The Los Angeles Times recently chronicled the efforts of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles to reach out to students and young Catholics through social media platforms. Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez even held a Google Hangout Session, part of an expanding strategy to evangelize through social media. The Times notes:

Earlier this year, Gomez appointed auxiliary bishops who are digitally savvy and have experience working with young people. Their archdiocese’s digital presence might also help bring students and money into its schools. Across the country, Catholic schools are revamping their websites and launching online fundraising campaigns, McDonald said.
 
The move to digital reflects of the church’s shift as a whole. Los Angeles still has a ways to go to catch up with Pope Francis, who has 7 million Twitter followers and has held multiple Google Hangouts of his own.

 

Matt Emerson's essays have appeared in a number of publications, including America, Commonweal, and the Wall Street Journal. The Catholic Press Association named his September 2012 essay "Help Their Unbelief," published in America, as the "best essay" in the category of national general interest magazine for 2012. He is the author of the book Why Faith? A Journey of Discovery (Paulist Press 2016).Articles:Fruitful Searching (Jan. 5-12, 2015)Preambles for Faith (May 13, 2013)Help Their Unbelief (Sept. 10, 2012)Posts at The Ignatian Educator