AUSTRALIAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS CONFERENCE NOW ON FACEBOOK

Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC) has created a new page on Facebook which will contain information, media releases, photos and forums about the work and ministry of the ACBC.

This Facebook page, where anyone can become a “fan” will be a quick and efficient way of finding information about the Catholic Church in Australia, communicate with the bishops, and to understand how the Conference operates.

The ACBC is responding to the Pope’s call to engage with digital media and make use of it to promulgate the word of God.

A number of Australian bishops have been on Facebook for some time, and have found it an invaluable way of communicating with people in their dioceses and beyond, especially young people.
This year’s World Day of Communication will focus specifically on new media, with the theme “The Priest and pastoral ministry in a digital world: new media at the service of the word.”

Media delegate for the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, Bishop Peter Ingham said that engaging with Facebook and other new digital media will more effectively share with the people of the world the love of Christ.

“There are so many opportunities now available to us to be at service of the Word of God. Digital media gives us so much more scope to make Jesus Christ better known and loved,” said Bishop Ingham.

Director of the Australian Catholic Film Office, Father Richard Leonard said that new media is rapidly emerging in society and that the Church should engage with it or become irrelevant.

“The Church is able to participate quite easily with new media, with the help of skilled professionals. In doing so, more than ever before, they have the capacity spread the message of Christ to a wide and varied audience”, said Father Leonard.

To engage with the ACBC on Facebook you can either search Facebook using the words Australian Catholic Bishops Conference or use the following link.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Braddon-Australia/Australian-Catholic-Bishops-Conference/298533192266?v=wall#!/pages/Braddon-Australia/Australian-Catholic-Bishops-Conference/298533192266?ref=ts

AUSTRALIAN BISHOPS GO ONLINE FOR LENT: www.thereflection.vivadis.com

As Catholics begin to plan their Lenten journey this year, the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference is calling on people to take up a new and exciting challenge.

“Instead of just giving up something for Lent, why not take up something as well,” said ACBC Commission for Mission and Faith Formation Chair, Archbishop John Bathersby.

“This year we are asking that you consider spending time with friends and family reflecting on the Scriptures that lead us to this joyous celebration of the Church”, he said.

The call goes out for people to share their Easter journey with others, in an innovative online experience called The Reflection.

The Reflection will offer people an accessible opportunity for faith formation via the World Wide Web.

“The responses we received last year from the St Paul and St Luke eConferences were extremely positive and very humbling” said Archbishop Bathersby. “The fact that more than 20,000 participants came online highlights a hunger in people to deepen their faith.”

Twelve Australian Bishops have agreed to participate in this pilot series, and will explore the Sunday Gospels of Lent with participants using a lectio divina model of prayer. Commencing the 15 February at 7pm, The Reflection comprises seven short weekly episodes that will remain archived on the site so that people may participate at their own pace.

Visit the website http://thereflection.vividas.com now to find out more about this project; guidelines for undertaking lectio divina; a downloadable booklet to take you through the readings for the period, and Q&A’s to assist further discussion.