Wondering how God is calling you? Are you curious about how your job or set of relationships is really a vocation? Do you want some awesome discussions around faith in real-life and more? Think hanging out with Catholic sisters and a fun thoughtful, faith community is cool? Then you are in the right place! Welcome! Explore and be sure to visit with us every weekday at 6 pm CT in our chat room.
NEW Digital Ministry Podcast coming soon!
A Nun’s Life Ministry will be launching a new podcast soon! The Digital Ministry Podcast will be on using Internet technologies and social media for ministry. We’ve been using these things for 4 years now and get many questions asking us “how’d you do that?” The new podcast will be a mix of things covering techniques, technology, and theology in order to enhance our capacity to do ministry, to witness to the Gospel in every day life on the Internet. (FYI: Podcast was initially called Social Ministry Podcast)
This podcast is for anyone who ministers online or who uses the Internet to connect with people: vocation directors, youth ministers, online community managers, religious communities and parishes, webmasters for religious organizations, churches and parishes, individuals, and more!
This is a place where no question is too foolish and everyone can share their wisdom and questions.
We’ll share our experience with blogs, podcasts, Facebook, Twitter, equipment, software, consultants and collaborators, books and resources, and interacting with people online. We’ll also interview folks across the social media landscape who can provide expertise, insight, and concrete help on a variety of related topics.
Here are some of the kinds of things we’ll talk about:
- How to get people to comment more on your blog
- Can one really do ministry “virtually”?
- What can I do to spread the word about my website?
- What are some good, solid Catholic organizations that I can go to for help or direct my visitors to?
- What is podcasting and how could it benefit my ministry?
- How do I start a blog?
- What would Jesus do with today’s Internet technology?
- Is it important for me to know what SEO is?
- Which social networks should I belong to?
- What do I do if I get negative comments?
- What is the difference between Twitter and Facebook and blogging?
- Can an iPhone or Blackberry really help me minister better?
- How do I explain to my community/organization why this online stuff is important?
- How do I manage all this online stuff AND still do my regular job?
- How do I care for and nourish my online community?
We’d like to hear from you! If you’d like updates on this podcast by email, click the SIGN UP button below.** We just need your first name, email (never made public), and check the Digital Ministry Podcast box. If you wish, please let us know your other info, such as ministry position, organization, and website. If you are interested in being an underwriter of this podcast, please contact us for more information.
** If you’ve already signed up by commenting below or emailing me prior to June 14, 2010, then you’ve already been signed up!
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{ 89 comments }
SIGN ME UP! I am the Communications Director for FSPA and while we’re far from novices to the social media world, I’m always interested in SEO conversations and mobile marketing. I also like discussions re: handling negative comments. Further, I’d like to hear some podcast success stories.
I’ll plan to bring in our Vocation Directors.
FYI: if you visit our website and it is down, know that we are migrating to a new server and expect a 12-24 hour outage. Feel free to visit our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/franciscansisters, connect with us on Twitter @jellenc or catch our YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/franciscansisters.
Peace.
Thanks, Jane, glad to have you on board. I think the content will vary from novice to experienced, depending on where folks are and what questions come in. Certainly it will be great to have folks like yourself who can share what you’ve been doing too and offer you insights. I would love for this to be a lively conversation and mutual sharing. Will be in touch soon!
Another thought is to talk about how we might talk about our faith that is relevant to people today. How do we communicate a 2000+ year old tradition in a way that is meaningful and effective today?
Sign me up! Sounds great.
SIGN ME UP! We’re still working on this here at Holy Wisdom Monastery and will be happy to join in the conversations. Will look forward to info on what kind of a schedule you anticipate for the podcast. Thanks for your continued ministry in this area! – Ann
SIGN ME UP! I’m the Director of Communications for the Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston. I’m interested in all of it — with the exception of how to set up a blog or twitter account — I’ve done that already — but am always open to new ideas. I work closely with our Vocation Coordinator and with about a dozen other offices and ministries of our congregation. We’ve started a “mission and message” periodic meeting that is designed to create synergy in our messaging. We are already using a variety of social networks and are ripe to learn more. I’m also doing communications for our National CSSJ Federation event that’s coming up in 2011. that involves 20 units of CSSJs across the country. And…I’m doing communication with the Anti-trafficking coalition of religious congregations in the Boston area…so I need all the help I can get!!!
