The Tweeting Nuns. KMTV Action 3 News on Sep 30, 2014 Norfolk, Nebraska nuns take ministry to Facebook, Twitter www.mbsmissionaries.org/…/nebraska-s-twee… For almost 130 years, the Missionary Benedictine …More
The Tweeting Nuns.
KMTV Action 3 News on Sep 30, 2014 Norfolk, Nebraska nuns take ministry to Facebook, Twitter
www.mbsmissionaries.org/…/nebraska-s-twee…
For almost 130 years, the Missionary Benedictine Sisters have been “the hands and feet of Christ” serving the world’s sick, poor, young and old in isolated villages and impoverished pockets across the globe. Now, in a new and challenging millennium, the Norfolk-based Roman Catholic nuns have expanded their mission to cyberspace -- reaching people with their messages of love, hope and faith via Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter -- thus earning the nickname the "tweeting nuns.” They even have an online chat. The Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing arrived in Nebraska in 1923, opening Immaculata Monastery, their U.S. headquarters, several years later. Twenty-eight sisters live at the monastery, and another five are stationed in Winnebago. Six American Missionary Benedictine Sisters are serving overseas in Kenya, India, Tanzania, Namibia and Italy. Using the Web, the sisters can now unite with those serving overseas and minister to a worldwide audience, said Sister Kevin Hermsen, development director at Immaculata Monastery and the prioress in Norfolk from 2001 to 2010. “It’s no longer the monastery that’s the front door to our ministry; it’s the website,” said Sister Hermsen. “This way, we can reach hundreds of thousands of people.” Earlier this year, the sisters launched a new website, mbsmissionaries.org, which features a media center providing updates and news from their work around the globe, including the recent dedication of the new Good Shepherd Orphanage Center in Mjimwema Parish in Songea, Tanzania. Sister Pia Portmann, now prioress of the Immaculata Monastery, returned to Tanzania for the ceremony. The center was her dream -- dating back to Sister Pia’s 27 years at St. Scholastica Priory in Peramiho, Tanzania, including 12 years as prioress. Sister Portmann, a Swiss native, came to Nebraska in 2010 to serve as monastery prioress. “Who would have guessed this group of nuns in the Midwest would be reaching the world 140 characters at a time,” Sister Portmann said. “Some have started referring to us as the ‘tweeting nuns.’ The Norfolk Priory’s redesigned website includes a devotional blog, other reading resources, a “virtual chapel” with meditative music, a view of the monastery altar, “virtual calendars” for offering prayer intentions and a live link for one-on-one chats. Their Twitter handle is @MBSnorfolk, and at last count they had 251 followers. Tweets feature daily devotional messages -- most penned by the sisters. Their Facebook page has garnered 1,547 “likes” since it started in December 2010. In addition to the daily devotionals, wall postings include news, links to the nuns’ blogs and other announcements. - See more at: www.mbsmissionaries.org/…/nebraska-s-twee…
KMTV Action 3 News on Sep 30, 2014 Norfolk, Nebraska nuns take ministry to Facebook, Twitter
www.mbsmissionaries.org/…/nebraska-s-twee…
For almost 130 years, the Missionary Benedictine Sisters have been “the hands and feet of Christ” serving the world’s sick, poor, young and old in isolated villages and impoverished pockets across the globe. Now, in a new and challenging millennium, the Norfolk-based Roman Catholic nuns have expanded their mission to cyberspace -- reaching people with their messages of love, hope and faith via Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter -- thus earning the nickname the "tweeting nuns.” They even have an online chat. The Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing arrived in Nebraska in 1923, opening Immaculata Monastery, their U.S. headquarters, several years later. Twenty-eight sisters live at the monastery, and another five are stationed in Winnebago. Six American Missionary Benedictine Sisters are serving overseas in Kenya, India, Tanzania, Namibia and Italy. Using the Web, the sisters can now unite with those serving overseas and minister to a worldwide audience, said Sister Kevin Hermsen, development director at Immaculata Monastery and the prioress in Norfolk from 2001 to 2010. “It’s no longer the monastery that’s the front door to our ministry; it’s the website,” said Sister Hermsen. “This way, we can reach hundreds of thousands of people.” Earlier this year, the sisters launched a new website, mbsmissionaries.org, which features a media center providing updates and news from their work around the globe, including the recent dedication of the new Good Shepherd Orphanage Center in Mjimwema Parish in Songea, Tanzania. Sister Pia Portmann, now prioress of the Immaculata Monastery, returned to Tanzania for the ceremony. The center was her dream -- dating back to Sister Pia’s 27 years at St. Scholastica Priory in Peramiho, Tanzania, including 12 years as prioress. Sister Portmann, a Swiss native, came to Nebraska in 2010 to serve as monastery prioress. “Who would have guessed this group of nuns in the Midwest would be reaching the world 140 characters at a time,” Sister Portmann said. “Some have started referring to us as the ‘tweeting nuns.’ The Norfolk Priory’s redesigned website includes a devotional blog, other reading resources, a “virtual chapel” with meditative music, a view of the monastery altar, “virtual calendars” for offering prayer intentions and a live link for one-on-one chats. Their Twitter handle is @MBSnorfolk, and at last count they had 251 followers. Tweets feature daily devotional messages -- most penned by the sisters. Their Facebook page has garnered 1,547 “likes” since it started in December 2010. In addition to the daily devotionals, wall postings include news, links to the nuns’ blogs and other announcements. - See more at: www.mbsmissionaries.org/…/nebraska-s-twee…