Early in my career, I had the privilege of serving as a director of religious education in several parishes throughout the Worcester and Springfield dioceses, and for the last 30 years, as pastoral minister at Our Lady of Peace Church in Turners Falls.
During this time, I have seen changes almost unimaginable. I remember when parents worried about how much television their children were watching. Then came video games. The internet. Cellphones. And the vast, complicated world of social media. With each new technology, adults and parents found themselves asking the same questions: How much is too much? How do we protect our children and ourselves? How do we make sure technology serves us rather than controls us?
Today, we are facing another profound change: artificial intelligence.
AI can sometimes seem like something far removed from our daily lives, something that belongs to the future. But the future is already here. AI is helping us search for information, communicate, learn, work and make decisions. Our children and grandchildren are growing up in a world where AI will likely be as commonplace as the smartphone is today.
And, quite honestly, I think many of us are trying to figure out what that means.
That is why Our Lady of Peace is hosting “Understanding AI & Navigating Its Impact: Where Do We Go from Here?” on Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 7 p.m. We are very fortunate to have Jeffrey C. Dixon, professor of sociology at the College of the Holy Cross, joining us to lead this conversation.
I was particularly interested in bringing Jeffrey to our community because this is not simply a conversation about technology. It is a conversation about people.
How is AI changing our relationships? How might it affect our children and families? What does it mean for our workplaces, our communities and even our health? What are the possibilities and what are the concerns?
Most importantly, how do we make thoughtful choices about a technology that is developing faster than many of us can keep up?
Over the years, I have learned that people don’t necessarily need someone telling them what they should or shouldn’t do. What they need are opportunities to ask questions, learn and have honest conversations. That is what I hope this evening will provide.
Jeffrey’s presentation is designed for everyone — not just people who are comfortable with technology. Whether you use AI regularly, have experimented with it a little or have never used it at all, you will have something to bring to the conversation.
As a person of faith, I also believe we have another important question to consider: What happens to the human person as technology becomes more powerful?
Technology can be an extraordinary tool. But it cannot replace human compassion, wisdom, relationships, conscience or the dignity of every person. Those are things we must be careful not to lose sight of as we embrace what technology can offer.
Pope Leo XIV has also called our attention to this very issue, encouraging us to think carefully about the growing role of artificial intelligence and to keep people at the center as technology advances. His reflections remind us that this is not simply a technological conversation. It is a human and moral one.
AI is another of those moments when we have an opportunity to pause and ask: What kind of future are we creating, and what values do we want to carry into it?
We don’t have to have all the answers. We don’t even have to understand all the technology. But I believe we do need to be part of the conversation.
So, I invite you to join us at Our Lady of Peace Church on Sept. 16. Come with your questions, your curiosity and perhaps even a little skepticism. Let’s take some time together to better understand AI and consider where we go from here.
Because while technology may shape our future, we still have a say in what that future looks like.
Our Lady of Peace Church in Turners Falls is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2026, marking the 2006 merger of three local Catholic churches to form the parish. Mass is celebrated Monday through Thursday at 8 a.m., Saturday at 4 p.m. and Sunday at 9 a.m. Youth religious education classes meet on Sundays during the school year. Ministries include an active women’s group, senior activities, outreach to the homebound and a senior choir. The contemporary ensemble, featuring guitar, keyboard and singers of all ages, brings a modern flair to worship. For more than 30 years, the parish has offered community meals and has hosted speakers, enrichment programs and musical performances.