Social Media, Social Networking and Catholicism:

Spreading the Word through Social Media

Alvin Chin

Senior Researcher

Nokia Research Center, Beijing

St. Joseph Workers Group, South Cathedral, Beijing, China

August 7, 2011

Why Social Media?

• To spread the Word of Christ online to everyone, which anyone can do easily

• Another means to show our ministry

• Provides opportunity to promote Christianity, discuss and defend our faith against those who oppress it

• Keep in touch with Catholic teachings and Jesus on the go anytime and anywhere!

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Christian and Catholic social media

• There are lots but must be careful what you read, the Bible is the authoritative source!

• Many people in ministry use social media like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube

• Many priests in the GenY generation are using social media like podcasting, blogging and microblogging eg. Father Roderick Vonhögen

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Catholic social media sites

• Podcasts: SQPN – http://www.sqpn.com

– Catholic Insider, The Break with Fr. Roderick

• Videos: GodTube – http://www.godtube.com

• Twitter: Catholics on Twitter to follow -http://www.tweetcatholic.com/index.php?category=16

– People to follow: @sqpn, @FatherRoderick

• Vatican: http://news.va , http://pope2you.net

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Pope Benedict XVI’s view on social media

• The world of digital communication, with its almost limitless expressive capacity, makes us appreciate all the more Saint Paul’s exclamation: “Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel” (1 Cor 9:16).—Pope Benedict XVI, 44th World Communications Day message (2010)

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Social media guidelines

• USCCB

http://salinadiocese.org/home/multimedia/files/doc_download/388-usccb-social-media-guidelines-version-10&rct=j&q=social%20media%20guidelines%20Vatican&ei=1OM7Tq7kKMyq-gaIlInIAg&usg=AFQjCNEP1McUaVgEV7GDOGiW-U_TeDFNFg&sig2=6LOEnY2tnH0WyLxd-Blyxw&cad=rja

• Vatican 45th World Communication Day message (2011)

http://www.pope2you.net/index.php?id_testi=25

• Vatican 44th World Communication Day message (2010)

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/communications/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20100124_44th-world-communications-day_en.html

• Vatican 43rd World Communication Day message (2009)

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/communications/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20090124_43rd-world-communications-day_en.html

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Social media and Christianity in China

• Social media is hot in China: Weibo, RenRen, Kaixin001, Youku, Douban, Jiepang

• More Chinese are becoming Christian and Catholic

• Christian social media in China - few

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Spreading the Word in Chinese social media

• Need to be careful how you say

• Weibo (Chinese version of Twitter) is good channel to communicate (http://www.weibo.com)

• Foursquare (http://www.foursquare.com) and Jiepang (Chinese version of Foursquare http://www.jiepang.com) to checkin to churches (eg. South Cathedral or南堂)

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Taking God with you on the go

• iPad/iPhone: Bible.is app, Catholic Bible, H2Onews (http://www.pope2you.net)

• iTunes Podcasts: The Break with Fr. Roderick, Catholic Insider, others from SQPN.com

• Nimbuzz: to track tweets from Twitter, can follow Jesus, God tags from Twitter search

• Foursquare and Jiepang, to tweet/weibo when check-in to a church

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Summary

• Digital social media empowers Catholics and Christians to spread the Word to others anywhere (developing countries)

• We have a responsibility to be disciples of Christ to spread the Word to the ends of the earth

• Be careful, respectful of others, but offer hope, love and friendship to the world

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Follow Me• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/alvin.chin1

• Twitter: http://twitter.com/gadgetman4u

• LinkedIn: http://cn.linkedin.com/in/alvinchin

• Sina Weibo: http://weibo.com/2106762242(gadgetman)

• Google+: ubiquitousdude@gmail.com

• Foursquare: http://foursquare.com/gadgetman4u

• Jiepang: http://jiepang.com (gadgetman)

• Blog: http://www.alvinychin.com/blog

• Web: http://research.nokia.com/people/alvin_chin

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