Ruth+Mobile+Devices+Assignment+1

Assignment #1
Mobile Devices and Ministry - Is My Parish Ready?

Expected time to complete assignment: 10 minutes

Is my parish ready to embrace and use these tools in learning environments or ministry? Why or Why not?

Please respond with the following information - name, parish, city, state and your response.

Name: Susan St. Lucy Parish, Anytown, MO
 * EXAMPLE: **

Response: As a parish we are just beginning to realize that this mobile technology is more available to us. We have a youth minister that really understands and uses technology with our youth ministry group. Our RCIA coordinator knows about Poll Everywhere, and is using this service which allows a respondent to use a cell phone in polls. But overall, we are still trying to figure out what to do. A majority of our #|ministers and catechists are hesitant to use technology in their teaching or ministry.

Name: Maria Lai, CSJ Loyola Marymount University, LA

Response: I live on campus and I attend liturgy here at LMU. We do not consider ourselves as a parish. Nevertheless, we use a lot of text to communicate to our students (such as texting the activities) but never as a tool for faith formation. For Graduate Ministry, we started to use the QR code with the students. Many people still do not know or have the app to scan the code. And some of them just do not want to have a facebook page. However, after attending the Mobile Devices session, I will try to incorporate Poll Everywhere, Photo Mapo and Airserver to see whether I can draw a better population to participate in our programs.

--- Name: Teri Burns St Robert of Newminster Parish, Ada Michigan

Response: Our parish is just getting on board. When I started at the parish 2 years ago, they were still using U.S. Mail to connect with parishioners. I introduced Constant Contact and promoted email communications. Everyone was worried we wouldn't connect with everyone, but in the 2 years, the majority of parishioners have said that they appreciate email communications. (I know because we've done a couple of surveys.) We just installed WiFi in our building so that catechists and learners might be able to access online information for learning and engaging with information and faith-related digital activities. Since our communications director started 4 years ago, our website has improved extensively; and she's working on an upgrade to be launched this year. We are launching our Parish App in September. We have a long way to go, but it's a start.

Name: Ivy Foo Catholic Church of St Ann, Marietta, GA Response: Our Parish Administrator has embraced this mobile technology enthusiastically. Weekly Announcements are digital to all Ministries, bulletin submissions done electronically,Constant contact, weekly streaming of the 8:30 am and Life Teen masses, even yearly First Eucharist or Confirmation services are beamed via U-Verse. Just ysday,everyone on staff signed up to Yammer. It's a challenge for us to keep up with the church's mobile tools. Hooray and a big shout out to Jim for his technology vision.