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I ve got a few readers whose blogs are, shall we say, colorful. I visit their blogs, offer comments, and simply have a presence. It doesn t mean I agree with or condone everything they publish, but I am there. That alone says a lot to people. So blogging for religious can have a real ministry dimension about it. Too often, ministry is understood ONLY as doing something obviously religious or preaching. But ministry is much more than that . . . it s how you are with people, and just being there and open to addressing a need when you see it. I think blogging can also be a good way for religious to relate with one another and with other similarly minded people. Being a nun or sister or brother or monk in today s world can be a challenging experience (for many, many reasons). For one thing, there aren t many of us, and we often minister in diverse places, sometimes with no other religious around. So blogging can help to keep religious connected, maintain a support system and friendships, and encourage one another on the journey. Blogging can also be a great way to float ideas, stimulate one s own thinking, and engage in real dialogue. Q. How do you find things to blog about A. Most days, I worry that I ll run out of things to say. I m not a very chatty person in general. However, I always find things to blog about. Since my blog is about what it s like to be a Catholic nun in today s world, I think that anything that I encounter is a potential topic for discussion. Some people find it very interesting that a sister can also be a mountain bike rider or like good beer or watch The Simpsons. I share these things on my blog because I want people to know that nuns are real, ordinary people, not caricatures. So many stereotypes of nuns abound, so part of the goal of my blog is to dispel those stereotypes at the same time that I want to give an authentic picture of religious life. Whenever I come across a stereotype (in a movie, TV show, conversation, etc.), I write about it. I also write about current news on nuns or religious life, so I frequent the major news websites. Sometimes my readers will send me an article or idea that they d like me to address. Sometimes I ll be thinking through an issue myself like how to respond to people who are homeless and write about that because I m hoping to get some new light to shed on the issue for myself and because dialoguing about such major justice issues raises awareness for anyone who happens upon my blog.

I also do a lot of commenting on the comments of other people. In this way, I think that blogging can be truly a dialogue or conversation. Every person s comment is important. There really is no end to finding things to write about . . . it s just a matter of finding the time and finding a way to be real and relate it to people s lives in a meaningful way. Q. What do you like most, and least, about blogging A. What I like the most about blogging is meeting all kinds of people and learning from them. I ve met such different people. Sometimes they are regular readers; other times, it s just a quick hit to make a comment. People challenge me and help me to expand my universe when they address a topic from a totally different perspective or disagree with something I write or ask a question that truly boggles me. It s a privilege and a responsibility to maintain an open door because you never know who is going to show up; you just know that God calls you to welcome them and make them feel at home it s about being hospitable. What I like least about blogging is that it is often challenging to get a read on someone when all you have before you are some typed words, a picture, or a video. It s challenging to know how to respond to someone when they ask a serious question or share about something with which they are struggling. Learning all the newest bells and whistles for blogs is also something I am not particularly fond of. I know the basics, but don t always have time to delve into HTML code or search through online documentation or discussion groups. So, I hope for the best and carry on! Q. Any advice to others in religious orders or ministries about blogging A. I would highly encourage those in religious life or ministries to seriously consider establishing a blog. It s actually quite easy to get up and running and it s free. It is imperative that we get out there and understand and use the Internet and the types of communication and networking that it offers. It may be no substitute for good old face-to-face encounters, but for some people, the Internet is the marketplace. It s the place they go for information and communication. We need to be part of that marketplace. I would encourage religious to be real about their own experiences, to talk about how they relate with God, what they struggle with or rejoice in, how they live their faith in their ordinary, everyday lives.