CatholicMom & Catholic Media Promotion Day

Editor's Note: On Wednesday, May 23, CatholicMom.com will "fall silent" as a part of this year's Catholic Media Promotion Day. We hope that you will also consider taking a day off from your typical online endeavors and that you'll use this time to pray for your own faithful use of media and for all of those engaged in using it as a part of the New Evangelization. Please read the information below on why we're doing this, and how you can be a part of the effort. LMH

World Communications Day 2012 is happening this Sunday, May 20. The 2012 Catholic Media Promotion Day will follow on Wednesday, May 23 and Thursday, May 24.

Last year, on Catholic Media Promotion Day, we asked you to promote your favorite 3 blogs, 3 podcasts, 3 other media, 3 random Catholic things online, as well as your own projects. Additionally, we asked you to go to iTunes on that single day and leave at least 3 positive reviews for various Catholic podcasts and 3 positive written reviews for Catholic mobile applications.

Something different this year

This year, in keeping with the theme of Pope Benedict XVI's message for World Communications Day 2012 -- Silence and Word: Path of Evangelization -- we're asking you to do something different.

On Wednesday, May 23, we're asking you to take a one-day break from posting on blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Google +, Pinterest, etc… and use that day to reflect on the Pope's words about the role of silence in communication and evangelization.

Then, on Thursday, May 24, please share the fruit of that day of prayer and silence with everyone, by posting your answer to the question: "What in Catholic Media has had an impact on me during the past year?" Share it on the New Evangelizers website at: http://newevangelizers.com/forums/topic/catholic-media-promotion-day-2012/

Why silence on Wednesday?

So why did we choose Wednesday as the day to be silent? According to a recent study, Wednesday is the day that most people post on Facebook. Remaining silent in the world of social communications on this day is a way to become more aware of the temptation to value doing over being and speaking over listening. No one on the web may notice our silence, but surely God will notice, and hopefully we will notice Him more deeply, and thus come away with a greater readiness to share a word that gives life. As Pope Benedict XVI reminds us: "Silent contemplation immerses us in the source of that Love who directs us towards our neighbors so that we may feel their suffering and offer them the light of Christ, his message of life and his saving gift of the fullness of love."

In summary, here's what we ask you to do:

1) PREPARE (May 19-22)

Spread the word about World Communications Day and Catholic Media Promotion Day using all the social media:

a) Link to the page on the New Evangelizers website: http://promotecatholicism.newevangelizers.com/promote-catholicism-day/

b) Like / +1 the page

c) Include the hash tag #silenceandword in your posts

d) Consider using this avatar in place of your profile photo on Facebook, Twitter, etc.:

http://tinyurl.com/silenceandwordavatar

2) FALL SILENT (May 23)

Refrain from using social media to post content on Wednesday, May 23, and use it as a chance to read and prayerfully reflect on the Pope's message for World Communications Day 2012: http://tinyurl.com/silenceandword

3) EVANGELIZE (May 24)

Share the fruit of your day of prayer and silence with everyone, by posting your answer to the question: "What in Catholic Media has had an impact on me during the past year?" Share it on the New Evangelizers website at: http://newevangelizers.com/forums/topic/catholic-media-promotion-day-2012/

Copyright 2012 Lisa M. Hendey