Spots are still available for “Catholic Citizenship in the Digital Age,” a workshop on internet safety set for Saturday, October 3, at Madison St. Joseph High School. The workshop is free, but reservations are important because orgainzers will provide lunch to attendees.
“Technology changes daily and education is important to us as good Catholics to be respectable and appropriate users of digital and social media,” said Vickie Carollo, Safe Environment Coordinator for the Diocese of Jackson. “Additionally, it is critical that as adults, we recognize our role in keeping young people safe when using electronic communication devices,” she added.
“The diocese is fortunate to have Paul Sanfrancesco of Philadelphia as the keynote speaker for the workshop.  Paul is a technology consultant for Sadlier Publishing and teaches as Adjunct Professor in the Graduate Education Department at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia and Neumann University in Aston, Penn,” said Carollo.
A few years ago Sanfrancesco did a survey in his school system on how proficient teachers were at using technology. He found that many needed training not only in technology, but in online platforms such as social media. He started a summer program to train his own teachers. He now takes that program across the country
“In addition to Paul’s keynote, the workshop agenda will include an opportunity to participate in a break-out session with an education consultant from the State of Mississippi Attorney General’s Office Cybercrime Unit,”she added.
The workshop is from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3. Anyone can attend, but parents, pastors, DREs/CREs, youth ministers and school administrators are especially invited. For registration, please contact Annette Stevenson for registration at (601-960-8470) or email her at: annette.stevenson@jacksondiocese.org.