It has been a while since I was late with a post – says something about just how much I have on at the moment I guess. :)

Anywho, I just wanted to take a quick break from our normal programming (I think there is plenty to discuss in eyeWitness’ post from yesterday!) and talk a little bit about new media and the upcoming visit of Fr Roderick Vanhogen.

Regular readers of the blog are probably already subscribers to the 15th Station, but for those who aren’t aware of it, the 15th Station (or Station 15) is New Zealand’s first Catholic podcast network. We started just over two years ago producing a monthly podcast covering news and events and discussion. Since then, the Station has a couple of other podcasts – Familia (from FLI – great stuff!) and Catechiwi (interviewing brilliant priests on matters of Faith and formation – also fantastic!) and we’re looking to add more in the coming months.

All of this started because of the need to provide more Catholic media – or “new media” as it is now being called – to our country (and the world, I guess) in different formats to meet people wherever they are at. And this need was only really identified and examples given of how to close it effectively, by the work of Catholic podcasters around the world; one of the more prolific of which is Fr Roderick Vanhogen.

I think I may have spoken about Fr Roderick before, but as a quick re-cap, he is a priest based in the Netherlands who started podcasting at the time of the death of Pope John Paul II. Since then, his Star Quest Production Network (SQPN.com) has produced literally thousands of different shows on all manner of topics of interest.

Not only do I highly encourage you checking out the SQPN and the great programming available on it, I also want to shamelessly plug the fact that Fr Roderick is coming to New Zealand. He’ll be here in two weeks where he’ll be speaking in Auckland at Theology on Tap and at the NZ Catholic lecture “New Media for New Apostles” on September 15. Details are available on the NZ Catholic website (and on Facebook too, I believe, but I don’t have the link on me).

Other than a shameless plug, the reason why I raise this today is that I think it is important that we all realise the responsibility we have to “go forth and make disciples of all nations.” As Catholics, we sometimes sit back and leave the evangelising to…welll..Evangelicals! However, this “new media” revolution has really removed any technical excuse that we might have had to putting ourselves out there. Anyone can start a podcast or a video channel or a blog – if you’re reading this right now (unless it’s been printed out and posted to you via carrier pidgeon in some remote location with no internet access), you can help with claiming these new channels for Christ!

So, what are you waiting for? :) If you want some pointers, go to www.station15.co.nz and download our podcasts, sign up for Fr Roderick’s lecture, and then talk to him and us about how we can get your perspective out there for others to see.

God has entrusted this mission to us – are you willing to step up and do something about it?