The two-day Catholic social communication training in India aims to train diocesan teams in the state of Bihar to use digital platforms for evangelization.
Likas News
The official news service of the Catholic Church in India, Catholic connection According to RC The theme of the seminar, which will be held from November 7 to 8 in the Bishops House Auditorium, is “Synodal Church: a church in communication in a digital environment.”
The event welcomed participants from the dioceses of Dumka, Purnia, Bettiah, Buxar, Muzaffarpur and Bhagalpur, who explored new ways of preaching the gospel in an increasingly digital world.
Bishop Kurien Valiyakandathil of Bhagalpur, in his inaugural address, emphasized the important role of social media in the mission of the Church, calling it a “gift from God” that brings opportunities and challenges for evangelization.
He cited the biblical mandate from Matthew 28:19-20 to spread the message of Christ’s love and salvation, urging participants to use platforms such as YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram to combat online negativity and foster positive online communities. “The Church must creatively embrace technology to build vibrant online communities, foster meaningful relationships, and evangelize in new areas,” the bishop said.
The seminar featured one of the speakers, Father Cyril Victor Joseph of the Media Apostolate of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CCBI), who gave an insight into the pastoral plan of the Church and its vision to promote communication within the diocese.
Launched Catholic Connect, with which diocesan teams can collaborate to strengthen their media efforts.
The training sessions focused on creating customized media plans for each diocese, ensuring alignment with the broader objectives of the CCBI 2033 Pastoral Plan.
Participants discussed strategies for developing metrics to evaluate the impact of their communications activities, with the goal of creating an integrated approach that reflects the church’s mission both locally and nationally.
Bihar Regional Secretary, Father Rijesh Sebastian K. guided the proceedings and underlined the importance of a synodal approach in communication.
In addition to interactive sessions and group discussions, the event also included prayer sessions and the screening of The Face of the Faceless, a film that provided further reflection on the Church’s outreach and relationships with various communities.
