Recently I was intrigued by a letter that appeared in the Times Picayune from a young woman talking about how TikTok allowed her to connect with other people of faith, even allowing her to learn about other traditions in an accessible way.
Well, what about Catholic evangelization?
One young Catholic man named Brandon Vogt talked on the Word of Faith website, started by Bishop Robert Barron, about how he is reaching young adults through TikTok. The discussion centered around how young people are leaving all churches in droves but not necessarily closed to the idea of spirituality. So how do we re-invigorate those same young people to look at the Catholic faith, especially with all the emotional obstacles that have lately cropped up when discussing the Church?
The young TikTok user said he wanted to use videos to prove to his generation that Catholicism offers truth, beauty, and goodness in an exciting lifestyle. Still, after one year of trying to reach others, he felt like he was failing until he took the discussion outside, literally.
Trying to prove that Catholicism is not boring, this young man began making engaging videos to bring young people like himself to historical places where awesome, amazing things happened in real life. He stated that he knew millions of Gen-Zs lived on TikTok and so he wanted to speak their language.
People are quick to critique TikTok's online world, but this platform has immense value in reaching young people, who have fallen away from the Church. And, other young Catholics must be the ones talking to and leading these young people back to an exciting faith.
In Advent, we are all called to be ready for the Lord, to invite him into our world and our daily lives, right here and now. For Gen Zs, TikTok allows young people to connect over their shared identity. Any app that keeps young people in touch with their faith is vital in my book. After all, in the Gospel of Mark, Chapter 16, verse 15, we are called to, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation."
We are lucky to have a Congressional delegation with deep roots in their faith and our own Representatives, Troy Carter and Steve Scalise, who are Catholics. TikTok has become a fun yet vital app for our Catholic young people. That is something to continue to celebrate and encourage.
Have a great Advent Season!
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