Exploring the Intersection of AI and Ministry

A daily devotional has been developed using a Large Language Model to create daily readings on specific topics in an Australian context. The images that accompany each reading have been created using image generation tools. You can access the devotional under the Spirituality menu tab or by the link below:

Embracing God’s Complex World: A Daily Devotion for Navigating Change

A compilation of images for several weeks of Gospel readings has been developed using AI. This example has been generated using Midjourney.

If you would like images created for your parish or you would like to learn how to create images contact Angie.
amooney@stjohnscathedral.com.au

(The downloaded file is a compressed zip file. It will need to be extracted before the images can be opened. A Mac will do this automatically. On a Windows PC, select the file and in the top menu click on ‘Extract all’. If needed some instructions are here.)

Why is this important?

Leveraging AI for a consistent content strategy

Australians spend on average 2 hrs a day on social media platforms.
Using your sermon in various formats on social media can have the following benefits:

Reach new audiences
Re-engage the congregation
Extend your message’s impact
Foster community and spiritual growth
Enhance discoverability through consistent content

With the use of AI tools and a social media content strategy, creating social media posts becomes an easy task. Parishioners may like to help also.
The consistency of a weekly schedule will help with audience engagement.

Click the image for an example of a social media weekly strategy, based off your homily and the Sunday readings.

Homilies Beyond Sunday: Repurposing Sermons for Social Media

Download the STEP BY STEP GUIDE to making social media content for your parish

This guide outlines the workflow, tools and the AI prompts used to create 

• sermon videos for YouTube
• sermon highlight reels for YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram
• Facebook and Instagram posts 

Click the image to download a copy

Examples

The following demonstrates one homily presented in various ways for social media distribution.

Sermon Video

Uploading a video of the sermon taken from a Sunday livestream enables it to be optimised for social media platforms.
It also allows for:

• reflection questions to be added
• audio to be enhanced
• captions added
• optimised for social media algorithms with keywords, descriptions and hashtags
• it can then be posted on YouTube with a link shared on Facebook

Sermon Video Snippets

Short form, vertical videos, for:

• YouTube Shorts
• Facebook and Instagram Reels
• TikTok

Homily Published on Parish Website

Turn your homily into an engaging and visually appealing page on your parish website.
Adding sub-headings, images and reflection questions.
Post the link on Facebook.

Click here for an example

Examples of Social Media Content taken from the Sunday Readings

Gosple Reflection

AI generated image with reflection questions and link to the Gospel reading.

Post on Facebook and Instagram

Greek/Hebrew Word Study

Using ChatGPT and an AI image, post an interesting Greek/Hebrew word description from the Sunday readings.

Post on Facebook and Instagram

Call-to-Action Post

Image and text focused on either social justice, advocacy or evangalisation with a call-to-action related to the sermon/gospel theme. Add a link to a local organisation.