The pandemic has led to a flourishing of social media within parishes and religious orders, as the religious life has refused to be kept in isolation. Portsmouth was well positioned to develop these offerings, as Brother Benedict Maria Sagaya had already been working hard to develop the website. Bringing his technical skills to bear on the issue, he quickly was able to arrange to have Mass and Vespers available online. One can readily see the fruits of his labor on the monastic website, as well as in its other social media outlets. These have indeed made the monastic life far more visible to a wider audience and on a daily basis than it has ever been.

The monastery’s website continues to grow, offering easy access to a rich array of information and images. The homepage features the latest Masses and Vespers, viewable online via YouTube. The tabs on the homepage open into the monastery’s history, its latest news, articles in the weekly newsletter “The Current,” biographical sketches of the present community, spiritual writings, and more. Brother Benedict Maria Sagaya has been creative in his vision for the site, artistic with its presentation, and attentive to even the smallest of detail. He also keeps an eye toward the latest opportunities in web options, reconfiguring the site to keep it in step with new developments. The homepage is also a clearinghouse for access to the monastic presence in additional social media, notably YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.

A (free) subscription to the monastery’s YouTube channel provides a window into the monastery’s liturgical life, particularly Mass and Vespers. You can follow the latest services each day, or look back to particular occasions. Do you have a favorite saint or a feast day of particular significance? Enter the name into the search on the channel’s homepage, and you will find associated liturgies. You will also find a tab for “Playlists” that groups videos by liturgical seasons, identifies occasions of Solemn Vespers, and adds in additional chants.

The main Facebook page for the monastery collects some of the information found on the website, supplementing them with additional options for communication. A private group, joined on the “Daily Mass, Vespers, and Thoughts” page, provides videos, images, and the possibility of posting comments. Brother Benedict notes that “the group can be joined by answering a couple questions, which is the groups protocol.” There is also a vocations page, designed to invite young men who want to learn more about Benedictine life.” The monastery’s Instagram account is less utilized, but provides a further presence and a chance to encounter its Benedictine life. Its posts include images and video clips from liturgical life.

To all of this, we can add the growing list of events offered through the Portsmouth Institute, which has similarly cultivated its online presence to adapt to the times. And a wealth of information and news about our extended community can of course also be found through the School’s website. We invite all readers to view and to comment via this varied online presence, hoping this cyber-hospitality can foster our sense of community and continue to grow, even as we move back to more in-person opportunities.