The Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn is trying to get young adults to go to church on Christmas with a new ad campaign.
Several ads were released in New York this month, one of which features a woman taking a "selfie." An image of Jesus wondrously appears behind her in the photograph.
"It's never just a selfie," the advertisement reads. "Join us this Christmas."
A "selfie" is a picture taken of oneself using a digital device. The message of the ad is that even when it appears that no one is around, Jesus is there. The website for the Diocese of Brooklyn and the hashtag "#BrooklynCatholic" also appear on the poster.
"New York is an exciting place to live. Yet for some it can also be lonely," Monsignor Kieran Harrington, Vicar for Communications for the Diocese of Brooklyn, said in a statement. "We launched this campaign to remind our neighbors that they are not alone, that we are family."
Another ad displays a picture of a church with one of the doors open. Velvet ropes line the stairs. "Everyone's on the list," the poster reads, alluding to New York's nightclub scene.
A cell phone with a dropped call is the focus of another poster, as the diocese invites potential churchgoers to "never miss a connection" and "come to Mass." Each poster includes the tagline "Join us this Christmas" below the relatable visual.
"By coming among us as a man, God expresses His solidarity with humanity," the Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn, explained. "Christmas is that time of year when we celebrate that great generosity of God by recommitting ourselves to one another.
"These creative ads are our response to Pope Francis' call for a Church of mercy and hope, 'where everyone is welcomed, loved and forgiven.'"
The Diocese of Brooklyn serves more than 1.5 million Catholics in Brooklyn and Queens.
