Navigating Hyperspace: A Comparative Analysis of Priests' Use of Facebook

Like a hurricane that exposes the underlying bedrock--and an occasional hidden treasure--by washing away the accumulated grains of sand, the pandemic blew away the accumulated certainties and securities of the globally connected, digitized society. Suddenly, nothing can be taken for granted: visiting ailing relatives, shopping--or going to church. The internet and, particularly, social networking sites have become the indispensable infrastructure holding our sociability together. The global companies of the digital economy profited handsomely. How about the users of their services? This volume explores how priests inhabit the digital environment of social networking sites, specifically Facebook. The authors looked at how they present themselves, what they publish, and how people engage with this content. The context of the pandemic suggested that we should also examine how digital technology and social media are being used for purposes of priestly ministry. Our hope is that these analyses and considerations will help not just priests but every person at becoming proficient not only in things virtual but also in practicing virtue.

Peter Lah is a Jesuit priest and associate professor at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Pontifical Gregorian University, in Rome. He teaches courses in communication and media studies, focusing on media literacy, ICT regulation, and media ethics. Since 2016, he has been summer director at the Monte Santo di Lussari-Svete Visarje pilgrimage site in Italy.