Social media, and in particular Facebook and Twitter, has changed our lives. We are connected to others like never before, thanks to the constant stream of information we receive through the news feeds we subscribe to. For some, it’s all about family and keeping up with relatives near and far. For others, news is the priority. But social media also offers us a chance to get connected, and then stay connected, to our faith community.
If you haven’t yet “liked” your own parish’s Facebook page, you should do so. Your parish’s weekly bulletin is full of news and information, but for daily updates you can’t beat the immediacy of social media posting. If you’re involved in a specific ministry, there’s a good chance that ministry has its own page where you can get the latest updates on its members, its upcoming events and more.
Keep up with our own Bishop Vann on Twitter in both English and Spanish. He’s very active and you’ll be able to follow him in his travels, see what is of interest to him as he retweets others’ posts, and just enjoy his good humor.
Now, you can also find quick hits of inspiration through branded posts, produced by the Diocese of Orange communication team, that appear on both the diocese’s Facebook and Twitter pages. The compelling images, all paired with a quote from Pope Francis, or a scripture verse, or a news headline, offer us a quick touch from the diocese each day. Follow the diocese on Facebook and Twitter and you’ll enjoy news updates from around the world, local news and events and more.
If you’re reading this column, you’re doing so either in print or on the occatholic.com website. Follow OC Catholic, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Orange, on Facebook and Twitter to get updates from around the world, as well as from right here in our own diocese.
For a global view, subscribe to the Vatican’s social media platforms. The Vatican’s Twitter feed is provided by the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, in cooperation with the media offices of the Vatican.
Pope Francis communicates with Catholics the world over through Twitter. He posts regularly and often offers a simple message of hope and comfort.
Finally, most social media posts include links that, when clicked on, will take the user to a website. Here are important websites that can be bookmarked for easy access.
Diocese of Orange
Christ Cathedral
www.christcathedralcalifornia.org
OC Catholic News