Back in December 2008 two teens met via the internet. Dario lives in the USA and John in the UK. Bridging several thousand miles they soon discovered that they had one thing in common: they had started thinking about becoming priests when they were just 12! Now in their mid-teens, they are even more serious about their vocation. While it may not be fashionable to announce a potential vocation in today's culture, they both decided to do something practical and useful - to make a statement that it is OK to be a teen and thinking about priesthood. They suspected there might be others in the same boat, so a new concept in vocations support was born - a website designed and run by teens for their own age group to accompany the more official sites run by adults. The method chosen was to be through story telling, in which these young men and many others were invited to tell their own story of discernment: witness that God calls at any age!
In January 2009, the web site was launched with John as webmaster and Dario as Editor. Since John is still a minor, he had to persuade his Dad to pay for the site hosting. Bribery was the order of the day - John's Dad agreed to pay only if John passed his Latin exams. It worked!
The feedback in those early days was positive - one teen contemplating priesthood commented 'I always suspected others of my age might be thinking about becoming priests, but I had never seen any of them discussing it'. The internet is generally regarded as highly influential on potential vocations - youngsters who may be afraid to ask an adult or parents for such information can get the same information anonymously. Indeed, Pope Benedict, writing for World Communications Day, says this:-
"In my message this year, I am inviting all those who make use of the new technologies of communication, especially the young, to utilize them in a positive way and to realize the great potential of these means to build up bonds of friendship and solidarity that can contribute to a better world.
Young people in particular, I appeal to you: bear witness to your faith through the digital world! Employ these new technologies to make the Gospel known, so that the Good News of God’s infinite love for all people, will resound in new ways across our increasingly technological world!"
As the site grew, more information was added such as news and prayer pages, information on religious orders, a FAQ, and the rare opportunity for teens to make a statement on what they think about celibacy.
Site visitors in the first few months were limited. It now attracts a regular readership of 700+ hits a day, sometimes considerably more as the site continues to be linked to many blogs and attracts positive reviews. The site has attracted approval (and links) from the Secretariat of USA Bishops, Catholic Culture, several religious communities, two Diocesan Vocations Directors in Australia and at least one major seminary.
Philosophy of the site:
“I am convinced that the important ideals of a person are forged around the age of 15. Their ideals are full of dreams and imagination, which afterwards will have to mature, but these ideals are an amazing driving force for all of life.”
“God calls who he wishes and when he wishes. Sometimes people question whether a 12 year-old child or an 18 year-old young person can see his vocation clearly. There are children who from a young age say they want to be a doctor or teacher and end up becoming one,” he said. “Others decide what they want to be when they are older but later they take a different path. The same thing happens with religious vocations. Some of the children who show signs of a vocation end up in the priesthood, others don’t. We need to accompany them in the process of personal maturation and help them to discern the will of God.”
Bishop Fernandez of the Diocese of Tarazona, Spain.
In July 2009, in an effort to make the site more interactive, a Forum was added.
Link: www.catholicpriest.me.uk
Forum: http://catholicpriest.50.forumer.com
Contact (Jeremy: Press & Publicity) jeremy@catholicpriest.me.uk
Site reviews/comments (feel free to quote): www.catholicpriest.me.uk/reviews.html
This Press Release - download in Microsoft Word format
Below: graphics and statistics (free use)
Statistics: currently 700+ hits per day. Total stay length (all visitors for week): 52 hours. Logged visitors from USA, UK, China, Australia, Philippines, France, India, Sweden, Brazil, Netherlands, Russia, France, Singapore, Japan and others.
We do extensive server-log analysis each week which enables the Editors to keep pages (especially the FAQ) up-to-date by responding to common search phrases which have brought visitors to our site.
(above -2 graphics to add to your own website/blog)
(above - visitors to our site by Country - September 2009)