It is good that there is a least one eloquent former long-time atheist and Catholic convert – Jennifer Fulwiler of Conversion Diary shares her conversion story via audio. In blog years is doesn’t seem all that long ago when I was reading her blog before she had decided to become Catholic.
Last weekend the 3rd Catholic New Media Celebration was held in Boston Archdiocese Pastoral Center to a sold out audience. I was unable to go this year but was able to watch much of the CNMC live via USTREAM or watch the bits I missed on video afterwards. It has been quite interesting to watch the CNMC grow from its conception to three successful years bringing together Catholics to learn how to use the new media in evangelization and as an opportunity to get together. There were so many people attending that I would love to be able to meet and talk to myself that it was bittersweet watching from afar.
The Archdiocese of St. Louis has a good post up on their site with plenty of links in regards to the CNMC and to other sites containing links. Links to video’s of individual events are also included.
While they had plenty of excellent speakers I would pick out Thomas Peters of American Papist in this regard. I found the content of his speech very good with lots of food for thought even for long term bloggers. [Video] The blogging panel had an representative range of bloggers and I thought it was informative and fun. [Video]
The Keynote speech was by Lino Rulli host of “The Catholic Guy Show” on the The Catholic Channel and he really gave an amazing speech that had lots to say about Catholic Media. Lino is very funny as he described his career in both secular and Catholic media, but while being funny he was also making some very serious points about Catholic Media and the truth that far too often Catholic Media has not been very professional and often just does not compete when it comes to reaching out to an audience. Often Catholic Media is just sub par professionally. G. K. Chesterton’s “if something’s worth doing, it’s worth doing badly.” is often applied incorrectly by Catholics since Chesterton said this in defense of hobbies. I started my blog with this quote, though my blog is a hobby. The reality is that Catholics using media to evangelize must see that excellence is extremely important or else you end up with a ghetto mentality of only reaching out towards those already converted. Look at the state of so much filmmaking by Christians where excellence in filmmaking out seems to fall by the wayside. Filming, writing, talking about the truth should not be undermined by a lack of artistic merit. The best Catholic Media is great because it is professional, not just because it is Catholic media.
Another thing Lino talked about was people’s reactions to him and the number of negative comments he gets from The Catholic Guy show which they consider too irrelevant and not pious enough. I listen to his show via the podcast highlights of his show and I enjoy it very much. Though like with all humor it isn’t for everybody. I have a feeling though Lino gets comments from the same people who complain about the picture of nuns with rifles in my header. Some just think that the intersection of the faith and humor should be an overpass instead where they never meet.
You can watch his Keynote here.
From Maureen Wittman.
In an effort to help in bring true understanding of our Catholic faith to the masses, Walter Crawford and I have started Aquinas Connections. Like Homeschool Connections, we’ll be offering live, interactive classes. However,Aquinas Connections is for us grown ups. As a child of the 1960’s who was raised on guitar Masses and feel-good theology, I am pretty excited about the opportunity to offer some great meaty theology.
Our first class starts in just a few weeks with the awesome Father Mitch Pacwa. He’ll be teaching on the Gospel of Luke. We use Webex so the adult students will see and hear Father. They in turn can interact with Father via chat or a headset (optional). The only requirement is high speed internet. We’ve worked very hard to keep the course fee reasonable. Seating is restricted to 30 students.
For details on the course, visit: Fr. Mitch Pacwa Bible Course for Adults.
I am praying that you can help me spread the word sharing the above link with every Catholic you know. If it goes well and there is a lot of interest then we’ll be able to present many more such courses in the future.
Thank you for any help. Most importantly, please pray for us and this endeavor!
Starting with Rome in ruin and the Catholic Church under siege, a miracle began. “Lost Road of The Popes: Via Papale” explores the works of six powerful Popes – and recounts how they took on the task of first rebuilding, then glorifying the new Rome. The film describes how Rome and its Papal rulers not only survived, but were inspired to create the magnificent monuments, churches, art and architecture that helped to exalt and save the Catholic Church. And why that once powerful road has been…forgotten.
The Lost Road of the Popes looks interesting and non-Dan Brown like. It has recently won the “Best Documentary” award at the Houston film festival and is narrated by Brian Dennehy. Has anyone seen it and have an opinion about it?
Best article on Mother’s Day you will read today. From my Bishop, Bp. Galeone of the Diocese of St. Augustine.
[link]
The Christian Personalism of Dietrich von Hildebrand:
Exploring His Philosophy of Love
Convened by the Dietrich von Hildebrand Legacy Project
in collaboration with the the School of Philosophy of the
Pontifical University of the Holy Cross
Pontifical University of the Holy Cross School of Philosophy
Piazza di Sant’Apollinare, 49
00186 Roma, Italy
Rome, May 27-29, 2010
On Pope Benedict XVI fifth anniversary since his election as Pope it is very easy for me to remember why I love him so much. If I could forget this my mind would be instantly jogged by such things as his homily in Malta to young people. Simply brilliant.
The Pope constantly reminds us what it means to be a Christian and how awesome this is and the responsibilities it entails.
Thank you Holy Father.
As a fan of SF author John C. Wright I always look forward to his next book/story. Often though his blog posts I enjoy just as much. His conversion has made him sort of an Apostle to the Science Fiction/Fantasy Fans. As a fan of that genre since childhood it did not often challenge my materialistic atheist beliefs. That a large group of SF/Fantasy fans are atheists/agnostics makes the intersection of the fans of his books and what he says on other matters on his blog rather interesting.
This time in response to one of his readers he posts on “the problems of overpopulation” which is quite an excellent read and exposes the myth of overpopulation as preached by modern Malthusian Chicken Littles.
Additionally SF writer Michael Flynn who I am also a great fan of returns to “Return of the Age of Unreason Part II” on the Scientific Revolution and it’s connection to Western (specifically Christian) thought. Both of his posts on this are the response to a “freethinker” who a Michael Fly says “He writes that he is “not a Middle Age scholar” and then sets about proving it. “
Nice to see that both of these Catholic authors have taken the time to engage the lies of the age so often construed as common knowledge.
The Paragraph Farmer delivers a nice post that talks of Advent while addressing a comments made to a Joseph Bottom essay on Advent.