The Vatican is stepping up its digital game.
Leading Catholic officials have realized the power and potential of the internet as an evangelism tool. In July, they invited Lake Charles’ Katie Prejean McGrady, along with 1,000 other Catholic social media influencers, for the first Jubilee of Digital Missionaries and Catholic Influencers event at the Vatican.
But Katie McGrady didn’t need to travel to Rome to realize the power of the internet.
She says she wouldn’t be married to her husband without Facebook.
Katie McGrady is a podcast host, author, radio host and Vatican Analyst for CNN who explores various topics about the Catholic faith. She lives and works in Lake Charles.
PROVIDED PHOTO
In May 2014, Tommy McGrady sent a message to Katie after he read one of her blog posts. They long-distance dated for a year, and then Tommy moved to Louisiana in 2015. They married the next year.
“My two kids wouldn’t exist without a Facebook DM,” she said.
Katie McGrady started her career working in youth ministry and as a Catholic school teacher. In 2017, she began speaking full-time at retreats, religious education conferences and more.
Today, she is an author, podcast and radio host, and a Vatican analyst for CNN, exploring various topics about the Catholic faith.
“The honest and vulnerable and authentic sharing of life — an authentically Catholic life — opens up opportunities of encounter,” she said.
As far as a social media strategy goes, she shares what interests her — whether that’s a news story, personal story or accounts from others. She doesn’t necessarily focus on a specific age group. She just tries to target those who are curious about the faith.
Bernard Dumond, founder and CEO of Catholic Vitality 360, based in Lafayette, says the digital tactics are on point.
“You have to meet people where they are,” Dumond said.
Kendrick Slan is the lead missionary with Vagabond Missions at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Baton Rouge.
PROVIDED PHOTO
In Baton Rouge, Kendrick Slan, with Vagabond Missions at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, uses social media to connect with teenagers. The organization’s mission is to serve teenagers in urban and inner-city communities through weekly programs, outreach and mentorship.
To build relationships, Slan took a page out of Jesus’ playbook and uses food. It’s not loaves and fishes, but Vagabond missionaries go into the neighborhood and hand out pizza — one slice for a follow on the Instagram, @225_Underground.
The Vagabond missionaries with Sacred Heart of Jesus in Baton Rouge are based in the Underground Hub, a building that is owned by the church. Youth in the community are able to come to the space to connect with the missionaries and each other.
PROVIDED PHOTO
Slan says the pizza/Instagram approach has been more effective in building connections than any other digital medium.
The Rev. Josh Johnson, priest at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, echoes the importance of meeting people where they are.
“Peter wasn’t in the temple when he encountered Jesus. Peter was out fishing by the lake. Jesus met him on his boat,” Johnson said. “That’s a powerful reminder for us today. Like Christ, we are called to meet people where they are, and for many in our culture, that place is social media.”
Louisiana culture editor Jan Risher contributed to this report.