Sisters and Social Networking / Strengthening Our Reach

01/14/2010
year: 
2010

Aston-Social networking online was something that was once left to college students and the technologically savvy. That is no longer the case. More and more businesses, nonprofit agencies, individuals, and groups are joining and staying on websites offering social networking opportunities. What is social networking? Social networking is the grouping of individuals into specific groups—bringing people with common interests and goals together in one place, allowing them to communicate easily. The relationships that are formed and strengthened through these sites are just one of the many benefits to social networking online. Another one of those benefits includes gaining diversity and perspective. Because the internet gives individuals from all around the world access to social networking sites, you could develop an online friendship with someone in another country. Welcome to 2010!

So what does all this mean for the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia? It means that our sisters can reconnect with students they taught several years ago using Facebook. It means members of the Sisters of St. Francis’ Facebook fan page and Twitter can get daily reports on what is happening within our congregation, our ministries, and the justice and peace issues we support. It means we don’t have to rely strictly on the newspapers and our own direct mailings to spread the news about the congregation. Social networking sites continue to gain popularity—closing the age and gender gaps—allowing us to reach more people in less time. They are a great tool and they are here to stay.

So what has the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia congregation been doing to utilize these sites? In addition to our website, www.osfphila.org, the congregation is using a variety of social networking systems to share the good news of who we are and what we’re all about. We have more than 50 sisters currently on Facebook. We also now have a “Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia” fan page on Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/#/pages/Aston-PA/Sisters-of-St-Francis-of-Philadelphia/279718310725?ref=mf. If you’re a Facebook user, why not check it out and become a fan. Our YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/user/SrsofSTFrancisPhila, has segments from our congregational DVD, footage from our 2009 jubilee celebration, and a number of “favorites” that reflect the issues we support. We also have several sisters blogging. Why not give them a visit? You can sign up as a follower and blog updates will be delivered right to your computer.

In addition, we also now have a page on Twitter, http://twitter.com/SrsofStFrancis, which is updated no less than twice per day and in less than one week’s time had more than 20 followers. Where will we venture next in cyberspace? The possibilities are endless and the rewards are still unknown. We will continue to seek-out and explore every avenue that helps us spread the “Good News.”