CWR Ireland Reconvened 2021 Conference

Thanks to all who joined the first session of CWR Ireland’s inaugural conference on 20 February! The conference will conclude on 20 March with a second Zoom session consisting of six workshops. The first session featured keynote speakers Patrizia Morgante and Roger Childs.

 

ZOOM SESSION #2:

SATURDAY 20TH MARCH
2.00 – 5.00 p.m. Ireland (10.00 a.m. – 1.00 p.m. EDT)

Conference registration is now closed. Conference registrants will be provided with log in credentials for the 20th March conference session via email. If you have any questions about accessing the upcoming session, please email cwrirelandbooking@gmail.com.

 

Workshops (20th March)

Social Media – The Frontier of Evangelisation
Presented by Michelle Robertson, Communications Officer with Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles
This workshop will include ‘What social media really is’; ‘myths of social media vs the reality’; the impact and role of social media; why your congregation can no longer ignore social media.

E-Newsletters – Are They Worth Doing?
Presented by Suzanne Ryder, RSM Communications Coordinator for Western Province
This workshop will include choosing your audience for your newsletter– internal or external and discerning which is most appropriate for your congregation; the purpose of sharing news; how to source stories.

Communicating with Young Adults – Do Not Be Afraid
Presented by Anne-Marie Whelan, Evangelisation & Vocations Officer with Sisters of Bon Secours
Anne-Marie will share her experience of communicating with young adults; building relationships; evangelising; accompanying; forming community; sending forth.

Interviews on Local Radio – Some Do’s and Don’ts
Presented by Liamy Mac Nally, award winning radio presenter, ACP administrator and documentary maker
Liamy will help to embrace local radio as a resource, and answer questions on how to share your stories.

Websites – Their Importance for Religious Congregations
Presented by Patrizia Morgante, UISG Communications.
Patrizia will share with us her experience of having and updating Congregation Websites. Do we need them? How important are they?

Podcasts – Living in Communion through Communication
Presented by Miriam Gormally, Soul Waves Radio
Miriam Gormally has been working in the areas of media communications for the last 20 years. Her focus is on telling engaging stories that call us to reflect on our relationship with one another and on how we are called to live in Communion through Communication.

 

Keynote Speakers (20th February)

Patrizia Morgante
Communications Officer
International Union of Superiors General
The Heart of Our Mission of Communication
Taking care of the institutional communication of the institute is a fulltime mission. Communicating the mission and the Gospel is a responsibility of the whole congregation. Social and digital communications have been increasing a lot over the past two decades. Most of the school students in our countries are digital natives. In contrast, the average age in our congregations is growing, so that for many religious, social and digital communication is a foreign land! The challenge for young and adult generations is to become “Digital Wise Citizens”. The “heart” of this mission for religious women is becoming digital life-givers, hope and reconciliation bearers, soul caregivers, conflicts healers.

Roger Childs
Commissioning Editor of Religious Programmes
RTE
O Sister, Where Art Thou…? The Relationship between Women Religious and the Media
Many religious congregations in today’s Ireland are media shy. That’s understandable. Coverage in recent years has not always been fair or friendly – sometimes, quite the opposite. However, in 28 years producing and commissioning religious content, RTÉ’s Roger Childs has consistently built programmes on trust and truth. He asks female religious orders to have the courage to do likewise, because their stories and voices deserve to be heard. A religion that began with people cowering in an upstairs room must be constantly ready to leave that protective cocoon, if it hopes to win hearts and minds.

 

CWR U.S. Conference Recordings

In addition to the February and March Zoom sessions, registration for the 2021 CWR Ireland Conference also provides access to presentations delivered at the (virtual) CWR conference held in the U.S. in September 2020:

Teresa Maya, CCVI
Mission Forward: How is the Pandemic Challenging Us?

Spalding Hurst
Repurposing Content Across Platforms

Walking This Walk: A Spirituality of Communications
• Work Your Magic, presented by Jenny Beatrice
• Unanticipated and Unwanted Changes, presented by Eileen McNerney, CSJ
• Called to Communications: the Art of Storytelling, presented by Siobhan O’Neill Meluso

Please note that each of these presentation videos is licensed for use by individual registrants only and for use on one (1) device at a time. If you wish to purchase a presentation recording for use by an individual not registered for the 2021 CWR Ireland Conference, you may do so here. If you wish to purchase a recording for group use, please contact CWR at information@c4wr.org.