{"id":393,"date":"2009-07-21T06:38:00","date_gmt":"2009-07-21T06:38:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/deaconsbench\/2009\/07\/father-blogger-meet-some-priests-who-blog.html"},"modified":"2009-07-21T06:38:00","modified_gmt":"2009-07-21T06:38:00","slug":"father-blogger-meet-some-priests-who-blog","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/deaconsbench\/2009\/07\/father-blogger-meet-some-priests-who-blog.html","title":{"rendered":"Father Blogger: meet some priests who blog"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Georgia Bulletin has picked up on a growing phenomenon: priests who blog. The paper has turned the spotlight on a couple local clergy — including one FOB (Friend of the Bench)<\/a>— who are staying connected with the faithful through their trusty laptops. <\/p>\n

Read on<\/a>:<\/p>\n

In June Father Victor Galier was away in Japan for vacation and a retreat.<\/p>\n

But his flock at St. Matthew Church, Tyrone, and the world at large could see his trip unfold with pictures and videos he posted nearly daily to his blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n

There he was in the airport. He captured pictures and video of a Shinto street festival. Ladies photographed at a parish bazaar appeared too.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll see some Catholicity in it. It is looking at the world through the eyes of faith,\u201d said Father Galier, the pastor, about his two-year effort as a blogger for his \u201cPadre Vic\u201d<\/a> site.<\/p>\n

Father Galier has a light touch with his blogging project, making it like an online diary. Among his own videos, which include him screaming while riding a treetop zip line, are the oddball features that make the Internet colorful: cute kitten begs for food. \u201cMore cute for Tuesday\u201d is how the priest of 11 years headlined that 26-second clip. He also lets people know about his recent successes in a tennis match or road race.<\/p>\n

Blogging, Facebook, Twitter and other activities are a growing use of the Internet. According to the Pew Internet & American Life Project, 42 percent of people online have read blogs. And one in three adult Internet users are linked to a social networking site, such as Facebook, that allows people and groups to stay connected.<\/p>\n

The church is responding to this technology. The Vatican started a YouTube channel where viewers can see Pope Benedict XVI\u2019s weekly Angelus message and such events as his recent meeting with President Obama. He has more than 61,000 fans on his Facebook page. Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory has a fan club on Facebook with more than 500 friends.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can use new social media to get a lot of content out there,\u201d said Father Galier.<\/p>\n

Father Randy Mattox writes for his \u201cDays of Grace: Musings of a Catholic priest in north Georgia.\u201d<\/a> He updates the online journal a few times a month since launching it in March 2008.<\/p>\n

Father Mattox, pastor of Good Samaritan Church, Ellijay, said the church should embrace the technology. Young people are Internet savvy and use it to gain information, he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey are very in tune with it,\u201d he said. \u201cI think it\u2019s good that we kind of grow into using the technology.\u201d<\/p>\n

He started his blog when he designed a Web site for the church.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is a very humble blog. It has a local flavor,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Both archdiocesan priests use Facebook, but reserve that tool for staying in touch with friends. The blog is for the public.<\/p>\n

The blogs are very different, reflecting the personalities of the authors.<\/p>\n

Father Mattox writes with a churchman feel: visiting seminarians in Pennsylvania, wishing people a good Lent, an upcoming confirmation. In a lighthearted moment, he posted pictures of his baby goats in January.<\/p>\n

Father Galier is quick to post photos and videos. He wrote short flashes of news \u2013 \u201claying on of hands\u201d \u2013 during the recent ordination of archdiocesan priests. He also took pictures from his camera-equipped phone from the other side of the altar.<\/p>\n

He started the \u201cPadre Vic\u201d blog about two years ago after hearing about the technology at a conference about stewardship. A speaker suggested a blog as a way to break down walls between the pastor and people in the pews.<\/p>\n

Both said they have seen positive results from the experience.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

You can find out what those “positive results” are at the Bulletin link<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Georgia Bulletin has picked up on a growing phenomenon: priests who blog. The paper has turned the spotlight on a couple local clergy — including one FOB (Friend of the Bench)— who are staying connected with the faithful through their trusty laptops. 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