Is A Bridge Still Standing?
Reclaiming an ancient approach to Catholic communications
“There’s an art to what we’re doing, and art lives on…”
- Domenico Bettinelli
Dear friend,
Based on what happened yesterday here in the U.S., I considered delaying this newsletter. After taking deep emotions and concern to prayer, I have decided to send it. Saturday’s events — and the reactions exploding across media channels — remind us of the urgency of our God-given mission.
Last month on Catholic Communicators podcast, we considered the nature of our cultural structure in the West — particularly the U.S., and the poverty found in our relationships.
This month, we are led to ask an important question: In a society that is becoming known for its tendencies toward isolation and individualism, what still has the power to forge genial bonds and trustworthiness between strangers?
As I pondered this, I spent time with family. After dinner, my young adult niece reflected aloud that she's mostly lost touch with her school classmates who don't share common interests. Meanwhile, she's gone out of her way to coordinate a cross-country IRL ('in real life') meeting with an Internet friend who frequents her preferred pop culture circles.
As media evolve from broadcasting to narrowcasting, niche interests naturally take precedent over neighbors who share mere physical proximity.
Have you seen this Pinterest ad yet?
Movies, TV, music, and other pop culture phenomena have evolved with technological advancements, and our pursuit of — and our ties to — these phenomena have become more closely linked with our perceived identities and external relationships than in previous eras. (Do any of y’all consider yourselves an Old Money, Baddy Goth, Goblincore, Girly Girl?)
Today perhaps more than ever before, our niche interests influence more of our daily actions…
How we occupy ourselves at home, on our commute, or at work
Events we choose to attend
People with whom we spend our time & energy
Items or services we choose to purchase
Stories our minds retain
Voices to which we lend our ears
What lessons can the Church gain from this mass cultural shift? How can we apply new and varied cultural realities to an ancient, Judeo-Christian religion?
Introducing Friends
This month, I will be introducing you to someone who has not only been a role model but also a collaborator and friend to me in the practice and communication of our Catholic faith.
Under Dom’s leadership, SQPN has had a show rank in the Top 20 on Apple Podcast charts… not in the Religion & Spirituality charts!
I immediately thought of him when I began planning Catholic Communicators podcast. We’ve collaborated together through SQPN, for which he’s worked since 2015. Dom keeps his feet planted firmly on the ground at Boston, Massachusetts, where he and his wife Melanie raise their five children and are all active in Scouting.
As you strive to communicate your faith in today’s culture, do ever you wonder…
Why has the Church gotten away from its tradition of engaging with popular culture?
Nowadays, to what extent can cultural references dilute the sacred?
Where are all the ‘good Catholics’ in Hollywood?
The very first voice you’ll hear on this month’s episode will be that of
, a fellow parishioner of The Chosen’s Jonathan Roumie.
Pursuing outlets for her many gifts including writing, acting, and directing for film and theater, Sarah Grace has lived and worked in Southern California for four years with her husband while making intentional decisions to deepen her Catholic faith.
Through our years of friendship, I’ve observed that she has discovered what Pope John Paul II said to communications workers during his 1987 Los Angeles visit:
Humanity is profoundly influenced by what you do. […] It is a fact that your smallest decisions can have global impact…
The link between the art of human expression and the exercise of religion is profound. Social communications in fact provide an important first step in uniting human beings in mutual love, and this first step is also a step to God, "for God is love" (1 John 4:8).
We know that, as Catholics today, creating such ‘links’ in a secular society is not easy. You’ll hear from both Sarah Grace and Dom about how they navigate this challenge which is ultimately faced by every Catholic communicator, including you and me — and why they believe it is so crucial to share these principles with the larger Church.
Finally, you’ll hear from
about a resource that he and a team of fellow Catholics have launched, helping us all broaden our horizons and reclaim the ancient practice of engaging with popular culture; .
I’m excited to share this inspiring collection of voices with you soon on the next episode of Catholic Communicators podcast.
Until then…
Have you ever formed a relationship with someone around a common pop culture interest that deepened into an opportunity to share your beliefs?
What has your experience been of integrating pop culture into a Catholic (Church) setting? What factors do you think contributed to the outcome of that experience?
See what others are saying and contribute your own voice, by visiting the comments on this post.
🙏 St. Óscar Romero, pray for us.
Angela
☕️ Please share this free newsletter & podcast for Catholic communicators. Then, if you’re feeling particularly grateful (& able); visit the tip jar.
P.S. Dom surprised me by giving a humbling review of last month’s episode:
If you didn’t catch that episode, do so in your favorite podcast app or here:
The Key to It All?
Which lost art can actually change society today? Have we been neglecting the missing piece all along? Philip Couture, Director of Formation for Christ In the City (CiC), shares experience and wisdom gained from his years of serving people’s needs — from the Andes Mountains to the streets of Denver.
I also recommend this
podcast episode for historical and philosophical context surrounding the Church’s engagement with secular culture:
Thank you for this conversation. It made me think of something I've been reflecting on recently, which is how much I enjoy Latin and hip hop dancing. There was a time when I perceived these to contradict my Catholic faith but I've found a lot of healing in this form of art. It has helped me release anger, heal sexual wounds, and created a space to get out of my head and into my body, which I've come to believe is good and holy.