Priests online

The key to survival, many small orders of priests are finding, is going online.

In an appropriate article for the Year of the Priest, the Chicago Tribune recently featured the Alexian Brother's efforts to recruit online at YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

"You have to go to where the people are," Brother Dan McCormick, director of vocations, told the Tribune. "If you don't get new blood, you're going to wither on the vine."

The Alexians YouTube page has resulted in two new recruits, but with 36 members and an average age of 73, are these online efforts too little too late?

Numerous other orders are also recruiting at social networking sites, including our publishers, the Claretians (linked to their YouTube page, which has ministry related content).   

For a truly unique "recruitment" video, check out the Boston College Jesuits' "Livin' on a prayer" music video. They certainly have a sense of humor.

 

About the author

Megan Sweas

Megan Sweas is a freelance writer based in Los Angeles.