The Archdiocese Now Streams Masses on Facebook Live
Cathedral Basillica of Saints Peter and Paul. Photo Beyond My Ken
With church attendance on the decline, The Archdiocese of Philadelphia is reportedly using a new tool to grow its audience: Facebook Live.
Archdiocese spokesman Ken Gavin told NewsWorks that the institution began utilizing the technology about a month ago, when the institution streamed footage of Archbishop Charles Chaput visiting an interfaith prayer service that was held shortly after several Jewish cemeteries in the city were vandalized in late February.
Gavin said that more than 20,000 people from all over the world tuned into the video, which was broadcasted on Facebook.
“It is really no different than the Apostles preaching in the public square in the ancient world,” Gavin said. “We are using the new tools at our disposal to be a voice in the world amidst the white noise on social media. Social media has the potential to be a tool for formation and faith development and we are embracing that.”
On Sunday night – Easter – the Archdiocese live streamed Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter & Paul, where the institution also broadcasted Ash Wednesday last month as well as several prayer services.
Gavin reportedly said that watching Mass on Facebook Live is no substitute for actually visiting the church.
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