“There are moments when I think, ‘This is too crass or too scrappy,’ but with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I believe it will be OK,” she said.
Koss, who grew up in a non-practicing Catholic family and rediscovered Catholicism at Ave Maria School of Law, mostly analyzes current events from a “militantly Catholic” viewpoint.
He strives to be a “warrior” blogging with a sincere desire to save souls, if even just one. The masthead of his “Defend Us in Battle” page features Saint Michael the Archangel and an ominous scriptural quotation.
One popular post of his in 2010 opened with, “We are at WAR. This is not puffery. Our souls and the souls of those that we love are in mortal peril.”
More recently, he posted, “I write what I believe, and I try and make sure that I align those beliefs with the heart of Christ and the mind of the church.”
Goorchenko takes an inviting personal approach to “The Devout Life” blog, infusing the fellowship of a neighborhood Bible study or parish social.
Since converting to Catholicism in 2009, the practiced “mommy blogger” fairly recently shifted from anecdotes about her five children to reflections on Catholic life.
She started “The Devout Life” as an outlet to share her observations while reading “Introduction to the Devout Life,” a manual by Saint Francis de Sales about living devoutly and growing in virtue while busy raising a family.
A recent post described her family’s commitment to forego electricity on “Wilderness Wednesdays” during Lent. Her blog currently functions as a virtual reading club discussing Vatican II documents.
“Many people who are curious about the church are not going to step into one. I write it for not only Catholics but non-Catholics who may be open-minded and interested in learning about the Catholic faith and spirituality,” Goorchenko said. “My purpose is to present a window into the daily life of a Catholic to explore how we live in the world without being of the world, and to convey the joy of being a Catholic and encountering Christ and the sacraments.”
Borges, a 2005 convert, said lay bloggers are uniquely suited for evangelization. Priests have an established following, but they must evaluate the risk of alienating members if their homilies are too austere. Journalists are censored by editors and media conglomerates. Bloggers, however, are unrestrained.
(Story continues below)
Subscribe to our daily newsletter
“This is a serious role,” Borges said. “If it’s not useful to someone, then it’s just detracting from time with my family and promoting my own opinion.”
Goorchenko agreed. “We have to remember that there’s a person on the other side (of the screen) who is using this technology to feel connected and find meaning in life. If we can make ourselves available in that strange online space that is still relatively new to everyone, we have a special opportunity to connect with that human being and bring Christ to that person in some way,” she said. “It’s a whole new frontier.”
Posted with permission from the Catholic Anchor, official newspaper for the Archdiocese of Alaska.