An Insider’s View to the Vatican Blog Meeting
On May 2, the Vatican invited CWG member Lisa Hendey, publisher of CatholicMom.com, as one of 150 Catholic bloggers to participate in the first Vatican Blog Meeting. The Pontifical Councils for Culture and for Social Communications hosted the event for bloggers to share their hopes and concerns for the future of blogging. The meeting also occurred the day after the Beatification ceremony for Blessed John Paul II giving the bloggers a once in a lifetime opportunity to view the extraordinary event.
I asked Lisa to share her thoughts on the Vatican Blog Meeting and what it was like to be in Rome for the beatification. “Being at the Vatican Blogger Meeting was an amazing opportunity,” said Lisa. “I was able to meet some of the American bloggers I’ve admired for such a long time in person and chat with them throughout the day. It was also fantastic to connect with Catholic bloggers from around the world – a virtual United Nations of Catholic bloggers, with presentations in five different languages!”
As for what bloggers can take from the meeting, Lisa said “the panel presentations were fascinating and gave me great hope for future trends in blogging and for the Vatican’s planned use of new media technologies. The Pontifical Councils definitely understand and have embraced the importance of social media in communications, catechesis and evangelization. They were able to effectively convey to the bloggers assembled at the event the critical role we play in these areas through our blogs, podcasts, and social networking efforts.”
Lisa’s postings about her experience at the Beatification of Blessed John Paul II gave me goosebumps, so I asked her how it impacted the meeting. (Please check out her blogs from Rome on this for her eyewitness accounts). “Being at the Beatification was incredible — really a dream come true!” said Lisa. “I can recall watching the events related to the death and funeral of Blessed John Paul II and wishing with all my heart that I could be in Rome with the faithful who came to honor this amazing man. Six years later, to find myself gazing on the million plus gathered in Saint Peters, to be packed in (literally) amidst so many who love and honored him, was simply an emotion that is hard to convey.”
“The moments of his beatification was such great joy! And then that joy continued throughout the week in the many amazing opportunities I found myself enjoying. The Mass of Thanksgiving, a special private Mass in the Crypt of Saint Peters praying before the casket of Blessed John Paul II, and having a front row seat for the Wednesday audience with Pope Benedict XVI were some of the moments I’ll never forget.”
“I was even able to hand my book, The Handbook for Catholic Moms, to one of the Swiss Guards to pass along to the Holy Father! I can’t wait to go back to the Vatican — hopefully next time with my husband and sons — but this, my first real trip to Rome, was filled with blessings and graces that have fueled my drive to share the gifts of our faith all the more through my work and my personal lifestyle. I thank my publisher, Ave Maria Press, and a private donor for helping to make the trip possible through their generous support.”
In sum, Lisa found the meeting inspiring and invigorating. The Vatican Blog Meeting left Lisa “committed to using my time and gifts to the best of my ability to help support the mission of our Church.”
Besides her full-time job as wife and mother, Lisa is the founder and webmaster of CatholicMom.com and author of The Handbook for Catholic Moms: Nurturing Your Heart, Mind, Body and Soul. She also hosts the Catholic Moments Podcast.
In October 2011, her new book A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms: 52 Companions for Your Heart, Mind, Body and Soul will be released by Ave Maria Press. She’ll be speaking around the country so check her website at LisaHendey.com for more details. Lisa looks forward to seeing other Catholic writers at the Catholic Writers’ Guild Conference in August.
Thank you Lisa for taking the time from your busy schedule to share your experience with us!
And Don’t Forget…
CWG chat Sunday night from 9-11 p.m. EST. Anyone can participate at catholicwritersguild.com and click chat under our emblem.
