Overview

Like a hurricane that exposes the underlying bedrock--and an occasional hidden treasure--by washing away the accumulated grains of sand, the pandemic blew away the accumulated certainties and securities of the globally connected, digitized society. Suddenly, nothing can be taken for granted: visiting ailing relatives, shopping--or going to church. The internet and, particularly, social networking sites have become the indispensable infrastructure holding our sociability together. The global companies of the digital economy profited handsomely. How about the users of their services? This volume explores how priests inhabit the digital environment of social networking sites, specifically Facebook. The authors looked at how they present themselves, what they publish, and how people engage with this content. The context of the pandemic suggested that we should also examine how digital technology and social media are being used for purposes of priestly ministry. Our hope is that these analyses and considerations will help not just priests but every person at becoming proficient not only in things virtual but also in practicing virtue.

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9781666719352

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Reviews

Peter Lah has provided us with timely comparative research on social media use by priests in various countries, especially during the pandemic. The book's chapter on digital worship is particularly valuable. Catholics who attended mass online because the pandemic closed churches will relate to his insights. --Eileen Wirth, Creighton University, emeritus Based on empirical data collected from priests around the world, Peter Lah and his colleagues present a valuable initial picture of how the Catholic Church has embraced (or at times avoided) social media as ministerial practice, both before and during the pandemic. Though they found no single way in which the Catholic Church might be a virtual church, they did find that the situation of the priests reflects that of the people they serve. --Paul A. Soukup, SJ, Santa Clara University Is there an appropriate way to use social media for pastoral purposes? Or do we risk, without our conscious input, trading our real--however imperfect--communities for the isolation of the echo chamber? Navigating Hyperspace helps us to reflect on how we, as Christians, can create a healthier digital environment that can better meet the challenge of community building. --Natasa Govekar, Theological-Pastoral Director, Dicastery for Communication, Vatican City Discovering how Catholic priests all over the world understand, embrace, and use technology is now possible through data and examples provided by Jesuit Peter Lah in this insightful, global, and timely volume. The most interesting aspect here is the assumption that for Catholics there is not life and then virtual life, but Life. And it is played as well on social media. --Miriam Diez Bosch, Ramon Llull University

"""Peter Lah has provided us with timely comparative research on social media use by priests in various countries, especially during the pandemic. The book's chapter on digital worship is particularly valuable. Catholics who attended mass online because the pandemic closed churches will relate to his insights."" --Eileen Wirth, Creighton University, emeritus ""Based on empirical data collected from priests around the world, Peter Lah and his colleagues present a valuable initial picture of how the Catholic Church has embraced (or at times avoided) social media as ministerial practice, both before and during the pandemic. Though they found no single way in which the Catholic Church might be a virtual church, they did find that the situation of the priests reflects that of the people they serve."" --Paul A. Soukup, SJ, Santa Clara University ""Is there an appropriate way to use social media for pastoral purposes? Or do we risk, without our conscious input, trading our real--however imperfect--communities for the isolation of the echo chamber? Navigating Hyperspace helps us to reflect on how we, as Christians, can create a healthier digital environment that can better meet the challenge of community building."" --Natasa Govekar, Theological-Pastoral Director, Dicastery for Communication, Vatican City ""Discovering how Catholic priests all over the world understand, embrace, and use technology is now possible through data and examples provided by Jesuit Peter Lah in this insightful, global, and timely volume. The most interesting aspect here is the assumption that for Catholics there is not life and then virtual life, but Life. And it is played as well on social media."" --Miriam Diez Bosch, Ramon Llull University"

Peter Lah has provided us with timely comparative research on social media use by priests in various countries, especially during the pandemic. The book's chapter on digital worship is particularly valuable. Catholics who attended mass online because the pandemic closed churches will relate to his insights. --Eileen Wirth, Creighton University, emeritus Based on empirical data collected from priests around the world, Peter Lah and his colleagues present a valuable initial picture of how the Catholic Church has embraced (or at times avoided) social media as ministerial practice, both before and during the pandemic. Though they found no single way in which the Catholic Church might be a virtual church, they did find that the situation of the priests reflects that of the people they serve. --Paul A. Soukup, SJ, Santa Clara University Is there an appropriate way to use social media for pastoral purposes? Or do we risk, without our conscious input, trading our real--however imperfect--communities for the isolation of the echo chamber? Navigating Hyperspace helps us to reflect on how we, as Christians, can create a healthier digital environment that can better meet the challenge of community building. --Natasa Govekar, Theological-Pastoral Director, Dicastery for Communication, Vatican City Discovering how Catholic priests all over the world understand, embrace, and use technology is now possible through data and examples provided by Jesuit Peter Lah in this insightful, global, and timely volume. The most interesting aspect here is the assumption that for Catholics there is not life and then virtual life, but Life. And it is played as well on social media. --Miriam Diez Bosch, Ramon Llull University Peter Lah has provided us with timely comparative research on social media use by priests in various countries, especially during the pandemic. The book's chapter on digital worship is particularly valuable. Catholics who attended mass online because the pandemic closed churches will relate to his insights. --Eileen Wirth, Creighton University, emeritus Based on empirical data collected from priests around the world, Peter Lah and his colleagues present a valuable initial picture of how the Catholic Church has embraced (or at times avoided) social media as ministerial practice, both before and during the pandemic. Though they found no single way in which the Catholic Church might be a virtual church, they did find that the situation of the priests reflects that of the people they serve. --Paul A. Soukup, SJ, Santa Clara University Is there an appropriate way to use social media for pastoral purposes? Or do we risk, without our conscious input, trading our real--however imperfect--communities for the isolation of the echo chamber? Navigating Hyperspace helps us to reflect on how we, as Christians, can create a healthier digital environment that can better meet the challenge of community building. --Natasa Govekar, Theological-Pastoral Director, Dicastery for Communication, Vatican City Discovering how Catholic priests all over the world understand, embrace, and use technology is now possible through data and examples provided by Jesuit Peter Lah in this insightful, global, and timely volume. The most interesting aspect here is the assumption that for Catholics there is not life and then virtual life, but Life. And it is played as well on social media. --Miriam Diez Bosch, Ramon Llull University

Author Information

Peter Lah is a Jesuit priest and associate professor at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Pontifical Gregorian University, in Rome. He teaches courses in communication and media studies, focusing on media literacy, ICT regulation, and media ethics. Since 2016, he has been summer director at the Monte Santo di Lussari-Svete Visarje pilgrimage site in Italy.

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