Discussion forums/blogs

[Janet]

Do you use discussion forums (similar to this one) or blogs in your
parish for adult faith formation? How do you do it? What is the
response?

One blog in our archdiocese is stanneprayforus.blogspot.com from St.
Anne, Ortonville.

[Cheryl]

Interesting that you should ask the question today, as it was my
conversation with staff this morning! I have to admit to being a
little intimidated by the process of setting it up, publicizing, etc.
I'd appreciate some specific instructions on how to go about doing
this. Thanks!

[Missy Francis]

Cheryl, I would be happy to help you get up and running. Don't be
intimidated by web tools--it is much easier than you think. I also
have lots of ideas for sidebar widgets--like slide shows, music
(during lent I used some chants on our blog), daily readings, etc.
We have not publicized our parish blog much within our parish at this
point, but I have publicized it using <a href="http://
catholicblogs.blogspot.com/">Catholic Blog Directory</a> and <a
href="http://stblogsparish.com/blogs/bloglist.php>St. Blog's Parish.</
a> Also, we get a lot of traffic from search engines like google and
from other blogs that have linked to ours.
If you can post a link to the blog on the front page of your parish
website and give it some mentions in your bulletin and at AFF
gatherings you can build up your readership within the parish.
I have worked with both wordpress and blogger and both have pros and
cons. Probably a matter of taste, but I prefer Blogger--it is easy to
use, even for a newbie!
Email me and I can help you with specific questions.

[Cheryl Smith]

Missy,

Are you the "Missy" I rode down to Sacred Heart with in June for the RCIA
sessions? Hoping so! It's nice to place a name with a face. Maybe I can
drive over sometime and you could give me a basic tutorial? I'm a pretty
experiential learner, so it would be helpful to sit by your side. Let me
know what you think. Thanks!

Cheryl

[Missy Francis]

Yup, that's me!
So, sure--I'm game. Just let me know what's good for you and we can compare
schedules.
m

[Julie Wieleba-Milkie]

Oh how I wish!  We don't have anything like that but I would really like to speak to someone who can share with me "the ropes" of how they got such a formation tool started in their parish so that I can start laying the groundwork this year.  We have a new pastor and so now might be the time to start moving in new directions.

God's peace,

 

Julie Wieleba-Milkie

> Date: Wed, 3 Sep 2008 06:54:54 -0700
> Subject: Discussion forums/blogs
> From: schaeffl...@aod.org
> To: adultfait...@googlegroups.com

[Missy Francis]

Hi Julie--are you in the Detroit Archdiocese? I would be happy to help
you get started. Drop me an email--
mi...@churchofstanne.org

On Sep 3, 3:45 pm, Julie Wieleba-Milkie <churchlad...@hotmail.com>
wrote:

> Oh how I wish!  We don't have anything like that but I would really like to speak to someone who can share with me "the ropes" of how they got such a formation tool started in their parish so that I can start laying the groundwork this year.  We have a new pastor and so now might be the time to start moving in new directions.
> God's peace,
>

> Julie Wieleba-Milkie> Date: Wed, 3 Sep 2008 06:54:54 -0700> Subject: Discussion forums/blogs> From: schaeffler.ja...@aod.org> To: adultfait...@googlegroups.com> > > Do you use discussion forums (similar to this one) or blogs in your> parish for adult faith formation? How do you do it? What is the> response?> > One blog in our archdiocese is stanneprayforus.blogspot.com from St.> Anne, Ortonville.> > _________________________________________________________________
> Get more out of the Web. Learn 10 hidden secrets of Windows Live.http://windowslive.com/connect/post/jamiethomson.spaces.live.com-Blog...

[Janet]

As well as checking out blogs, check out groups through Google and
Yahoo - such as this one, and determine which process is best going to
meet your needs. Which process will encourage people to respond and
become engaged ... so it's not just one person posting (which some
blogs might have the tendency to become). There's pros and cons to
all the technology.

Great conversation; keep it going.

What else is happening?

> > Get more out of the Web. Learn 10 hidden secrets of Windows Live.http://windowslive.com/connect/post/jamiethomson.spaces.live.com-Blog...- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[Missy Francis]

"...determine which process is best going to meet your needs. Which

process will encourage people to respond and become engaged ... so
it's not just one person posting (which some blogs might have the
tendency to become)"

That's true--and St. Anne, Pray for Us is sort of an example of that.
I am trying to get others on staff to contribute... and I've got a
sidebar request for contributions.
Still, I tend to think something like a blog, with the content so
visible, at least encourages people to read. And it has the potential
to go beyond AFF--I can foresee some of our RE students contributing,
maybe by posting pictures they've made or digital stories of service
projects, etc. With blogs, it's easier to see the content and navigate
the pathways than with a traditional www 1.0 website. The real
conversation comes in the comment thread and it's nice when you can
get something lively going.
I think one of the downsides of google and yahoo groups is that they
don't seem to support the use of html code (I tried to embed the links
for St. Blog's Parish and Catholic Blog Directory yesterday which
didn't work), or posting videos or photos for conversation.
I did a video post back in July which captures some of what I want to
articulate when I talk about blogging--here is the link:
http://stanneprayforus.blogspot.com/2008/07/machine-is-us-or-web-20.html

