Do Nuns Just Want to Have Fun? #MediaNuns and the Millennial American Catholic Sister

This paper examines the Roman Catholic sisters known as the Daughters of Saint Paul and their use of social media as part of their mission to use the media to evangelize. Through using modern forms, the Daughters of St. Paul emerge as leaders in Catholic media use. While their content challenges some stereotypes about Catholic nuns, their efforts seem primarily to serve recruitment goals, and their young millennial sisters are leading the efforts in making the nun life appear attractive to prospective future sisters that exist among their following. Through analyzing the Daughters of St. Paul’s use of Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube, this paper explores themes related to technology and religious traditions, technology and communal formation, virtual belonging, and politics and technology. Ultimately, while the Daughters of St. Paul are committed to using “new media,” they do so while preserving traditional aesthetics and messaging for the Catholic Church in America.