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'Go forth! Your Media Mission is on':  National Catholic Media Conference Concludes at Bangalore
Bangalore
Participants of the National Catholic Media Conference

'Go forth! Your Media Mission is on': National Catholic Media Conference Concludes at Bangalore

25 November 2024
News written by: Sr Urmila FMA

The two-day National Catholic Media Conference, Illuminaire 2024, organized by the Salesian Communication Department, Rome, and Salesian South Asia Communication Department (BOSCOM), concluded on November 24 at St John's Medical College, Bangalore. It featured insightful interventions and impactful discussions that showcased the Salesians' commitment to fostering effective communication in the Church.

In his closing remarks, Father Gildasio Mendes, SDB,  the Salesian General Councillor for Communication, affirmed the participants as authors of a transformative media mission. He urged them to communicate with mercy, love, and concern, fostering the rhythm of their communities while staying faithful to their people and their vocation. His call to be Illuminaire, bringing light to the world, underscored the conference's purpose.

Father Gildasio offered a roadmap encapsulated in the 3 Cs:

  1. Christians – We are Christians and Centre communication around Christ and share His message.
  2. Content – Create innovative and inspiring media through music, art, and other creative outlets.
  3. Connectors – Build bridges between schools, communities, and regions, fostering collaboration and unity.

Father Gildasio endorsed special acknowledgment to the Illuminaire team, especially Father Harris Pakkam, Director of the Salesian News Agency (ANS) Rome, and Father Ernest Rosario, the South Asia Delegate for Social Communication, and the behind-the-scenes contributors who ensured the conference's success.

The concluding session featured an interaction with Dr Paolo Ruffini, the Dicastery for Communication Prefect at the Vatican. His session focused on building communication systems between the Pope and the Churches worldwide. Stressing the importance of local innovation, he encouraged participants to transform ideas into projects, asserting that faith communication in the digital world must be rooted in "learning by doing." Dr Paolo also highlighted the Pentecost Project, which underscores collaboration with and through religious Sisters. His message, "It is not done from Rome but from our land," was a call to action for localized yet globally resonant communication efforts.

Father Harris, the organizing committee chief, expressed his gratitude and envisioned making the Illuminarie an annual platform for sharing ideas and advancing the Church's mission in social media as the participants set out to carry forward the message: 'Go forth! Your Media Mission is on!'. The enriching experience left a lasting impression, igniting a collective resolve to spread the Good News through innovative and impactful media strategies.

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