SAN BERNARDINO—Information technology may be viewed by many as a technical and left-brained endeavor, but for Ed Jabo it’s a more simple, relational ministry.
“I have a really big natural empathy for other people. I want to help in whatever way I can,” he says. “The service aspect of my faith is expressed pretty quickly in the work environment.”
Jabo began his ministry as the new Director of Information Technology Services for the Diocese on March 1. He previously managed all IT functions for Riverside-based Fata Hunter Engineering. A lifelong Catholic who hails originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Jabo also has recently served as an independent IT contractor for two parishes in the Diocese – St. Francis de Sales, Riverside, and St. Bernardine, San Bernardino.
He comes to the Diocese at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically increased the Diocese’s reliance on technology. Most of the Diocesan Pastoral Center continues to work remotely, use of Zoom video conferencing for meetings and events is commonplace and livestreaming of liturgies and public events is now standard operating procedure.
“It’s an amazing opportunity,” says Jabo, a parishioner of The Holy Name of Jesus in Redlands. “If there’s one thing that this past year has taught us is that there’s a greater need to bring technology to people where they are.”
To that end, Jabo says he has set an immediate goal of enhancing Internet bandwidth in the Diocesan Pastoral Center and for those working remotely. “Internet connectivity has become a basic need,” he says. “Like electricity or gas.”
Jabo says he also wants to continue enhance the use of educational technologies in Catholic schools, and to reinforce the cybersecurity measures of the Diocese.