WHEN the Pope started chirruping on Twitter, he did not realise he had already been beaten by Hull's own tweeting nun.
Sister Catherine Ryan has been tweeting for the past six months from former convent the Endsleigh Centre (@EndsleighCentre) in Beverley Road.
The nuns, who run the centre, also have their own Facebook and YouTube channel, called Penguin TV.
Sister Catherine said: "My niece and nephew helped me to work my way around it."
She does not know how the Pope will manage to keep up with his Twitter account, especially over Christmas.
Sister Catherine said: "At least he's got a lot more people helping with his."
She said the centre had been so busy over the festive period, she has not had time to start following his Holiness.
The Endsleigh Centre is now a bed and breakfast but was founded as a convent by the sisters of Mercy.
Nuns still run the premises which include a working chapel and unusual grounds, with a meditation labyrinth and a prayer tree.
The silver surfers were given a helping hand with their TV channel and Twitter to keep up-to-date.
The YouTube broadcasts were recorded on a digital camera and uploaded online after Sister Ryan was helped by local public relations agency Eskimo Soup.
Sister Ryan said: "We like to keep it simple."
Even though she became a sister almost 50 years ago, Sister Catherine, originally from Ireland, has kept up with her own personal Facebook as well.
The Sisters are still spreading the Christmas message with chapel services. The former convent runs Christmas residentials from Christmas Eve to Boxing Day, with mass and an evening prayer plus a Christmas banquet.
Sister Ryan said: "It's for people who want to be in company at Christmas."
