Wednesday, February 09, 2011

The Confession iApp


The priest who is co-leading a pilgrimage to the Holy Land May 9-18 with me, Fr. Dan Scheidt, was part of the team who came up with the first iApp to receive an imprimatur.

Father Dan was the theological consultant for the project, and then got the finished app an imprimatur from Fort Wayne-South Bend's (think "Notre Dame's") Bishop Kevin Rhodes.

Friends from South Bend sent me an announcement a few weeks ago:

The app received an imprimatur from Bishop Kevin C. Rhodes of the Diocese of Fort Wane - South Bend, IN. It is the first known imprimatur to be given for an iPhone/iPad application. The text was developed in collaboration with Rev. Thomas G. Weinandy, OFM, Executive Director of the Secretariat for Doctrine and Pastoral Practices of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and Rev. Daniel Scheidt, pastor of Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Mishawaka, IN.

The release of the app follows Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for January 2011: "That young people may learn to use modern means of social communication for their personal growth and to better prepare themselves to serve society."

To see the app, click here.

For an example of the buzz it's creating in the news media, click here.

To go on a pilgrimage with this amazing priest, click here.

UPDATE: The buzz has already reached the Vatican: click here.

UPDATE: Interview with the South Bend creators of the iApp: click here.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Pilgrimage sounds fun, and it's a great way to support the Eastern brethern and the Palestinians and others who are suffering there :)

John Bergsma said...

Amen to that. It's a chance for spiritual renewal and also a concrete act of charity for the Christians in the Holy Land.

Sister Mary Agnes said...

Thank you for sharing this. Someone had just send me a link to a news story about this, but your post caused me to stop and take notice. I went ahead and bought the app because I am a Sister with an iPhone, and I want to be able to speak intelligently about the app if anyone else asks me...

I can see where it can be a very helpful aid, especially for people who are nervous about going to confession. I like the way it has the capability for a person to add their own unique sins to the examination of conscience. The app very clearly is not presenting itself as a substitute for the sacrament. It is a helpful aid.