Advertisements, ringtones, programs help to attract vocations

Published: 2006-01-06

GREEN BAY, Wis. (CNS) -- Although religious habits aren't seen too often on television, Wisconsin viewers saw them on advertisements this past fall during the "7th Heaven" and "Gilmore Girls" series on the WB network. A marketing study by the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity in Manitowoc showed that television programming with religious or moral messages reaches their target group of college-age women who are open to the call to religious life. The study confirmed what Sister Julie Ann Sheahan of the order's vocations office had already suspected. "Young women in contact with our vocation office have told me how decisive and selective they try to be when deciding which programs to watch or Web sites to visit," said Sister Julie Ann. "Most do make TV viewing choices based on their faith beliefs." So the sisters developed a series of six television advertisements -- to complement current radio and print advertising -- built around the community's signature line: "The world needs you. God calls you. We invite you."

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