St. Mary's To Host Social, Digital Media Conference For Catholic Educators

From Michael McAlpin of Saint Mary’s College of California:

Saint Mary’s College presents the innovative religious digital media conference “Sharing the Good News in the Era of Pope Francis,” a weeklong exploration of the use of digital and social media in Catholic dialogue and evangelization. Sponsored by the Bishop John S. Cummins Institute for Catholic Thought, Culture and Action, the conference will be held June 8-12, 2015 in Saint Mary’s Soda Center, 1928 St. Mary’s Road, Moraga, Calif. 94575.

“The walls which divide us can be broken down only if we are prepared to listen and learn from one another… The Internet, in particular, offers immense possibilities for encounter and solidarity. This is something truly good, a gift from God.” ––Pope Francis, “Communication at the Service of an Authentic Culture of Encounter,” excerpt, January 24, 2014).

The ‘Sharing the Good News’ conference is inspired by Pope Francis’ engagement with the world and includes insightful workshops on topics such as the Church and digital communication and social media storytelling. It features a keynote presentation by Reverend Anthony Gittins, C.S.Sp, professor emeritus at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and author of 15 books on theological and anthropological topics and on mission and spirituality.

Daily lectures on the theology of digital communication will be offered by Daniella Zsupan-Jerome, author of the recently published book Connected toward Communion: The Church and Social Communication in the Digital Age. A professor of liturgy, catechesis, and evangelization, Zsupan-Jerome teaches at Loyola University, New Orleans. The conference also includes a Pontifical Mass with the Most Reverend Michael C. Barber, S. J., bishop of the Diocese of Oakland, California as the Eucharistic presider and homilist.

“This first of its kind conference includes opportunities for Catholic​ ​school and parish educators, religious and lay partners to engage in rich conversations about, and training in, the creative uses of social communication for the work of the Church,” said Brother Charles Hilken, FSC, director of the Cummins Institute.

Social and digital media workshop facilitators include Saint Mary’s Communication Professor Ed Tywoniak, director of the College’s W. M. Keck Digital Studies Laboratory and members of the College’s professional team of interactive and instructional media and web technologists.

The cost for conference attendance is $105, with a discounted rate of $85 for religious educators. On-campus housing is also available.

For more information, contact Sally Jamison in Saint Mary’s Office of Mission at (925) 631-4406 or sjamison@stmarys-ca.edu or register online at stmarys-ca.edu/cummins-institute/summer-workshop-june-2015.

“Sharing the Good News in the Era of Pope Francis” is part of the series of workshops presented by the Cummins Institute, which serves to fortify the Catholic identity of the College.

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