There was a fascinating meeting today in the EWTN offices about social media – the big movers and shakers (you can already guess what they are), guidelines for profitable use, statistics, improving outreach via Facebook, Twitter, what not to do on social media, gaining followers and fans, etc. I’ll try to put some of my notes together and bring a bit of the content to you – just the tip of an amazing iceberg.
To give you an idea: I thought I had a FB page when what I have is a FB account!
All quiet in the papal household today but I do have a few interesting Vatican stories as you can see……
VATICAN FOUNTAINS TURNED OFF TO HELP DROUGHT CRISIS
(Vatican Radio) The drought that is affecting the city of Rome and the surrounding areas of the capital has led the Holy See to take measures to save water.
The Governorate of Vatican City State has decided to turn off all the fountains, both the external ones located in St. Peter’s Square, and the interior fountains including those in the Vatican Gardens. The move is in line with the teachings of Pope Francis in his Encyclical on creation Laudate Si.
MEDAL FOR 5TH YEAR OF POPE FRANCIS’ PONTIFICATE
On July 28th the medal marking the 5th year of Pope Francis’papacy will be made available in Vatican bookstores and in the offices of APSA (Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See).
On one side, the Pope’s coat of arms with the words FRANCISCUS P.P. ANNO V MMXVII. Below is name of artist. On the border E CIVITATE VATICANA and the medal number,
On the other side: An extended hand is a sign of welcome for those who must flee their country to seek a better future: hospes eram et collegistis me (Mt, 25,35 I was a stranger and you welcomed me). Seated on the ground among the people is a man who resembles Christ: what you have done to the least of my brothers, you have done to me (Mt. 25,40)
There will be 50 medals available in gold, 1,000 in silver and 1,500 in bronze.
FAMILY, LAITY LIFE DICASTERY LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE
(Vatican Radio) The Vatican’s Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life has a new way to interact with the world: a new website launched this week – www.laityfamilylife.va – that offers news about the Dicastery’s activities, as well as social updates and videos.
Explaining its mission, the Dicastery says, “The new website, in addition to telling about the Dicastery’s activities, wants to become a familiar place for lay people and families, where everyone will feel at ease and have [a] chance to be heard.”
The portal also presents the Dicastery’s new logo, which represents “a hug that welcomes all the laity and all the families of the world.”
Designed by Anna Formaggio, the logo represents the colonnade around St. Peter’s Square made up of lay people who embrace a group of families.
“From the colonnade and the families within it life is born,” life which is represented by a flower sprouting from the columns.
Joan's Rome 