I am thrilled to hear about this and look forward to being part of it in any way. Will these podcasts be made available through iTunes? That way I can listen on my iPhone easily!
SIGN ME UP!
Hi Julie, Sign me up. I’m still trying to get up to speed on this. I’m the membership director at Holy Wisdom Monastery as you know. I’m going to be traveling quite a bit until June 13. So I’m hoping that if I can’t participate in the podcast when it is live, I can listen to it later on your website.
Excited at the prospect of this type of help becoming available. Thank you. Very interested in ways to increase visits to blog and to encourage comments. Most of the newest technology is a mystery to me. Need all the hlep I can get.
Sign me up! Great idea! Glad to see you are doing this!
Sign me up
I’d enjoy learning more about social media. Please keep me informed
Sign me up! I’m the Director of Communications for the CSJs in St. Louis.
Sign me up! I’d like to learn how to set up a private facebook page for just my family and close friends that would not be accessible to my ministry contacts.
SIGN ME UP! What a great idea!
SIGN ME UP!
Deb Shannon, Communications Director, Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary
I’m interested! I need to know more!
Sign me up! I’m the Communications Director for the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ. Thanks!
SIGN ME UP!
Director of Communications, Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange
Sign me up. Thanks!
Would like to know what are the most effective ways for promote interest and interaction with those discerning their vocation.
I’m assistant vocation director with the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis
Sign me up. I’m the marketing and communications person for the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania, Ohio. I am older and am moving cautiously into this medium, but I realize I need to learn as much as possible so I can maximize my community’s communication opportunities. I’ d like to bring our Vocation Director to this pod cast. Any other titles you’d recommed hearing this?
I am definitely interested and am hoping that I can be a part of it!
Thank you!
Count me in! I am willing to learn anything
SIGN ME UP!!! Thanks!!! Sounds awesome!!!
I would love to come count me in
SIGN ME UP!
I serve as Formation Director with the Augustinians of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. I’m most curious about how to increase interaction between those discerning a vocation and with our Order. In addition to social media (Facebook), we’ve tried a few things with telephone conference lines and have also tried video conferencing (Skype) in praying the Office together across distances. I’m curious if anyone has tried WebEx or other programs like that in terms of interacting with multiple people across distances.
WONDERFUL!
Thank you for offering this.
Sr. Marjorie
I am the communications director for the School Sisters of Notre Dame, St. Louis Province. Looking forward to learning more. Thanks!
I am interested! Thanks for the opportunity.
Sign me up!
I need to get on board! Sign me up. Mary Fran
Hi Sr Julie – what a great idea. I found out about my Community through the internet and have a very soft spot for social media! I’ll definitely follow this podcast (and you’re all very welcome to go and have a look at my blog, friends!).
Sign me up! I am the Vocation Director for the Sisters of Notre Dame of the Toledo Province. I’m interested in finding out more about podcasts and discussion forums. Continued ideas for using Facebook are also welcome. Thanks for taking the initiative on this, Julie!
Hi Sister Julie,
I am definitely on board.
Used to be the Customer Services Quality and Communications Director @ QVC Electronic Retailing. Love learning new ways of communicating.
God bless all that you and Sister Maxine do … at A Nuns Life Comuunity. You are such a blessing in my life.
Love, peace and joy,
Kathleen
ps: see you tonight for “Ask Sister”
SIGN ME UP!
SIGN ME UP! Thanks so much for offering to share your expertise with us!
Sign me up, please!
Sign me up, please!
Sign me up.
Technology Manager for Sisters of Mercy, West Midwest Community.
Sign me up, please! Glad you’re doing this, Julie!
Please, Sign me up! Looking forward to learning more. Thanks for offering this, Julie.
Sign me up!
Sign me up for this. It will be great to share ideas. Thanks for organizing.
SIGN ME UP! Brother Donald. In leadership. Trying to follow!
Sign me up, please!
I would love to learn more.
Vocation Minister – Sisters of Mercy.
Sign me up
Thanks, Sisters Julie and Max. I like the idea of sharing your knowledge and hearing from other folks’ experience.
Julie,
Please add me to your looooong list of interested folks.
Mary Lou
Sign me up! I am interested in these topics. Right now, I am a Province Leader, so have limited time to participate in podcasts, but do want to receive info. on when and what you’ll do, the particular topics to be presented and/or discussed.
