"We are commencing an important journey, keeping in mind the church’s mission towards evangelization to be achieved effectively through communication," said Fr Gildasio Mendes, emphasizing that communication is a priority dimension for the Salesians.
The Salesian School of Social Communication is an initiative of the Social Communication Department which provides for the formation of all those involved in the apostolate of Social Communication. It aims to prepare all participants to communicate from a Salesian perspective; thus, the topics dealt with, as regards communication are: the Biblical dimension, the Synodal dimension, the Salesian dimension, the Institutional dimension and the Youth Pastoral dimension.
The event began with the prayer of Fr Ernest Rosario, followed by a video presentation on the "Journey to Emmaus". Subsequently, Fr Michael Makri, from Shillong, led the singing of the spiritual hymns. Later, Fr Kochamkunnel Jose - better known as KM Jose - Provincial of the "St. Thomas Apostle" Province of India-Chennai (INM), the head of "BOSCOM", invited everyone to become messengers of hope. He affirmed that just as God communicated His powerful message of love to us, we too in turn, should spread the message that God loves the world. Amidst so much negative energy, we ought to radiate positive energy.
Fr Harris Pakkam, ANS Director, introduced the general guidelines of the entire training program. Subsequently, Fr Gildasio Mendes animated the first session of the training program: "The Biblical Dimension of Communication: Reading communication from the perspective of Emmaus." This session was attended – online - by eighty-two Salesians, representing the various Provinces of the South Asia Region. Fr Aravind Khalko, from the Kolkata Province, finally thanked the assembly during this first session.
