Sterling Heights — St. Malachy Parish is taking the call to evangelization in a new-media direction, and for the first time asked parishioners to participate in a “digital evangelization campaign.”

During Masses on Pentecost, June 7-8, parishioners were asked to “pull out their smartphones and use them to spread the Gospel message” by sharing a short, 4-minute video produced by the parish on their own social media channels, said David Corbat, technology director for the parish.

The video, titled “You Belong,” features parishioners and staff — including Fr. Joe Gembala, the parish’s pastor — talking about why they attend St. Malachy, and what they like about the parish. It’s set to music and features professional editing by Clinton Township-based MBP Films and a slideshow of the parish’s many events and activities.

In its first 24 hours, parishioners had shared the video with nearly 8,000 people, according to the parish’s Facebook page.

As part of its campaign, the parish also has been holding a series of “You Belong” classes aimed at education and evangelization. Corbat called the idea for the campaign “revolutionary” and said the “end goal is to get people to come back to the church by planting the small seed of faith.”

“We believe the smallest action can make the biggest change,” he said. The video is available at www.youtube.com/stmalachychurch.