Thanks for this initiative. It coincides with some suggestions taken up by the LCWR National Offices. Thanks.
Please sign me up. Thanks.
I’d say there’s a little bit of interest!
We are working on this and will have more info soon. Please spread the word to other communities, parishes, religious organizations, etc.! And keep signing up! 
Sign me up! Thanks Sister Julie…I belong to a Caregivers Support Group through a local Norbertine Abbey and the group breaks over the summer months. I suggested we create a blog-site to stay in touch over those months and to have a central place to share ideas, articles, etc…and to just have a sounding board during that time for those who really need a place to vent. I’m setting up the blog-site for them and would love some help from your podcast – thanks so much!
SIGN ME UP! We’d be staring at Ground Zero and trying to hold on to your coat tails.
I am a poet and photographer. I am engaged in a freelance ministry of
spirituality and provide programs/retreats. I am looking for other women religious who are arists to network with.
Thank you.
Sign me up! I am very interested in this.
I’m interested. Sandra Schnieders is here with me in Australia and told me about this site. What a great idea. I’d love to know more about how to do this.
Mary Coloe (Melbounre)
Great to hear from you, Mary. Please tell Sandra we love her and miss her!
Thank you…please sign me up for your podcasts. Sounds just like what I need.
Peace.
Sign me up. I’m a newbie and want to learn all I can about these tools.
Sign Me Up! Thank you!
Sounds great! Sign me up.
Sign me up! I administer our website, assist with vocations, and do a little bit of Facebooking. Looking forward to joining the conversation…
Please sign me up, Julie! I need all the help I can get from all of the things you have listed above. Currently I am the CPPS coordinator of vocation ministry . I don’t really know anything about a podcast, blogs, would like to know more about Facebook, equipment, software, etc., etc.
Peace.
Thank you all. Please sign me on. I am looking forward to being part of this virtual community and trusting I will learn for you all first to ease into the technology.
I would love to take part. Thanks for your generosity in sharing with us all.
Sign me up! As editor of HORIZON, journal of the National Religious Vocation Conference, I need to stay abreast of social media use so I can pass information on to vocation ministers. Best wishes with your project, Sr. Julie!
SIGN ME UP!
Sign me up! I think it will be a great chance to share what we know and to learn more. Thanks for bringing us together on this, Julie!
Sign me up.
Sign me up! And thank you!
Sounds good. Sign me up please.
Sign me up…I am eager to learn more about the use of social media!
Thanks for offering this opportunity.
Sign me up. Thanks for the opportunity to learn more about using technonogy for ministry use.
Absolutely sign me up!!! I am a real beginner, so I GREATLY appreciate any assistance available. Right now I am in transition from Associate Director of Human and Spiritual Formation at Sacred Heart School of Theology, Hales Corners, WI, to ministry in Santiago, Domincan Republic, where one of my main ministries will be vocation ministry. For the past couple years I have been a vocation contact sister. Thank you so much for your help.
SIGN ME UP!
Hi there! I’m envious of your expertise and confidence in this area!
I’m a vocations director in Ireland!
SIGN ME UP!
SIGN ME UP! Thanks so much for the invitation – looking forward to learning lots!!
Sign me up. thank you for sharing your expertise. Sr. Kathy
Sign Me Up!
Sign me up! I am the vocation minister for the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration in Colorado Springs. I am interested in learning as much as I can about using media in vocation ministry. Thank you for this opportunity.
Hi, I have just tentively started with facebook. I am one of the vocation contact sisters for the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis of Assisi.
SIGN ME UP! I am Vocation Director for the U.S./Caribbean Province of the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother.
I am excited about the new Social Ministry Podcast coming soon. I want to learn how to use social media effectively for vocation promotion, sharing faith, informing people about religious life. I do have a blog and am on Facebook and MySpace. I also write on the Message Board on my province’s website.
I need to learn how to do podcasting and what equipment is needed. Of the questions you published, I am interested in the majority of them.
Sign me up – thank you for sharing all your wisdom and experience!
Michaela OP Vocation Minister
Sign me up. I look forward to learning more.
SIGN ME UP
SIGN ME UP
I would love to learn more.
Hello Julie,
SIGN ME UP.
SIGN ME UP