On February 7, 2026 Mastic Media was invited by The University of the Incarnate Word and the Archdioscese of San Antonio to speak on Digital Media and how it can be used in our parishes, churches, and ministries to support the liturgy and strengthen the faith in our communities. Below we share with you an overview of our presentation - Enjoy! 

Christ Our Hope; Digital Spaces

Creating a culture of Joy in the Gospel; A look into how our digital environments deepen our faith, draw us into community, and allow us to encounter our Lord. Come and learn how to evangelize and spread the gospel through the art of digital media.

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Intimacy with Jesus & the Church

We create out of what we know & what we believe, so we must inform our soul with good

In this section we outline a SWOT analysis, which is a marketing tool that can help up identify areas for improvement and growth along with where we are currently doing well. We use this analysis to identify ways for us to be close to God and to strengthen our faith. Creators create out of what they belive, see, and feel so it is important that we are close with our creator when we begin to create digital media for our church and ministry communities.

• STRENGTHS
  
  • Daily Prayer (talk to God)
  • Daily Scripture (listen to God)
  • Weekly or Monthly Confession
  • Trust in His Plan for You
  • Daily Mass if possible, Weekly Mass at minimum
  • Boundaries on social media
  • Create, more than you Consume
  • Simply speaking to God; He is your friend, the very best friend
• WEAKNESSES
  
  • Examination of conscience
  • Repetition of sins
  • Despair over your state
  • Lack of Trust in the Lord for your situation
  • Excessive trust in ourselves or our abilities
  • Lack of Honesty of our state
• OPPORTUNITIES
  
  • A renewed life
  • Renewed relationships
  • Healing for our communities
  • Healing for yourselves
  • A new attitude of mercy
  • A refreshed understanding of God's merciful love for you
  • Joy, Love, Peace, etc. - the fruits of the Holy Spirit
• CHALLENGES
  
  • Distractions and too many options
  • Excess & Abundance
  • Low or No Prayer Life
  • Low or No Sacramental Life
  • Low or No Scripture
  • Entertainment but no connection
  • Acquaintances but no friendship

The Culture, Our Culture

Today, we think of the culture as a challenge; what if it's an opportunity. We can obviously see the challenges that come when everyone is habitually online, but even though there are great challenges, these come with opportunities for true connection, engagement, and growth in our communities.

• More connected; yet lonelier than ever
• Communities are fracturing
• Serious challenges in the socio-political space
• Too much knowledge (overwhelming)
• A deep need to honor the dignity of the human person

But what if our greatest challenges today, are opportunities for holiness. The greatest Saints are made in the most trying times:

• Tech with boundaries and relationships restored
• Healing across communities
• Courageous acknowledgment; truthful solutions
• Prioritization and selection down to what is important
• Meeting the need to love others and be loved by others

Media Literacy

First, we need to arrive at a common language, if we do not, nothing we say or do will be understood

The Basics (Content Best Practices)

Best practices for content creation and posting on social media platforms and any digital space (i.e. your website)

• High Quality Photos - 2k-4k
• Avoid blurry, low resolution, or pixelated photos
• Graphics - clean, modern, minimal text
• Pictures that show valuable content (i.e. smiling faces
• Readable fonts
• Video - clear picture, clear sound

Social Media Best Practices

• Consistent posting schedule, preferably when your audience is most online
• Varied mediums of content (photos, graphics, reels, etc.)
• Relevant to your mission (i.e. parish events, ministry opportunities, etc)
• Thoughtfully crafted for the viewer

Technology Literacy

Next, we learn how it works and what makes it tick.

Platforms

• Communication Platforms are all different
• They each have different communities of people on each platform
• These communities communicate differently
• No need to try to adapt to all of them; begin with the ones that you feel you connect to
• Platforms consist of Code (software), Content (user-generated), and Algorithms

Algorithms

• Algorithms are mathematical steps taken in order as programmed by software engineers
• Algorithms are advanced math; specifically advanced Statistical Analysis
• Algorithms are designed by humans but executed by advanced computers
• Algorithms are used to predict outcomes and to use those probabilities to execute steps on their own

Building Community Online

Social media is one of the most prevalent ways we show up in the world and with each other. Social media platforms like Meta (Facebook and Instagram), X, TikTok, etc. allow global peoples to connect and interact. We cannot fail to acknowledge the pitfalls that social media creates. Anxiety and depression in young people, lack of true connection, isolation, and harmful misuse of content. So how do we use social media platforms in our ministry to truly invite, welcome, and connect with our community?

1. Optimize your profile - as Christians, we want to be authentic but not immediately intimate with strangers
2. Engage with others - the Gospel, doesn't happen in a vacuum. Consider joining groups, pages, and interactive media.
3. Like, Share, Repost with others - Commenting builds relationship and also allows for exchange of ideas.
4. Create Content - Entertain, inspire, or bring joy. But do not use content to self-aggrandize or distract from Jesus.
5. Be a Digital Steward - If we are close to Jesus, He asks us to be stewards yes of ourselves but also our effect on others

AI & The Gospel

Artificial Intelligence is an incredible tool, but it needs to be used responsibly

What Pope Leo has said concerning AI

• Second Annual Rome Conference on Artificial Intelligence
• December 2025 Speech
• Vatican News: Pope Leo on AI: new generations must be helped, not hindered

Caritas et Dignitas

A framework for Evangelizing the Gospel with charity and dignity in digital spaces

Proclaim.

• Proclaim the Gospel without shame.
• Assess the audience's ability to receive - start there.
• Consider verse of scripture or easy to grasp
• Catholic principles
• Consider easy quotes by the Saints
• Do NOT inspire Fear
• Avoid overwhelming people
• Testify where appropriate
• Be bold and courageous
• Let charity prevail

Share.

• Share communication as you would a meal; mutually
• Give and take in conversations. Not all give and not all take
• Share your experiences of God when opportunity rises
• Partake in other peoples experiences with charity when appropriate
• Do not be excessively intimate online, that is for offline and only with trusted friends.

Respond.

• Outdo each in showing honor and charity
• Take a breath and prepare responses online slowly
• Use your Resources
• If they are toxic, do NOT respond. Don't feed trolls.
• If they're in error on the Church; respond with researched thoughtful reply.
• Forgive offenses; you will please God

The Goal is always to inspire the belief in and the worship of God on and offline.