Many people will tell you that fall is their favorite time of year. It's mine too. The smell of outdoor fires and fallen leaves, the warm days and crisp nights, the beauty of the purple and orange sunsets, and knowing that the holidays are just around the corner puts me in a reflective frame of mind. This season of change truly is a special time of year.

The Church is in the midst of it's own season of change. Several weeks back, I had the opportunity to attend Ever Ancient, Ever New: Archdiocesan Communications Day 2011 held by the Archdiocese of Saint Paul & Minneapolis. It's focus was on Sharing the Good News via Social and Digital Media. Everything about the day was exceptional. So much great information was shared. What I recall most vividly from the entire day and all the presentations, was the audiences' intensity. I sensed a thirst for knowledge and keen desire to learn more about how New Media technologies, tools and strategies could be effectively used in their parishes, ministries and to build their faith communities online.

Further proof of change can be seen in online use. The numbers tell me it's where people - young and old - are, and where parishes need to be in a "big way", and soon. On a local level, each parish must embrace new media to facilitate dialogue and promote its message of ministry, fellowship and stewardship. This means not just having an online presence, that far too often has gone stagnent, but using it often and creatively to engage the flock. (active, non-active, and yes, even curious non-catholics). Here are a few recent statistics to support having a proactive online communications ministry.

80% of Americans use social media.
68% of church goers want to connect with their Church via social media.
79% of all adults use the internet. (95% of young adults)
80% of Americans use email.
85% of adults own a cell phone.
The average teenager sends out 50 text messages per day.
87%of teens engage in electronic communication.

In his World Communication Day messages of that past several years, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI has extended both an invitation and a challenge to use digital communications and new media to "open up broad new vistas for dialogue, evangelization and catechesis... [and] give a “soul” to the fabric of communications that makes up the “Web”.”

As parish leaders and communications professionals we have been entrusted to use the tools and technology to open eyes, hearts and minds to the Good News. The online journey will have it's challenges and the headwinds we encounter throughout this season of change will teach us, make us better and strengthen our resolve.

I invite each of you to embrace this season of change.