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Email a FriendLisa, what a sweet reflection! I’ve seen and heard you talk about CNMC for years, but I never have been able to attend. On Saturday, I was able to livestream some of the closing panel session and it was so cool to see so many Catholic “geeks” like me, and then also interacting with different people on Twitter about it. I’m going to make an effort to get to next year’s CNMC in Dallas.
Post CNMC Blues Inspire Action
Dealing with the after-retreat let down...
Posted by Lisa Hendey in Just me on Monday, October 03, 2011 1:27 PM
I’m home after four days of travel to this year’s wonderful Catholic New Media Conference and firmly ensconced behind the computer in my home office, trying to sort through and onslaught of email, but more importantly an onslaught of emotions.
After having attended four years of CNMCs, I recognize the symptoms. Sleep deprivation, a slightly weepy feeling that comes from missing my good friends, a head whirling with ideas, and a heart on fire for sharing the Good News in new ways.
This past weekend was amazing. The conference itself offered the latest in cutting edge technology and ideas, supplemented by a spiritual focus on why we do what we do in the New Evangelization. The many wonderful seminars were recorded and will soon be available online. The time in networking with other new media enthusiasts is always a highlight of the event. There’s something absolutely fantastic about meeting a Facebook friend or Twitter buddy “in real life” and realizing there is more to them than what you see in an avatar. Whenever I meet online friends in person, I am always struck by the fact that our connections are instantaneous—that the bonds that connect us are deeper and more true than many would suspect.
But for me this year, the high points of the CNMC happened in the lovely chapel at the Savior Pastoral Center. Praying the Rosary together, being led in Evening Prayer by Archbishop Naumann, and most blessedly sharing the Eucharist together set a tone for this event that I desperately needed—a reminder that at the core of our work online is our joy for the Church, the True Presence of the Eucharist, and the Good News of the Gospel. Along with being a professional conference, this year’s CNMC was a retreat, a spiritual shot in the arm and a time to reflect and renew for the work ahead.
Perhaps you know the feeling I’m experiencing this morning then, as I sit in my quiet, solitary office surrounded by stacks of work and missing the physical presence of my friends and co-workers in this crazy mission of ours. The CNMC is one of the few events each year where I am surrounded by people who “get” my compulsion to use all of the latest technology to share my zeal for my faith. Perhaps my melancholy today is partially owing to sleep deprivation, but more so I attribute it to the fact that the relationships I have built online with my fellow Catholic geeks are true and lasting.
So now it’s time to unpack all I’ve learned, to treasure the memories but more importantly to transition into action. There is work to be done.
Each of you have a hand in this work, simply through your participation here at Faith & Family Live. When you comment on a post or send a link to a friend, you are a part of the New Evangelization. The mission is critical and the needs are great. I invite you today to pray for all of us who are reaching out to share our faith and I invite you to do your part too. The words from yesterday’s second reading from the fourth chapter of Philippians give us our marching orders:
Finally, brothers and sisters,
whatever is true, whatever is honorable,
whatever is just, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious,
if there is any excellence
and if there is anything worthy of praise,
think about these things.
Keep on doing what you have learned and received
and heard and seen in me.
Then the God of peace will be with you.
How will you respond?
Comments
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Posted by Lisa Hendey on Monday, Oct 3, 2011 2:07 PM (EDT):
Nancy, the great news is that next year’s CNMC will be in conjunction with the Catholic Marketing Network (and hopefully the Catholic Writers Guild too!). A “mega” conference all in one location—you will LOVE it!
Posted by Lisa@SoundMindandSpirit on Monday, Oct 3, 2011 3:09 PM (EDT):
You captured the beauty of the CNMC wonderfully. I learned so much and feel inspired to do even more. The focus on prayer and the spiritual nature of our roles in new media set just the right tone for the event. August seems so long to wait until CNMC12.
Beautiful post Lisa; glad CNMC was all you hoped it to be, and more! While on retreat this weekend Deacon Tom and I were praying for all of you, since we couldn’t be with you. I LOVE the words from Philippians which you ended with above… every time I read those words I hear Pat Gohn’s voice saying them, in one of the promos she did for our podcast!
Posted by Deacon Tom on Monday, Oct 3, 2011 3:48 PM (EDT):
The closing words of your reflection are the words which we close many of our Catholic Vitamins shows with. We in this work of New Evangelization are called to share what is noble and beautiful and lovely and gracious. And being with those who want to do this is like being on the Digital Road to Emmaus. And are not our hearts burning? Blessings.
Posted by Lisa Schmidt on Monday, Oct 3, 2011 4:09 PM (EDT):
Great reflection Lisa. I feel blessed to have finally met a woman (YOU!) who has had such a powerful impact on my spiritual journey, especially as I’ve journeyed into motherhood these past three years.
Deacon Tom & Dee - I was so hoping you would be there, too. Hopefully our heart-to-heart online conversations can soon result in a face-to-face one! Joel and I will patiently wait…
Posted by Maria Johnson on Monday, Oct 3, 2011 5:09 PM (EDT):
Hey…perfect sentiments…and for the win, your pictures cheered me up!
Lisa, thanks to your godly example and your enthusiastic invitation, I had the courage to delve more deeply into new media. Thanks for the high bar you have set for generosity, collaboration, and leadership in this growing field. You embody so much of what that Scripture calls us to be!
Sooo glad to meet “in the middle” in KC, between the east and west coasts!
Glad you had some energy in reserve to post these thoughts. (I’ve yet to get to a place to process all that I learned at CNMC ‘11.)
PS Love to Dee and Deacon Tom, above too! Miss you!
Posted by Lady.Rosary on Tuesday, Oct 4, 2011 9:39 AM (EDT):
It sounds like you had the most amazing time! There’s so much to learn, share and discover and I hope more people can be blessed by the experience.
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