Sister Helena Burns, FSP, will be the keynote speaker at "Good News for Social Media: How Parishes and All Catholics Can Share Faith Online." (Courtesy of Sister Helena Burns)

EAST AURORA — The Catholic Diocese of Buffalo is hosting a free workshop, "Good News for Social Media: How Parishes and All Catholics Can Share Faith Online," at Christ the King Seminary on Tuesday, Feb. 27, from 9:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.

The daylong presentation is directed toward those who update the websites and social media for parishes, schools and Catholic ministries in the diocese. It will feature Sister Helena Burns, FSP, who has been speaking throughout the United States and Canada, stressing the importance of using social media as a tool of evangelization.

"I enjoy presenting media literacy to Catholic dioceses, parishes, families, youth, etc., because we already have such a solid foundation in Church teaching on how to approach media in the best way possible," said Sister Helena. "We want to use it all, but without losing our humanity. Most people don't really know what the Catholic Church teaches and all the practical help that is available to use media in an optimum way. I love being able to put people in touch with that."

The diocesan Office of Communications encourages each parish or ministry to send a representative or two to this workshop, which is meant to inspire new ideas for expanding the web and social media presence for Catholic ministries. It will include a review of what materials and assistance are available to help ministries with online content. Although it is free and open to anyone, participants must register in advance at www.buffalodiocese.org/goodnews.

"My hope is that, from my presentations, there might materialize a unified plan, direction and vision, as well as an ongoing conversation in the Diocese of Buffalo regarding its use of digital media at the service of the Gospel and the human person," said Sister Helena, who lives in nearby Toronto. "When the internet was young, St. John Paul II said, 'Bring the face of Christ to the internet.' There's a lot to unpack and strategize about how we can do that well."