Or a faithful guide and friendly reminder to practice virtue, do good works and read Scripture?

Whatever you're searching for to help you draw closer to Jesus Christ these 40 days of Lent, there's an app to help you.

"It's a beautiful thing to have access to, and it expands our growth and understanding of the faith or an aspect of our spirituality that we need to develop," said Daughter of St Paul Sister Anne Flanagan, a social-media authority who is known as the "Nunblogger."

"An advantage of these technological tools that we have is that it reminds us that we're not [going through Lent] on our own as individuals," she added. Continue reading.

Source: National Catholic Register

Image: mashable.com

Principal John Dorman said the electronic books were generally cheaper and the children engaged with them more.

He said about half of the $4000 library budget would be used to purchase ebooks this year, which students could read on the school's iPads or their own devices. continue reading

Called "Pope Francis Comics," the app offers a kid-friendly mini-bio of the Argentine pontiff and 13 catchy phrases based on tweets or speeches by the pope. Kids can test how well they remember the messages with a fill-in-the-blank and coloring game.

There is also a full-color, eight-page comic book meant for older adolescents. Continue reading

A printed copy could not be located.

During an almost three hour ceremony, Mangano address a standing-room-only audience and recalled his rise to the county's highest office.

Describing Nassau County as the best place on earth and said the next four years will be "full of challenges and opportunities".

Mangano, a former janitor during his student years, promised to continue help the cleanup after Superstorm Sandy, redevelop the Nassau Coliseum, transform the shuttered Social Services building in Garden City into a new Family Court, and construct a new crime lab.

No mention was made of buying a Bible for the County nor whether the purchase would be a 'challenge' or 'opportunity'.

Debate continues online over whether or not an iPad and Bible app should qualify as a replacement for the real thing.

Sources

• Long Island News Day
• Image: 9 to 5 Mac

"For children, we really want them to be exposed to the life of Jesus in a way that they can enjoy and connect with," he told CNA recently.

The app hit the iTunes store June 5 and features chapters of Jesus' public ministry from the Bible that engages children and helps relay the story to them.

Inspired to make the App by how much his own children loved the iPad, Dusing says as well as being fun and interactive, the App tells the story in a way children understand.

As well as giving children something to do with an iPad it gives them something they can benefit from, he said.

Frequently, he said, Christian educational materials are marketed as "multivitamins." In other words, it's good for the kids but may not necessarily "taste good."

This application, on the other hand, is more like "chocolate cake with vitamins in it," Dusing said. "The kids will enjoy it a lot more and it's really good."

Dusing said even his two year-old daughter enjoys "reading" it over and over again.

The App costs NZ$5.29 and is available in the New Zealand iTunes store.

Source:

• CNA

Ban Jabok-Ban Nong Leg templein the northeatern Surin province is now trying to send a message by making Buddha hold an iPad in their next statue, says The Bangkok Post:

Traditionally, Phra Sivali, a pose of the Buddha, carries a walking stick, an umbrella and a bowl, and is worshipped for those seeking love, luck and prosperity.

But the one to be built by the temple will have one hand carrying the umbrella — and the other one clutches one of the innovative best sellers launched by the late Steve Jobs instead of the stick.

This might seem like an attention grabbing gimmick, and let's face it, it kind of is. But the message the temple wants to send is good and forward-facing: they want to stress that monks need to embrace the technology of the modern world in getting their message across.

"Monks have to catch up with the changes and use those gadgets like the iPad to lure the new generation to the temple. Monks can use them to teach Dhamma to those who live their life with new communication technologies," a spokesman of the temple said.

Source: Bangkok Post

In his own life lately, Schram says he has been dealing with some heavy stuff, that caused him to wonder what it would be like to have the powers of God, to just fix things by snapping ones fingers, or just tapping a screen!

From there, Schramm went to the idea of "answering prayers" from a screen tap, and after thinking about prayer and doing a few Google searches for it, and he came up with the name "Benediction," which he remembers from his childhood as a blessing, a prayer meant to send people on their way, happy and ready to deal with the world.

It's with this background, that Schramm had his theme for the game. He'd be answering the prayers of supplicants as the player, the App is God with infinite power, answering prayers as needed.

