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IT’S PROBABLY NOT the means through which Jesus asked his disciples to “preach the good news to everyone”.
But a growing number of priests are using iPads to do everything from reading the gospels to downloading blessings and updating their twitter accounts, as the Catholic church gets tech savvy for the digital age.
“It’s very handy” says Fr Fintan Monaghan, secretary to the Archbishop of Tuam, who uses his Ipad for readings at the altar.
“There’s an application for the breviary, for example” the book which contains the prayers for saying mass. “In the past you had to lugg the three distinct volumes of it around with you. Now I can store them all in one place.”
“It’s also great for twitter” he adds,a medium which many priest are beginning to use more frequently.
“My twitter account says I am a Liverpool and Munster fan, so you are as likely to see me tweeting about that as anything profound” says Fr Ger Molony, a priest with the Redemptorist order. ”In fact, you’re less likely to see anything profound on it.”
He says he is still “trying to figure” his ipad out, having just bought it recently, unlike early adopters such as Fr Paddy Rushe in Dundalk, Co Louth.
“I had it 5 weeks before everyone else” says Fr Rushe, who got his way around the delayed release date in Europe for the iPad by getting a honeymooning couple in New York to buy him one on the way home to Ireland.
Normally I would put everything, the opening remarks, readings for the day and notices for the church bulletin, in a black folder. With the Ipad everything is done in one place.
He points to an app called the iMissal which contains all the liturgical material that priests need for saying mass. “It’s dead handy really.”
But it’s not just the gadget enthusiasts who are apopting ipads.
Fr Thomas Cox in Ferbane, Co Offaly, says he bought his iPad last October “on impulse” because ”My eyesight isn’t good, so it helps that I can expand the text on it.”
However, he soon found that it had other uses.
You can be called for something like a baptism visit in someone’s house and the next thing you may be asked to do a last minute blessing for a house. Hey presto, I have everything at my fingertips.
There are no official figures on how many priests are using iPads in church. But according to Fr Sean McDonagh, a spokesperson for the Association of Catholic Priests, a growing number of younger ones are using it.
“There’s a growing number who would be more clued in than old fogies like me. But why wouldn’t they when they can get the prayers, canon all there in front of them.”
However, opposition is growing in some quarters to the use of Ipods in church, with bishops in New Zealand saying that only the official printed copy of the Roman Missal may be used at Mass and at the Church’s other liturgies.
“The Missal is reserved for use during the Church’s liturgy. iPads and other electronic devices have a variety of uses, e.g. for the playing of games, using the internet, watching videos and checking mail. This alone makes their use in the liturgy inappropriate,” they say.
However, Irish Catholic priests say they will continue using it.
“I’m not quite sure what they are making such a song and dance about” say Fr Molony. “It’s going a bit far.”
Indeed, “we’ve changed things before” says Cox, using cordless microphones in mass in the past being one example, he says. “You have to ask, is it the message or the medium that is more important?”
However, he says that a line should probably be drawn in how they are used.
“I know some would disagree with me, but I think you should be discreet” says Cox, who hides the Apple logo in a black folder. “Otherwise what’s the next step? Sponsorship on vestments?
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RIP.
A good man who stood by his principles while others caved.
I woulnt often agree with him but on telly he came across as a decent person. At least he stuck to his principles
Agree or disagree with him, may he R.I.P.
I met Peter Mathews once in the dark days when Ruairi Quinn just got his plan through to get rid of guidance counsellors.I was in the Dail to c the vote.Afterwards I was so upset I just bumped in to Peter by chance .I recognised him from TV.He asked me what was wrong as he saw I was upset.Peter Mathews stopped and listened to what I had to say.He was dumbfounded.But I could immediately see before me a kind concerning and one hundred per cent genuine man.Condolences to Peter’s wife and family.May he rest in peace.Im so sorry to hear this very sad news
I didn’t agree with most of his political opinion but admired him in interviews.He never lowered himself to talking over his fellow guests , it stood out.Sympathy to his family & friends.
@Diarmuid Doran: He was a decent man, should never been in fg.
Ah no way. He was excellent in relation to the bank guarantee, if only he had been listened to our states finances would have been in much better shape.
RIP
For once I’m agreeing with you… I don’t want to make a habit of it.
FC yeah, it was one of the few times I agreed with him, I thought he made some excellent points all through the era of the crash and bank guarantees.
So sad. I liked Peter, I do think he was a good guy but politics put an end to his ideas. Pity people like this can’t make a difference when they get elected but the system doesn’t help them.
So sorry to hear of Peter’s death. A very principled person – we need more of his kind. First encountered Peter at an event which he organised (at his own expense) near the peak of the banking crisis at the RDS Almost everything he predicted about the banks that evening actually came to pass. Anyone else recall the evening – about 50 people attended including just one TD, George Lee? Pity more people didn’t listen to him then.
RIP. A real gentleman
Peter Mathews was a great man, great economist, but an uncompromising politician, and that was his undoing as a politician. Once he declared his pro-life conviction he was persona non grata among the intolerant, so-called “liberal” left.
He was a mighty man, and he will be greatly missed.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
@Brian Lenehan: is there a liberal right.
@Brian Lenehan: i’m on the liberal left and I gave Peter Matthews a high preference in both general elections. I mightn’t have agreed with the man on every topic, but I could recognize a man of principal and ability.
No time for 90% of people in Fine Gael but Peter Matthews was always articulate, passionate and had a very decent streak in him.
RIP
Sorry to hear he always came across as a gent. May he rest in peace.
RIP Mr Matthews you are one person who actually tried to do the state a service and not for your own gain.
A kind articulate soft spoken but strong opinions.
Tough without being rude or loud a true gent who believed in his convictions and stood by them RIP
Peter was a wonderful man. He had time for everyone, and would spend ages talking to friend or foe. He was passionate and stubborn, but he never took disagreement personally or fell out with you if you thought some idea of his was nuts. Most of his big ideas were right. We could use more personalities like Peter in politics, regardless of their views.
He was a good man, got a bit swallowed up by FG.
Vinnie Browne used to get enjoyment from picking Peter by the scuff of the neck and shaking him vigorously around the studio, before dropping him. Peter was an able man though, and could take the banter.
Peter Mathews was an honorable and honest person. He was committed to his beliefs but was always courteous and considerate to everyone, in agreement with him or not. He deserves to be respected and remembered for all the right reasons. Condolences to his family and friends. May he rest in peace.
So young and very sad – didn’t always agree with him RIP
I remember him on Vincent Browne, he was such a nice thoughtful man so unlike the gombeens in the main parties.
Rip Peter Matthews
RIP …HE WAS A MAN OF TRANSPARENCY AND OPENESS with truth as his maxim ….
RIP
I greatly enjoyed our few chats. Rest In Peace Forever Peter.
Sad news, condolences to his family.
May he rest in peace! God bless him and his family
May he rest in peace. A gentleman from the top of his head to the tips of his toes.
Very sad news, Condolences to his family and friends.
And we should care why?
@Christine Downey: Cos a man just died leaving his wife and children behind (who also had to bury their mother/grandmother only last week). If you didn’t care why did you click on the article in the first place? Why did you take the time to write that unnecessary comment? I don’t think you would be saying the same thing if this was your husband or father. Have a bit of respect ! Grow up…
I always thought he was one of the nicest TD’s in Fine Gael. Always came across as calm, reasoned and well spoken. A true gent. RIP.
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