New and Social media have changed the way we communicate, consume media and news. For me, it also changed the way I learn about my faith. Five years ago when I had my reversion and came back to the faith I didn’t have a clue what it meant to be a real Catholic and I consumed every book and listen to every show on Catholic radio and EWTN. These are wonderful shows put on by some of the best in the business but after a while I started noticing that the call in questions were the same and a lot of the material just wasn’t feeding me anymore.
So on June 8th 2009 I joined Twitter in order to find new material and follow some of the people I’d heard about on Catholic Radio. There I found a new world of people who were just as passionate about the faith as I was and not only that but they were creating new and interesting media that catechized as well as entertained. As I was becoming more and more familiar with the world of Catholic new media I started to realize a pattern of people in the Austin area. Some of these people already had well established blogs and communities. Some seemed to be not only new to the medium but new to the Austin area as well. Then came the challenge from Greg Willits and the 2010 Catholic New Media Celebration, he was challenging people to start local new media groups in order to increase the quality of the medium. It was at that moment that Austin Catholic New Media was born, at least in my head. Then I just needed to get buy in from some of the local new media people. I threw out the idea first to Cris Almanza and Chris Williston who both thought it would work and with that we set out to start Austin Catholic New Media.
We’ve done a lot of work so far, but there is so much more that we want to do. We are gathering a team of bloggers, podcasters and video creators together to bring you the best original Catholic media in the Austin area. Here you will also find the daily readings and homily from the daily mass held at the Pastoral Center of the Diocese of Austin. As well as new media content from around the different Austin area parishes. We will also be bringing you original content presented by the local Relevant Radio affiliate. So if you are passionate about the Catholic faith and passionate about new media please let us know, we’d love to add your blog, podcast or vlog to our stream. We thank and give this all over to God without whom we are nothing. We ask for the intercession of our Blessed Mother and all the angels and saints. We hope you enjoy what you find here and we look forward to bringing you more.