A reviewer at Cult of Mac says the game has three things going for it.

• Benediction is a clean game with a simplicity of purpose
• Secondly, the narrative is of an artist, bringing issues from his own life into his work.
• Finally, there's a progression mechanic in the game. Each game has a limited amount of "god power," which gets used up each tap. The idea is to make your taps, which use up this energy source, clear the most amount of smiley faces as possible, maximizing your score. As you earn points for each game, they add up and can be traded for power ups, also connected to the four different colors in the game, which do some neat things like double your scored points, drop single colors down from the top, or recharge your god power.

Download the App. It's free.

Source: Cult of Mac

Already available for the iPhone, iPad, Blackberry, Windows Phone 7, and Android, iBreviary contains the complete Roman Missal, all prayers of the Daily Office, Mass readings and all prayers said and sung during Mass throughout the liturgical years.

Developed by Father Paolo Padrini, a parish priest in Tortona, north Italy, the Vatican consultant has made the free application available in English, French, Spanish, Italian and Latin.

Fr Padrini expects future upgrades to feature audio as well as commentaries and suggestions for homilies as well as musical accompaniment.

Earlier in the year the New Zealand Bishops' conference banned priests from using all electronic Missals in the liturgy.

"The Missal is reserved for use during the Church's liturgy. iPads and other electronic devices have a variety of uses, e.g. for the playing of games, using the internet, watching videos and checking mail. This alone makes their use in the liturgy inappropriate," the bishops said in a signed letter to priests.

The bishops commended the use of electronic Missals for private prayer and study purposes.

Sources

• Independent Catholic News
• CathNews
• Image: Coffee and Canticles

"This is watershed moment," he said. "For the first time in the history of Christianity, paper (and previously parchment) is not the only form of transmitting liturgical texts which were initially called "pamphlets" (books).

Padroni says he agree with New Zealand's bishops that the liturgy must be safeguarded against abuse. "As with all things, it must be used prudently. When a bishop goes on a pastoral visit, it is assumed he will use official liturgical texts, but when he goes on holiday, he could use the iPad. A deacon in procession would not carry an iPad but the Gospel Book, partly because of its beauty, but mainly because it has a special significance. The problem arises when there is no missal: what is more correct, to use a missal book or an iPad? St. Paul advises against anything that may cause a scandal: if there is a risk that the assembly could think the parish priest is playing a game, checking his e-mails or becoming distracted by an electronic device, it is best to avoid using it," he said.

Source

• Vatican Insider

Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum university note that "at least one cardinal, celebrating in his cathedral, has publicly used a tablet in lieu of a missal, but this does not constitute official ratification."

McNamara expresses an opinion about the liturgical use of iPads and other electronic devices. He cautions that "what I say has no official standing whatsoever. I limit myself to what I consider to be the liturgical principles involved."

He concludes that, "Someone could develop a tablet for exclusively liturgical use with an appropriate design and no other programs installed. That might change the terms of the debate."

"Until such a time arrives, I think it best to avoid using such instruments so as to maintain that sacred distinction of the liturgy from the humdrum of ordinary activities," he says.

Read the Edward McNamara opinion on Zenit

Father Edward McNamara, a Legionary of Christ, is professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum university.

Image: Eternity Bible College

The Otago Daily times reports that Monsignor Harrison says he has no problem with a ruling that priests should not use electronic devices when celebrating the Eucharist.

"It is about what is appropriate to use during official worship. Using electronic devices, you could easily confuse the sacred and the secular," he said last week.

He says the decision "had given priests a bit of a chuckle". "The guys can see the sense in it."

• The Otago Daily Times
• Image: Don Michele Bigi. Via www.theapplelounge.com

Data projectors are almost universally used. Powerpoint has become a must. What about recorded music?

In a recent Blog Bosco Peters looks at a few of the issues. "Sure, there's possibly ways of incorporating digital images and contemporary technology," he says, but concludes that "When it come to the liturgy - I'm mostly a Luddite".

Read Bosco Peters Blog

Bosco Peters is runs a blog site Liturgy - worship that works - spirtuality that connects. He is an Anglican priest and academic.

