Date of Award

12-1-2012

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Specialization

Communication and Leadership

School or Department

School of Leadership Studies

First Advisor

Dr. Nobuya Inagaki

Abstract

This qualitative study sought to understand the effects on parish relations when those leading Catholic ministry efforts added digital communication to their programs. This study, based on Buber’s philosophy that it is a person’s full commitment and presence in a dialogue that contributes to intimacy, will aim to illustrate that the level of richness in a dialogue relies more on the quality of the information, or messages shared, than the medium used to conduct the dialogue. The study is grounded in the Social Information Processing Theory and the Social Presence Theory. The data for this study was garnered through personal interviews with priests, sisters, and lay Catholic ministers who serve parishes and congregations within the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The results show that the ministers place the highest priority on the message that is being delivered and will utilize whatever methods of communication available to disseminate their message to as many people as possible. The results also provide insight into the positive and negative effects of digital communication along with an important commitment by the ministers to provide information in a manner that will be as accessible to as many people as possible, thus lessening concerns of a digital divide. The findings of this study will benefit Catholic ministers by providing them with a context for reviewing their core ministry message. That review will provide a basis from which to craft a strategic communications plan that supports their goals to spread the word of God to as many people as possible and to guide and support individuals in their Catholic education and faith formation.

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