MADISON — On Monday, July 21, the St. Paul University Catholic Center Facebook page was sitting with a strong following of 900 followers.
After the page’s administrator had a short conversation with Fr. Mark Miller — the recently arrived new director of student ministries at St. Paul’s — the following was posted on the page:
“If we reach 1,000 Facebook page ‘likes’ by the end of the week, Fr. Mark will say a Mass for just our Facebook followers:) Please click on our page and on the left hand side, click to invite your friends to like our page!”
By the next day, St. Paul’s page was 37 followers away from 1,000, and by Thursday of that week, the goal was reached.Followers were met with the following post on their Facebook feeds that included a surprise — “We have the best Facebook followers EVER! Thank you so much for helping us to exceed 1000 page likes! Because you CRUSHED it, there will be not one but TWO Masses offered up just for you: Wednesday, July 30, at 12:05 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 3, at 10 a.m.”
Also in the post was a meme featuring a smiling Fr. Mark Miller, with his thumb up, and the words “WE LIKE YOU RIGHT BACK!”
Masses for followers
The goal had been reached — 1,000 Facebook followers — a social media milestone.
Those 1,000 followers — whether they were students, former students, community members, or followers from quite possibly all over the world — would have two Masses offered for them and their intentions.
“The intentions of the Masses were offered for real people who care about St. Paul’s, who are part of St Paul’s, or part of this community,” said Father Miller.
Despite being in the middle of summer when there is less Mass attendance and student involvement at St. Paul’s, the special intentions were a chance to pray for everyone, as the school year got closer to starting.
It was also part of a plan to help use St. Paul’s Facebook page as a primary means of communication.
“Over and over again in magisterium since Vatican II, we’ve been exhorted repeatedly to use every means of communication that we can,” said Father Miller.
During the Masses as the prayers of the faithful were read, there was no fanfare or novelty for the Facebook intention. Father Miller simply said, “We also pray for all those who care for St. Paul’s, especially those who follow us on Facebook, for whom this Mass is offered.”
St. Paul’s Facebook page — currently with more than 1,100 followers — can be found at www.facebook.com/uwcatholic