The New Zealand Bishops have told their priests that only the official printed copy of the Roman Missal may be used at Mass and at the Church's other liturgies. They say that the Roman Missal apps for iPad and the use of other tablets, mobile phones and e-readers are excellent for study purposes, but their use in the Church's litugry is inappropriate.

A letter sent to priests and signed by all the Bishops of New Zealand says that that all religions have books which are reserved which are reserved for the rituals and activities at the heart of the faith, and the Roman Missal is one such book.

"The Missal is reserved for use during the Church's liturgy. iPads and other electronic devices have a variety of uses, e.g. for the playing of games, using the internet, watching videos and checking mail. This alone makes their use in the liturgy inappropriate," they say.

In 2010, commenting on an iPad application created by an Italian priest, Paolo Padrini, who was at that time a consultant at the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, Father Anthony Ward, an under secretary at the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, said liturgical rules generally refer to 'the book,' and there's been an effort in recent years 'to promote the book, and the embellishment of the book."The idea of having a substitute for the book at public Masses seems to go against that consensus," he said.

Ward said the congregation wasn't specifically considering the suitability of the iPad application, and that there didn't appear to be explicit rules against such devices. But he added that in this case, one should not assume that if it is not forbidden, it is allowed.

Source

• New Zealand Catholic Bishops' Conference (PDF)
• CNS
• Image: iMissal

Not only do workers face long hours, but they also face many hazardous conditions. There have been reports of injuries, and some employees have attempted suicide.

In response the issues identified by the Fair Labor Association, Apple and Foxconn have agreed to improved working conditions at the Chinese manufacturer's plants, reports Reuters.

The agreement covers safety conditions, the maximum number of working hours and overtime compensation.

The agreement will have significant effects outside of Apple. Any increases in costs that come from the agreement will impact companies like Dell, HP, Amazon, Motorola Mobility, Nokia and Sony, who have contracts with Foxconn.

Foxconn has pledged to

• reduce working hours to 49 per week,
• hire tens of thousands of new workers to compensate for those lost hours,
• build housing and canteens for those workers.

Because labour costs are only a fraction of the overall costs of devices from these manufacturers, the boost in consumer prices likely won't be major.

Some employees at Foxconn are concerned at the reduction in opportunities to work overtime.

Wu Jun heard that Foxconn had given employees landmark concessions her reaction was worry, not elation.

"We are worried we will have less money to spend. Of course, if we work less overtime, it would mean less money," said Wu, a 23-year-old employee said.

Huang Hai, a 21-year-old man who said he had worked at Foxconn's factory for about two years said "I don't go out that much as there is nothing much to do."

"This is a good company to work for because the working conditions are better than a lot of other small factories."

The agreement follows on from a visit to the Foxconn factories by Tim Cook, the new Apple CEO. At a conference last month Cook was reported as saying "No one is doing more to improve working conditions in China than Apple.

Sources

• The Next Web
• The Next Web
• Reuters
• Image: Creative Rescue

Last Sunday, I celebrated Mass in a semi-private setting. Before going public, I wanted to try out the new translation of the Mass using our brand new Missal.

This was the first time the congregation and I had used the complete new translation and our new Missal, and afterwards, my effort, our reactions to the language and the navigation through the new book were all topics of discussion.

Some people, those who are having to defend the translation, are saying it's poetic. Well that may be their definition of poetry, but let's just say it's a long way from William Blake, and, while three English scholars in my midst all agreed "it's just not English", we were similarly of the view it's what we've got and those that make these decisions have decided that this is what we should use. Time to move on.

However, what the people who translated the new Missal didn't do, was decide how the new English translation should look. They didn't decide the layout of the New Zealand edition of the Missal.

Given the first effort was rejected, I can only but imagine what it might have looked like.

I'd suggest this edition still has layout issues. Among them

• page turns in awkward places
• the capitalisation of the words of consecration, making them almost impossible to read, and
• some of the text is so closely aligned to the gutter of the book, that standing in a normal upright position makes it also almost impossible to read e.g. the Prayer of the Gifts on the 4th Sunday of Lent.

Negotiating the new text is one thing, negotiating poor formatting is another.

If this were a normal book, I'd be tempted to return it.

After my Sunday experience, I chatted with other priests who like me have tried-out the new New Zealand Missal.

