Preach the Gospel Always, if Necessary Use Digital Media.

Of course, St. Francis did not actually say, "Preach the Gospel always, if necessary use digital media," but I do believe that if St. Francis were with us today, he would certainly agree! Article 105 of the General Constitutions states, "In accordance with the venerable tradition of the Order, the friars are to assist the particular Churches by disseminating Sacred Scripture and the Catholic faith, using means which are suitable and which have been adapted to persons and times." So what is considered 'suitable means' for the People of God today?" The ushering in of the Digital Revolution brought with it 'digital media.' The Business Dictionary defines digital media as "Digitized content (text, graphics, audio, and video) that are transmitted over internet or computer networks."

In 2019, digital media is no longer just a suitable means of communication; it is now a necessary means of communication. A study titled 'Digital 2019 Global Digital Overview' shared that there are currently 4.3 billion internet users, roughly 57% of the world's population! Of those internet users, there are over 3.4 billion active social media users (45% of the world population). Not only are individuals using the internet and social media, but it is also becoming an integral part of their lives. The average internet user spends 6.5 hours online per day, in which 2.5 hours are spent on social media and networking platforms. An estimated 69% of U.S. adults use at least one social media platform. This number increases to 88% when viewing young adults' behavior between the ages of 18-29.

There is no denying that digital and social media are suitable means to share the Catholic Faith today. Although digital media usage may sound complicated and overwhelming, it is simple storytelling at the primary level. Fortunately for our province, the spirit of the Southwest Franciscans has a strong history of storytelling. Because of the comprehensive archives, I have had the opportunity to view the Padres' Trail's past issues starting back to 1939. On the cover of early publications, there is a proud statement, "The purpose of the Padres' Trail is to inform the people of God: to proclaim and to explain the missionary work of the Franciscan Friars. The second purpose is to help the people of God- to form them into missionaries. Wherever a Christian is, he must be a missionary- by work, by prayer, by material aid." The issues were beautifully designed with engaging stories and descriptive photography. As the current communications director, I was humbled and thankful that our province is standing on the shoulders of giants as we run into the digital world. 

Over the past four months, I have analyzed our current digital communication footprint to create strategies for the future. After some initial analysis, three prominent strategies became a clear focus.

Website 
One strategy was developing and updating our website to create a more user-friendly and intuitive webpage for those unfamiliar with the Friars and the Gospel. As a missionary order, our website's focus is evangelization and connecting with the "unchurched" or the "nones." Within four weeks of launching the new website, we have already increased visits and engagement! 

Social Media- Facebook 
Facebook is the most utilized social media platform for adults in the United States, with an impressive 70% claiming to use the platform. Over 66% of U.S. users claim to check the site every day. Our Facebook strategy is twofold. We want to better engage with our current audience and to grow our digital reach. To reach new audience members, we launched our first social media campaign. Since the campaign, we have seen an increase in page views, post reach, and page likes!

Video is also an essential part of digital communication. Over 100 million hours of videos are watched on Facebook every day! I have created three Facebook-specific videos (the Plenary Council, San Jose's Vacation Bible School, and Holy Family's Parish Fiestas). These videos not only reached more individuals but also had high audience engagement.
I look forward to creating more!

Social Media- Facebook 
Another important strategy was the creation of an Instagram page. Instagram is the highest used social media platform for young adults. Seventy-four percent of 18 to 24 years old use Instagram. Having an Instagram page is an example of 'meeting people where they are," especially the youth and young adults.

Moving Forward 
After spending a week at the English Speaking Communication Conference, it is becoming more apparent the importance of storytelling through digital mediums, especially social media. Moving forward, I pray that I can work with each of you individually to learn more about the many aspects of your ministries, interests, and experiences. By working together, we can evangelize and share the Catholic faith through "means which are suitable and which have been adapted to persons and times." Working together can come in many forms, including sharing upcoming special or important events/dates, sharing photos from your ministry or parish, writing reflections on current events or experiences, being willing to participate in special projects, and prayer.

I look forward to sharing the Catholic faith and the story of the Southwest Franciscans.