Communications

Re-imagining the Future with Technology

By S. Georgia Kitt and Erin Reder

This fiscal year has provided many surprises and unknowns, particularly in 2020. What we have learned is the importance of technology in a time when physical distancing and the safety of those we care about called us to re-evaluate our communications strategies. For many years our office has seen the value in technology and electronic media and we were able to continue the same quality publications and communications prior to the pandemic. We focused on keeping our Sisters and Associates connected through internal publications, emails and Zoom discussions while also reaching out to our external audience through the website, social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) and electronic newsletters (Mission, Charity in Motion and E-Voc).

With our new website in place in the spring 2019, we concentrated on finetuning the site and helping our Sisters and Associates become acquainted with it during the fall. Tutorials were hosted in the Cedars Auditorium for Sisters and one-on-one instruction was offered. new capabilities were discovered and we enjoyed the opportunity to provide new offerings such as video interviews and series. We again appreciated the additions of our intern AJ Keith to the story ideas and interviews.

Our office has always taken pride in providing assistance to all other congregational offices and Community members in need of our help. In doing so, we were able to share the good news and general information necessary to keep us all connected, near and far. Production of the 2020 pictorial directory, articles and display boards related to the Seton Enablement Fund’s 40th anniversary, press releases and features announcing first vow and Associate commitment and lifetime celebrations, detailed information on spiritual programs and retreats, and historical resources all were communicated on the website and social media or through internal strategies that assisted offices in reaching their intended audiences.

We believe in the benefits of collaboration with groups beyond the congregation. We serve on the planning committee for the Bicentennial of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, occurring in June 2021, and are coordinating the women and men religious’ efforts to sponsor a diocesan-wide outreach day. Quarterly meetings of the Archdiocesan communicators as well as frequent collaboration with communicators of the SC Federation offer opportunities to share resources.

Inspired by the keynote presentation of S. Joan Chittister, OSB, at the 2019 Communicators for Women Religious conference, our staff made the decision to emphasize the issue of homelessness in our magazine, on our website and in all social media platforms. In addition to featuring articles on Sisters and Associates directly serving our homeless sisters and brothers, we provided statistics for our social media channels as well as informational pieces on local organizations doing their part to address the issue, and looked at the systemic

and structural changes that are necessary in creating true change. In March 2020, as the pandemic began to become more serious, many congregational office employees were asked to work from home as a precautionary measure for the Sisters living at the Motherhouse and Mother Margaret Hall. Our office seamlessly adapted to the request and was dedicated to ensuring that our message and mission were communicated to those who needed it so desperately. This included inspiring quotes and articles, livestream features through our website that integrated daily prayer, and internal messaging and timely updates to Sisters, Associates and employees.

COVID-19 and the reality of a new normal called for Communications staff members to meet our grace in every circumstance. The call among us to embrace what was happening globally became more real. We turned to grace and were reassured through our multiple ways of being connected. As Elizabeth Seton noted, “To correspond to the grace of the moment means a wonderful union between you and God all day.”