Alas, they reinforced my view; one going as far as saying his experience was "dreadful", and another, "forget the words, the layout is all over the place."

Where to from here?

I'm fortunate enough to have an iPad, and for some time have had the Universalis App.

This week, Universalis released a new free upgrade and with it came a feature "Mass Today".

My initial reaction, it's fantastic.

Some of its features include the ability to:

• select the New Zealand liturgical calendar
• make the font size either smaller or larger
• select "Mass Today" and you get the whole Mass from the Sign of the Cross through to the Dismissal, including readings and your choice of Preface and ten Eucharistic Prayers.
• take it with you in portable form.

Universalis on the iPad is not without its issues:

• some of the pagination still interrupts the flow a little, (but because you don't have to turn the page as often, this inconvenience is minimised)
• it's only in English; there's no Maori translation
• unlike a book which you just open and use, it's important to make sure the iPad has enough battery-life to get you through Mass. A full-charge lasts for 10 hours. Hint: Turn the screen off during your sermon :-)
• managing the iPad itself, navigation, updates and the like, may be a challenge for some
• it probably requires a cover to make it look more like a book
• it costs NZ$26

Using the iPad as a replacement missal may not be everyone's "cup of tea", but I'd pose it's at least worthy of consideration.

Those looking to do something useful with their old iPad could now perhaps dedicate its use as "liturgical", and for those thinking about the additional text quality and the high definition screen of the new iPad; now just might be time to buy.

Additional links

• Apple New Zealand
• iPad Video
• iPad Ad
• Universalis App

John Murphy is a Marist priest working in the Marist Internet Ministry, New Zealand. He recently completed a two-year contract with ucanews.com. He has a Master of Communications Studies from Victoria University.

The new App, iGPII, named after the founder of WYD, former Pope John Paul II, works on iPod, iPhone and iPad, and will provide regularly updated information about World Youth day activities, directions to recommended restaurants, places to stay and sights to see in Madrid.

The App promises participants the ability to

• better position themselves for WYD events,
• track their friends' locations and
• locate the leader of their group should a participant become lost.

A paid App, it is available from the iTunes store in English, Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese.

Revenue from the sale of the App will be used to help fund the John Paul II Foundation for Youth, which among other things helps fund youth, who would ordinarily not be able, to participate in WYD 2011.

"We wanted to do something for young people who are in worse situations than young Europeans, so that they could also participate in the World Youth Day," said the designer Iacopo Barberini.

Barberini intends to introduce versions for Android, BlackBerry and Symbian smartphones for similar events in the future.

World Youth Day 2011 takes place later this month, 16- 21 August in Madrid, Spain.

Sources

• Huffington Post
• Catholic Online
• Image: Rome Reports

The new website www.news.va aggregates news content from the Vatican's newspaper, radio, television and online outlets.

News.va offers print, video and audio material. It features a list of the 10 most-read stories and offers links to many social network sites. Users can share content through Facebook, Twitter and email, said Thaddeus Jones, an official of the pontifical council who co-ordinated the creation of the portal.

News.va is updated three times a day and is outfitted for live-streaming of papal events, audio feeds from Vatican Radio, photographs from L'Osservatore Romano and printed texts of papal homilies, statements and speeches.

The first big test will be World Youth Day in August, which is expected to generate heavy traffic to the site.

Initially available in English and Italian, new languages will be added gradually, beginning with Spanish, followed probably by French and Portuguese.

While the 84 year old Pope may not appear to be a media-savvy pontiff, Archbishop Claudio Celli, who heads the Pontifical Council for Social Communications said, "in reality, with this pope Vatican communications have made enormous strides."

"I want to be present wherever the people are found," Benedict said prior to the release of the Vatican's YouTube channel.

News.va was released on the feast of Sts Peter and Paul, and the 60th anniversary of Pope Benedict's priestly ordination.

Sources

• CNS
• CNN Belief Blog
• Associated Press
• Yahoo! News

Suicide at Foxconn Shenzhen plant where Apple and many other companies have their manufacturing plants has thankfully seems to be a thing of the past. The nets that went up around the building seem to have worked.

Who's to blame? Follow Joel Johnson of Wired Magazine as he tours the Foxconn plant as he goes in search of an answer.