At Tabella, we’re blending faith and technology in a way that’s meaningful for us and our communities. But we often ask ourselves, what does it mean to use technology wisely? We know we're both spiritual and physical beings, called to live fully in this world while keeping our focus on Heaven. To be fully alive today means finding the right balance with technology, using it wisely without letting it take over.
In today’s tech-saturated world, we’re more connected than ever, but are we truly more connected? The COVID-19 pandemic showed us just how much we relied on technology to stay in touch—from online sermons and live-stream Masses to virtual gatherings and endless chats. Technology became a lifeline during one of the toughest times in recent history, helping us stay connected when we couldn’t be together physically.
But all that screen time also reminded us of something timeless: humans need real, in-person interaction. Now that restrictions have eased, it’s clear that our new way of relating to others is still influenced by those habits we formed during the pandemic.
As we move forward as a society and as a Church, it’s important to bridge the gap between the online world and the real world. Especially as Catholics, we’re called to lead the way in integrating these two worlds so we can experience the fullness of God’s love in today’s context.
So, what does using technology in a balanced way look like? Here are a few ideas we’ve gathered from our reflections:
Know What You Want to Communicate: Effective communication in any community starts with understanding its unique needs. As St. John Henry Newman said, “heart speaks to heart,” emphasizing the importance of truly knowing your community. Engage in regular conversations, ask for feedback, and tailor your messages to connect with people on a personal level. Handle deep questions in person, with follow-ups through Tabella, emails, or texts. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach, so keep listening to the Holy Spirit and adjust as needed.
With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility: Even a bit of Marvel wisdom has its place! Just like all God-given gifts, we must use communication and technology with care. Scripture reminds us that "there is a time for everything," so we shouldn’t sacrifice personal connection for convenience. Some conversations need to happen face-to-face. Let’s seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance on when to send a mass message and when a coffee chat is the best way to reach someone’s heart.
Balance is Key: Going to extremes—either banning technology or overusing it—can be harmful. The beauty of our Catholic Faith lies in embracing the “both, and” approach instead of “either, or.” By God’s grace, we can find a balance—benefiting from technology while keeping those personal connections that are so important to community life. This balance means knowing when to use technology for efficiency and when to prioritize in-person interactions.
Technology is a Tool, Not a Magic Fix:
Technology can help us succeed, but it won’t solve all our problems. These tools are meant to bring us closer to God, but they can never replace Him. As St. Augustine said, “our hearts are restless until they rest in You, O Lord.” We need to recognize that our efforts should be guided by God, not by our own desires. Let’s use these tools wisely, always praying and trusting that God will guide our actions.
Drawing from the Sacraments
Think about how the Sacraments and personal prayer work together:
The Sacraments are the ways we encounter God’s real presence, meeting us both in our souls and through our senses. Through them, we experience the fullness of God.
Personal prayer is our daily connection with God’s Spirit, keeping us aware of His presence in our lives. Whether through silent prayer, worship, or simple moments of reflection, we bring God’s extraordinary presence into our everyday lives.
Relying only on personal prayer without the Sacraments, or vice versa, misses the mark. To have a complete relationship with God, we need both the grace of the Sacraments and the intimacy of personal prayer.
Conclusion:
As we move forward, let’s embrace technology as a valuable tool to enhance our communities while also valuing personal, face-to-face interactions. Just like the relationship between the Sacraments and personal prayer, finding the right balance between digital tools and real-world connections is key. By integrating both, we can build stronger, more connected communities that truly reflect our shared values and the fullness of our human experience.