In Hauts-de-France, a priest offers videos on social networks to learn how to pray

Modern decor in the background, dimmed lights, Matthieu Aine speaks to the camera. This priest who officiates at the Notre-Dame-du-Sacré-Coeur church in Dunkirk, has somewhat diversified his way of working. He now provides learning paths to know how to pray fervently on the Internet, alongside his activity. By turning to new sharing platforms, he hopes to be able to speak to a younger audience than usual.

In presence, he receives nearly 600 faithful at the four weekly masses that he has been saying for twenty years. But in the digital age, he finds it necessary to have to adapt to those who do not take the spontaneous step of going to church. “There are a lot of young people who react, so that means that they like this mode”, explains Matthieu Aine. It not only invests Youtube, but also other social networks. “We made a little video on Instagram, it is sure that with this we reach an audience that is larger than that of our parishes”he adds.

To carry out this online deployment, which already has 200 subscribers, Matthieu Aine is accompanied by an agency financed by a Christian community. She provides audiovisual content for different dioceses and it was she who provided a film studio for Matthieu.

Installed in a former convent, this agency focuses on content dedicated to social networks, with the priority target: young people. “In fact, they are in front of their screens, in front of Instagram, in front of Youtube, in front of Facebook”, explains Frédéric Jamois, director of the agency. Between Apple products on the desks and crucifixes on the wall, the tone is set: to be able to make the link between the church and networks where Christian communities are not very present. “The idea was to be present on these platforms to be where the young people are” Frederic concludes.