Costa Rica – Social Communication Meeting of the Province of Central America

07 December 2023

(ANS – Cartago) - The local social communication teams of the 23 works of the Salesian Province of Central America (CAM) met for the eighth annual meeting from 27 to 30 November. On the first day, a forum was held with the General Councillor for Social Communication, Fr Gildasio Mendes, a virtual meeting aimed at opening the debate on current issues in the use of digital technologies.

42 communicators met at the Santo Domingo Savio Centre in Cartago, Costa Rica, convened by the Provincial Delegate of Social Communication, Zaida Navarrete, with the aim of sharing experiences, unifying criteria, indicating emergencies and responsibilities for 2024.

On November 27, a forum was held digitally with the General Councillor for Social Communication, Fr Gildasio Mendes, a meeting aimed at opening a debate on current issues in the use of digital technologies. Issues such as the abuse of technology, digital evangelisation and the accompaniment of young people were discussed. The communicators of the CAM Province had a pleasant discussion with Fr Gildasio Mendes.

“We should ask ourselves if young people’s dependence is due to technology or the experiences of their environment, their shortcomings... and ask ourselves how we can help these young people find meaning in life”, the General Councillor said.

During the days, the participants also received a visit from Fr Julio Navarro, Superior of CAM Province: “Social communication is a priority field of action in the Congregation because it was a priority field of action for Don Bosco. You have a very great responsibility in your hands, so the first quality of a communicator is to be faithful and prudent” Fr Navarro said in the message to all communicators.

As an urgent theme, participants attended a conference on the ethics in the use of artificial intelligence by Jorge Umaña, consultant in political communication, producer, communicator and digital marketing specialist.

As per tradition, the time was used to share successes and challenges of each work in 2023.

This army of communicators is a young and sparkling group where laughter, unity and friendship are not lacking. The social communication network of Central America is not just a work network, but a group that feels like family: these bonds of fraternity make the workflow and the means of communication effective and therefore successful.

The team will meet again for the ninth meeting in November 2024 in El Salvador.