Catholic priests from PH turn TikTok into virtual pulpit

MANILA – After giving sermons and touring slums, Filipino priest Fiel Pareja tends to his Gen Z herd on TikTok, creating videos of himself praying, dancing and syncing pop music Christian for 1.6 million followers.

As the coronavirus pandemic has forced the closure of places of worship across the predominantly Catholic country, tech-savvy priests like Pareja have turned the popular video-sharing platform into a virtual pulpit for connecting with young people. believers.

Pareja spends up to six hours a night in her room in a parsonage north of Manila recording short videos for TikTok – getting a few hours of sleep before beginning her real-world pastoral work.

The challenge is to create content that is accessible, creative and “not boring,” said the 30-year-old, who was ordered just weeks before the COVID-19 outbreak sent the country into a lockdown of several months.

Dressed in a black cassock and ecclesiastical collar, Pareja recites Bible verses and offers prayers in English and Tagalog on everything from combating anxiety to restoring democracy in Myanmar.

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

Pareja’s unorthodox evangelism resonated on the platform, a Gen Z favorite.

His more than 670 videos have each been liked tens of thousands of times and have earned him the nickname “Father TikTok”.

“I believe social media can help us reach the youth of today,” said Pareja, who counts Muslims, Protestants and Methodists among her online followers.

“It’s endless preparation and content creation. But it makes me happy and fulfilled to know that people have their spiritual needs (met).”

Her ever-growing fan base includes Erica Jacaba, a 20-year-old Catholic living in central Bohol province.

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

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

‘CYBERMISSION’ ESSENTIAL

While the stronghold of Catholicism in Asia marks 500 years since the arrival of Christianity in the archipelago, the church remains a strong influence in the lives of many Filipinos. About 80% of the population describe themselves as Catholic and many practice their faith fervently.

But Luciano Felloni, a popular Catholic influencer and parish priest from Manila, fears that young people’s interest may wane.

He said TikTok and other social media platforms have become important tools in maintaining the relevance of the religious institution.

“I think this is essential. The church needs to be fully present in the cybermission,” said the 47-year-old Argentinian who has lived in the Philippines for more than 20 years.

Felloni records and downloads TikTok videos for her over 11,000 subscribers with tips on how to have a positive attitude – often right after finishing your morning jog while wearing sweaty sportswear.

“My learning on social media is that authenticity allows people to follow you,” Felloni said.

“I try to do it as I am and where I am. Spontaneity is very important.”

Felloni started posting videos to Facebook in 2016 before migrating to TikTok during last year’s lockdown after realizing it was the platform of choice for many young people.

“You can’t find them on Facebook anymore – they’re already gone because Facebook has been taken over by grandmothers and their mothers,” he said.

Felloni is now leading efforts in his diocese to encourage other priests to use social media. He leads workshops on different platforms and how to attract followers.

“People are really looking for God,” he said. “That’s what I realized on social media.”

‘HERE TO STAY’

COVID-19 has changed the way most Filipinos practice their faith, with many not having been able to enter their church, take Holy Communion or participate in religious processions for more than a year.

Live streaming to masses on Facebook or YouTube and posting religious messages on Instagram have become the norm and are “here to stay” once the pandemic is over, said Broderick Pabillo, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Manila.

“We have already had a taste of its use and we have seen its ability,” he said.

TikTok plays a central role in Father Paul Woo’s efforts to coax young people into the pews of Navotas City, one of the capital’s poorest neighborhoods.

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

Dressed in his clothes, Woo takes part in dance and emoji challenges. He also shares darker images of his sermons for his more than 65,000 subscribers.

“The church really needs to keep up with the times,” said Woo.

“There are many creative ways to reach people, especially now that we have the gift of digital technology. “

© Agence France Presse