Catholic monks within the Philippines flip TikTok into digital pulpit

This photo taken on April 8, 2021 shows Filipino priest Father Paul Woo (2nd R) performing a dance from the video-sharing platform by youth members of a ministry for social communications in his community in Navotas City, a suburb of Manila TikTok is learning. Image: AFP / Jam Sta. pink

6 million followers.

When the coronavirus pandemic forced the closure of places of worship in the predominantly Catholic country, tech-savvy priests like Fiel Pareja turned the popular video-sharing platform TikTok into a virtual pulpit to connect with young believers.

Pareja spends up to six hours a night in his room in a presbytery north of Manila recording short videos for TikTok and getting a few hours of sleep before starting his real-world pastoral work.

The challenge is to create content that is relatable, creative, and “not boring,” said the 30-year-old, who was ordained a few weeks before the COVID-19 outbreak and put the country in a month-long lockdown.

Pareja wears a black cassock and a spiritual collar and recites verses from the Bible. He offers prayers in English and Tagalog on everything from fighting fear to restoring democracy in Myanmar.

In other videos he dances and dubs a Christian version of Zedd and Alessia Cara’s song “Stay”.

Pareja’s unorthodox evangelization has resonated on the platform, a Gen Z favorite. His 670+ videos were each liked ten thousand times and earned him the nickname “Father TikTok”.

“I believe social media can help us reach today’s youth,” said Pareja, who is an online fan of Muslims, Protestants and Methodists. “It’s an infinite preparation and creation of content. But that makes me happy and fulfilled to know that people are getting their spiritual needs (met). “

Erica Jacaba, a 20-year-old Catholic in the central province of Bohol, is one of his steadily growing fan base.

Jacaba said she takes comfort in Pareja’s prayers, which she watches when she has enough money to pay for additional cell phone data.

“Father Fiel’s prayers erase my sadness, the stress I feel about myself,” said Jacaba. “I have peace of mind.”

“Cyber ​​mission” essential

With Asia’s bastion of Catholicism celebrating 500 years after the arrival of Christianity in the archipelago, the church remains a powerful influence on the lives of many Filipinos.

Around 80% of the population describe themselves as Catholic and many practice their faith fervently.

But Luciano Felloni, a popular Catholic influencer and pastor in Manila, fears young people’s interest is waning. He said TikTok and other social media platforms have become important tools for keeping the religious institution relevant.

“I think that’s important. The Church should be fully present in the cyber mission, ”said the 47-year-old Argentine who has lived in the Philippines for more than 20 years.

Felloni records and uploads TikTok videos for its 11,000+ followers. He gives advice on how to have a positive outlook, often right after a morning jog while still wearing sweaty workout clothes.

“My learning on social media is that authenticity makes people follow you,” Felloni said. “I try to do it the way I am and where I am. Spontaneity is very important. “

Felloni started posting videos on Facebook in 2016 before migrating to TikTok during last year’s lockdown after discovering that it was the platform of choice for many teens.

“You can’t find her on Facebook anymore. They already left because Facebook was taken over by the grandmothers and their mothers, ”he said.

Felloni is now trying to encourage other priests to use social media in his diocese. He leads workshops about the different platforms and how to attract followers.

“People really are looking for God,” he said. “I saw that on social media.”

‘Here to stay’

COVID-19 changed the way most Filipinos practice their faith, and many were unable to enter their church, take holy communion, or attend religious processions for more than a year.

Live-streaming crowds on Facebook or YouTube and posting religious messages on Instagram have become the norm and “here to stay,” said Broderick Pabillo, an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Manila after the end of the pandemic.

“We already got a taste of its use and we saw its ability,” he said.

TikTok plays a central role in Father Paul Woo’s efforts to persuade the youth in pews in Navotas City, one of the poorest areas of the capital.

“Sometimes they don’t have time because other things get their attention, like games and friends,” Woo told AFP in his community, where he records and uploads videos.

Woo wears his robes and takes part in dance and emoji challenges. He also shares more somber footage of his sermons to his 65,000+ followers.

“The church really needs to move with the times,” said Woo. “There are many creative ways we can reach people, especially now that we have the gift of digital technology.” JB

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