> > > Get more out of the Web. Learn 10 hidden secrets of Windows Live.http://windowslive.com/connect/post/jamiethomson.spaces.live.com-Blog...Hide quoted text -

[Janet Schaeffler]

Another thought about using blogs/discussion groups for adult faith
formation: I recall hearing someone suggest once that perhaps their
greatest use/benefit (rather than directing it to everyone) could be
to reach "interest groups," e.g. young parents who want to learn
something/share ideas about raising families in the Church but don't
have time to participate in time-based, space-based workshops.
Technology can overcome restrictions of time and geography and help
form relationships among members of a community with like interests
who can be guided by a facilitator/"teacher/catechist" through
material and the bloggers/members in the group can form community and
support each other in the learning/sharing process. They might
periodically come together physically during the learning process as
they feel the need.

I think this person's idea would not negate the idea that some blogs/
discussion groups would be there for all, but what about the
possibility of many going on for various "interest groups." Our
current issues of SPARKS newsletters about "communtiies of like
interest" are talking about this principles of adult faith formation -
which has been alive and well - throughout our history and in business
and all new paradigms -- of responding to the needs of interest
groups.

On Sep 3, 9:54 am, Janet <schaeffler.ja...@aod.org> wrote:

[Cheryl]

Many thanks to Janet and Missy for motivating me to do this! Starting
with November baptisms, we are planning to initiate a group for
parents to help prepare them for the baptism of their child. The idea
is this: At the time of intake, parents will be informed that part of
their preparation is to participate in a closed online discussion
group (I'll probably use Google). I will moderate the group, posing
questions at the beginning of the week for three consecutive weeks
prior to the baptism. We will discuss the theological aspects of the
sacrament in a discussion format.....so, for instance the question
"Why are you having your child baptized?" will open the door to
explain that baptism has two aspects, initiation into a faith
community and overcoming sin. Both parents will be asked to
participate. Then, the day before the baptism, the parents will meet
as a group in the church for the purpose of meeting one another,
praying together, and going through the logistics of the baptismal
day. I don't anticipate the formal part of the workshop to last more
than 30 minutes. (Our previous workshop was an hour and a half).
We're going to do this as a 6-month pilot program. Any suggestions
before we get started would be welcome! By the way, is there a way to
delete people from a group once the preparation time is over, and in
order to make room for new people?

Cheryl

On Sep 4, 6:56 am, Janet <schaeffler.ja...@aod.org> wrote:

> > > Get more out of the Web. Learn 10 hidden secrets of Windows Live.http://windowslive.com/connect/post/jamiethomson.spaces.live.com-Blog...Hide quoted text -
>
> > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -

[Missy Francis]

I think it's a great idea!

But the first issue you're going to run into is families who are not online,
or one of the parents has email and the other doesn't. So you are left
having to offer both a traditional prep and online prep.

As for deleting people after preparation is over: first, what a great way to
do mystagogy and continue the conversation for a little while--why not
continue for a few weeks after; and second, they can unsubscribe themselves
when finished. Or not, I mean, you don't have to make room--membership is
pretty much unlimited (although most people will likely want to
unsubscribe). I do think group leaders (Sr. Janet can correct me here) are
able to delete members of the group. Just another way to keep the hooligans
out. (Hooligans? That makes them sound like British soccer fans... heh, heh,
whatever--you know what I mean.)

Good luck with this, Cheryl. I look forward to hearing more about it.

-----Original Message-----
From: adultfait...@googlegroups.com
[mailto:adultfait...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Cheryl
Sent: Monday, September 15, 2008 12:28 PM
To: Adult Faith Formation Forum

[Cheryl Smith]

My hope is that there aren't many young people left among us without
computer access! I guess we'll see! That's why it's a trial run....

----- Original Message -----
From: "Missy Francis" <mi...@churchofstanne.org>

[Janet Schaeffler]

Missy is right; the group leader can delete members or the members
can unsubscribe themselves. But her insight also is terrific.
Wouldn't it be great (and I think some of them will) if some of them
stayed for a while and joined the conversation with others, sharing
their insights, deepening their growth?!!

I would think, too, as you do, Cheryl, that in your area the majority
of young people have computer access. For many other areas of their
lives they need/use it; there's always the library, neighbors,
relatives, etc.

[Janet Schaeffler]

At the Synod of Bishops meeting in Rome during these three weeks on:
"The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church," one of the
auditors made a suggestion a couple days ago.

Agnes Lam, president of the Catholic Biblical Association of Hong
Kong, suggested, among several other things (bringing smiles from many
of the bishops) that Pope Benedict XVI open a blog to explain the word
of God in an attractive way.

She invited "the Holy Father to open a multi-language blog to shepherd
today's world: a daily scriptural verse with a simple reflection,
brief text and plentiful images."