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June 2008: Pontifical Mission Societies: We’re Broadcasting Ourselves! |
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The National Office of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the U.S.A. recently gave diocesan mission offices a glimpse into their new presence on the World Wide Web. Read below to find out why they are now saying, “We’re broadcasting ourselves!”
Missions on YouTube
 The National Office of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the U.S.A. continues to hit the “fast forward” button in new media. Our first endeavor into social networking began with our new YouTube account at www.youtube.com/pmsusa. This new site, launched in June 2008, was designed to become a repository of video programming from the missions, and will also feature historic video clips from the films of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. Diocesan mission offices across the United States will be encouraged to promote the site, as well as provide short videos of diocesan mission visits or events related to mission animation efforts, such as World Mission Sunday, the Holy Childhood Association, or the Society of St. Peter Apostle.
Mission Blogs
 On June 4, 2008, national director Msgr. John Kozar published his first blog at the official blog site of the Pontifical Mission Societies – www.propfaith.blogspot.com. The first report was about our presence and presentations at the Catholic Media Convention (Catholic Press Association/Catholic Academy for Communication Arts Professionals) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, at the end of May. The next two commentaries, published within 10 days of that initial blog, quoted first-hand reports that we received from New York director Sister Pauline Chirchirillo, PBVM, who is traveling through Zambia. Sister Pauline is the first to travel with the FlipVideo for the Pontifical Mission Societies. Other diocesan directors who make missionary visits have already been tapped for this task by Msgr. Kozar, who will also be taking the video device on his own mission trips. Diocesan mission offices across the country are being encouraged to promote the blog and to offer feedback – both in comments and subject matter information – to Msgr. Kozar on the blog site.
Audio Materials for the Missions
 We have a new presence on the web with our audio materials. Visit our own website to find these 60-second spots entitled “Mission Lessons” – moments from the missions that teach and inspire. Msgr. Kozar shares firsthand experiences from his own mission visits, and recalls the stories of missionaries he has met. “Mission Lessons” can be used for radio, satellite/internet, podcasting, and more. Sirius Satellite Radio and The Catholic Channel have already committed to airing them. Several diocesan mission directors have also downloaded the spots and are planning to air them on their local Catholic radio stations. Others will use them as materials to accompany mission presentations, or as suggestions for schools and religious education programs as meditation/prayer starters and morning PA announcements. The U.S. Bishops' Conference Media Office also took the spots for possible feature on their web site.
Interactive Mission Discussions
 There are "Google groups" – a forum for discussing topics (by region and by subject matter) which will invite directors, coordinators, and mission office staff into dialogue with the national office and its consultors in various fields (communications, finance, fundraising, new media, education, formation, etc.). Planned also are Webinars – a "live" real-time version of the "Google group" concept.
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