult formation programs, homilies, etc. When I surveyed the catechetical leaders in January (I have only been here a year) all expressed an interest in learning more about how to integrate technology with catechesis. I will be providing tutorials for using webex at all my trainings in a couple of weeks and at our fall deanery meetings. I have big plans to have two hour webex training in May 2017 on catechesis and technology. I have decided that a Wiki page like this one will make a good pastoral project. Stay tuned.

Becky Miklos, St. Peter, Jupiter, FL As DRE with a K-5 religious ed program that has 350+ of kids in it, I need to reach the parents where they already are - on their devices. I set up a new Religious Ed facebook acct and am inviting the parents to join it. I hope to post reminders, and also some Catholic content. Another thing I do is search the parents on facebook when they register and take a peek at their photos to try to match names with faces. The parish already has a facebook account with many parishioners following. We also have a parish app which has a Religious Ed section with a calendar. I can also send reminders, schedule changes, etc. through the app. We have wifi in the Parish Hall and are currently putting it in the Church. We are also planning to install large TV screens in our classrooms with internet connection capability.

Tam Tran, St. Joseph of Cupertino, Cupertino, CA These past several months, I have attended technology workshops offered by our diocese on web tools and ways to implement blended learning in catechesis. It was fortuitous that I met Sr. Caroline at NCCL in Jacksonville and she gave me her card and information on DDBC. All signs were letting me know that now is the time to really look into being a digital disciple and embracing these tools in my ministry and the parish. The parish has a Facebook and Twitter account that I created but I would like more of the staff to contribute to its content. One of our parishioner's is in charge of our website (I help update the site occasionally) and has made our website mobile-friendly, but its still pretty much a static website. It would be great to have someone paid in the parish to focus on social media and online presence but that is not where the parish is currently at. Because I have an engineering background, I seem to be the only one who is really pushing for the parish to embrace the web tools available. I'm up to learning new technologies, especially if they help my ministry. Speaking for my ministry, I'm ready to use web tools to further reach my families, but know that to utilize them in the classrooms, I will need to train my catechists, encourage and guide them. I'll likely introduce a few tools each quarter so as not to overwhelm them and myself!
 * Ruth Manlandro's Group**

Therese Lysaught: I don't see a space for Ruth's group, so I'm posting here! :) Parish, City, State, and your response. I'm not really in a parish, at least for the purposes of DDBC. I teach at the Institute of Pastoral Studies at Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL. My main "ministry" is graduate level teaching. I don't really see how these mobile device technologies would be readily embraced in a graduate-classroom context, at least to a great extent. As I posted in my comment, I AM going to have presenters use mobile podcast tools to create podcasts for one of my classes this Fall and those will be viewed by the students; I could also have the students use this technology. I do think these tools could be used for non-classroom purposes at the IPS, particularly at IPS events, student activities around the city of Chicago, for students in the Rome course--to do reporting "from the street" (as it were), to capture photos and videos for IPS social media purposes, for creation of community, etc.

Dennis Vlasak, DRE, St. Kilian Parish, Hartford, WI. We really are technology novices as a parish. We have a website, that I want to update, but very little else. I am going to be encouraging the catechists to use their phones and phones that the students my have. I am thinking of simple things, like surveys or games. Hopefully getting better and more adventurous as we become more familiar with using the phone as a tool for the catechists to use.