There's and APP for That!

This article, written by Fr. Bateman, appeared in the Thursday edition of the Record Herald:

If you’ve taken that bold step into the technological age, you know what this phrase means.  It means that, on your iPhone or iPod or iPad or other Smart phone device, you can download (either free or a few dollars) an application – or program – to put on your mobile device.  These “apps” have many different purposes and uses – banking, social networking (like Facebook), movie reviews, games and more.  But did you know that there are MANY “apps” which could also help us know and live our faith?

For example: Did you know that you can have the entire Bible in the palm of your hand?  Check out the “Bible is” app or, if you want to memorize Bible verses, try “Bible Memory.”  There’s an app for women “Women’s Day Faith and Action” which provides daily inspirational messages specifically for women.  “Courageous Faith” is another app that provides a daily devotional.

As a Catholic priest I am fascinated by two apps in particular: iPieta contains a huge library of prayers, documents of the Church, famous authors, the entire Bible and even the Catechism of the Catholic Church.  Another app is “Confession.”  Can you guess what this one is for?  You can “check off” your sins as you examine your conscience and then, after going to confession, “delete” them – all gone!  It’s awesome!

In addition to mobile devices, our congregations are finding new ways to use technology to reach out to existing and new members – and even to reach out across the world.  As we’ve seen in Egypt and other countries in recent weeks, social networking sites have rallied people to gather and stand up for truth and freedom.  Imagine how these sites could work for our communities of faith – speaking to us of issues of faith and maybe even calling us into action once in a while to stand up for what is True and Right in God’s Laws. 

I know in our parish community we have a website (standrewwbo.org), a blog (standrewwbo.blogspot.com) and a facebook page (StAndrew Apostle Parish).  All of these sites help to connect us, bring us up-to-date information and educate us on issues and areas of faith.  Our bishop has been using You Tube recently to get video messages out to people for Thanksgiving and Christmas and to encourage people to prayer.

There are so many resources and opportunities for each of us to be connected, to learn and to grow in our faith.  We really should be doing all of these things through the use of our modern technologies.  Get out there!  Get your “apps” and get connected with your faith community!