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catechists sort through what's on the web for young people

Story and photo by LIZ QUIRIN
Messenger editor

With help from the REAP team in St. Louis, Belleville diocesan catechists have begun sorting through the maize of offerings on the internet for young people, especially those in sixth through eighth grades.

REAP’s coordinator, Paul Masek and Gretchen Pacheco, both of St. Louis, designed a presentation for diocesan catechists to give them more than a cursory glance at social networking possibilities on the internet.

“Our goal is to encourage educators in the great ways they can use the new media,” Masek said, “and how to use it in their ministry.”

The team, along with Russell Peterson, diocesan associate director of religious education and catechesis, said: “We know young people are using the internet, and their parents are too.”
Peterson said the meetings are designed to help catechist sort out how young people are using it and how they can use it well.

Catechizing and evangelizing are part of the Church’s mission, the team said.
“The Church has always gone where the people are, and this is where people of all ages are spending time,” Masek said.

As part of the presentation, a video of remarks Bishop Edward K. Braxton made at a National Catholic Education Association conference was played.
In the video, Bishop Braxton said: “An essential component of the new apologetic must be the aggressive and interactive ways in which we announce, explain and defend the Good News of Jesus Christ on the internet.” (For full text see www.bellevillemessenger.org. Click on the section on Bishop Braxton).

While Masek said he resisted posting a Facebook page on the internet, a friend finally set one up for him.
He has found the value in the page because it is a way, he said, he can be available to the REAP team, more valuable it turned out, than the cell phone, which many young people have deserted for more immediate forms of communication like Twitter.

Catechists offered ways they have, or could, use the new technology with their students.

The group agreed that while Facebook and MySpace are very similar in their social networking possibilities, more adults seem to use Facebook, which makes MySpace seem more appealing to youth.

As with any type of technology, safeguards must be put in place, Masek said.

Pacheco agreed. She is the youth minister in a St. Louis parish where Megan Meier was in her youth group. Megan, victimized by cyber bullying, committed suicide before her 14th birthday.

For more information on Megan, type her name into an internet search engine.
Megan’s story and some adults’ lack of information about the internet point out the need for everyone to learn about what’s out there.

Masek summed it up for the catechists when he said: “We’re called to bring God’s message to young people in a world we did not grow up in. Teens live with a totally different culture.”

Knowing about and getting comfortable with this world takes commitment and determination.
“The only reason we want to do this is to reach more people with God’s love.”

Future sessions will be held Sept. 24 in Olney, Oct. 15 at the Diocesan Pastoral Center in Belleville and Oct. 21 in Herrin. Email Peterson at rpeterson@diobelle.org.