Order of Mercy friars
Nativity scene in a Polish church

Bring your word to others

God becoming man was an awesome event. The eternal Word was brought to mankind. This inspires us to think about the importance of bringing your word — the message of Christ’s call to follow Him exclusively — to others.

Three essential points

Using the internet involves three necessary aspects to put this into effect.

1) The shifting internet. The use of the web has shifted in two ways: the influence
of traditional websites has to a great degree given way to the ever-popular Facebook, the predominant social media vehicle for 800 million persons around the globe. Keep
your website, but set up a Facebook account and page, and spend time building a
community.

The second shift is in the use of mobile devices, and away from desktop
computers. On Facebook, for example, 350 million users access their accounts
via mobile devices. This means that your website has to be visible and readable
on the small screens of these devices.

2) Your message today. Potential vocations need to learn about your order or
congregation and its charism, but they also need to know how you carry out the
dream of your founder of many years ago. Does his/her vision inspire you today?
How? In what ways to you carry out this vision in today’s changing world? Or,
if you are a contemplative, why should your lifestyle remain unchanged?
Visitors also need to see an ongoing presence that shows that you’re alive.
Today’s  expectations of updates and news means that you need to supply
information on a regular basis through a blog, Facebook post, and so on.

3) Ask for something. Picture your web or Facebook visitor reading your message
or watching your video. What do you want this person to do? “Like” the page?
Recommend it to a friend? Take a vocation quiz? Download a vocation prayer? Or
contact the vocation director about a discernment retreat? “Ask and you shall
receive,” and build your online community.