ARTICLES

IT office sets up webcam locations in 10 parishes

By Steve Neill
of The Catholic Virginian

With the rising cost of gas and the time involved in traveling two hours or more for a brief meeting, the diocesan Office of Information Technology has introduced the use of a webcam which will allow people to “meet” with others at a separate location.

The use of the webcam will not eliminate face-to-face meetings which are often necessary.

“It avoids people having to travel long distances for short meetings of half a day or three or four hours,” said Joan Pardue, director of the diocesan IT office.

Webcams have been set up at 10 locations throughout the diocese. At these locations groups of seven to 10 people or less can meet around a table and be in both video and audio contact with others at a different location.

“You’re able to see and hear people at both locations,” Ms. Pardue said, adding that there is a limit in the range of the camera so that limits the number that can be seen on the screen at the same time.

Meetings do not have to take place at the diocesan Pastoral Center. There could be a meeting, for example, between people in Staunton and Virginia Beach. But people interested in organizing a meeting at two different locations would have to meet in a location which has been equipped with a webcam.

In addition to the Pastoral Center, locations now include St. Anne’s, Bristol; St. Thomas Aquinas, Charlottesville; Prince of Peace, Chesapeake; St. Andrew the Apostle, Chincoteague; Holy Cross, Lynchburg; Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Newport News; Christ the King, Norfolk; Our Lady of Nazareth, Roanoke; St. Francis of Assisi, Staunton, and St. Gregory the Great School, Virginia Beach.

Father James Arsenault, pastor of St. Mary’s, Blacksburg, had asked if a webcam could be installed at his parish. The IT office had a webcam on hand and mailed it to St. Mary’s within two days.

“It is the bishop’s position, as well as the Office of Information Technology, that if additional locations wish to acquire webcams at their own expense, they can contact the IT office and we will provide guidance,” Ms. Pardue said, adding that the cost is slightly less than $100.

The host parishes have provided a relatively new computer and monitor on which the webcam is installed.

“In addition, the parish must have a good high speed internet connection in order for this technology to work well at their location,” Ms. Pardue said.

Plans for the webcam locations began about three months ago at the request of Bishop DiLorenzo who asked the IT office to explore ways to reduce travel costs where there was a need for small group meetings.

“It’s not just the fuel prices, but the time involved,” Ms. Pardue said. “We know people’s time is incredibly valuable.

“The bishop is adamant about finding ways to reduce travel time and fuel costs.”

The IT office sent a regional email message to parishes asking for volunteers to serve as a location host.

“I got 12 to 15 responses and we carefully looked at the location of each parish in the region and identified a parish which would be geographically accessible to other parishes in the region.”

The host parish has minimal “hosting responsibilities,” Ms. Pardue said. The parish only has to provide a room and equipment connection to the other location. They are not asked or expected to provide food or refreshments for any meetings.

Ms. Pardue agreed that there are times when people need to come together for face-to-face meetings, “but this is an alternative,” she said.

Use of a webcam to facilitate a meeting at two locations eliminates the expense of long distance fees for conference calls.

“There is software we can apply at each location that will enable us to expand current technology from one to several locations at one time,” Ms. Pardue said.

“However, we do not want to incur additional costs until we are certain the technology is used extensively,” she added.

Assistance is available for locations to establish the connection initially, but it is relatively easy, Ms. Pardue said.

Those throughout the diocese wishing to schedule meetings are to first contact Ms. Pardue or her staff at the Pastoral Center so usage can be monitored and ensure that staff would be available to assist if needed.

“The quality of transmission is relatively good at all locations,” she continued, “but we are dependent on internet connections for this transmission and with any dependency, we are at the mercy of the internet provider.

“There is a slight possibility of pixillation of the video and delay of the audio.”

The webcam alternative to a live meeting should be helpful to people like Father Timothy Keeney, pastor of St. Anne parish in Bristol, one of the host parishes.

Father Keeney said he frequently has to come to Richmond — a distance of five and a half hours driving time — because he is a member of three diocesan bodies which meet regularly throughout the year. Occasionally when he has been unable to attend at the last minute because of a funeral this technology will enable him to participate and remain at the parish.

“I’m on the Diocesan School Board, the Priestly Life and Ongoing Formation Committee and the Diocesan Pastoral Council,” he said.

“It should be fairly easy to join a meeting in progress or set up a meeting,” Father Keeney said.

“I am looking forward to using it.”

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