COMMUNICATION FOR PASTORAL LEADERSHIP – MUMBAI

MUMBAI, JULY 3, 2010: The Commission for Social Communications in collaboration with Tej-Prasarini, Don Bosco Communications Matunga, animated the Council Members, Rectors and various Delegates of the Mumbai Province to a compact and comprehensive one-day course in “Communication for Pastoral Leadership” at Don Bosco Provincial House Matunga, on July 2^, 2010.

Fr. Ronald Menezes the Delegate for Communications

Fr. Ajoy Fernandes, Vice Provincial, during the Eucharistic celebration, set the ‘Salesian Digital Immigration’ with a call to seeing ‘Communion in Communication’ as a point of departure.  The sessions began with a prayer song ‘His Grace is enough for Me”. Fr. Michael Fernandes, Provincial of the Mumbai Province, at the very start, congratulated the Commission for Social Communications for having implemented the deliberations of the Provincial Chapter 2010 and invited all to a fruitful experience.

Mr. Conrad Saldanha

The day began on a very high note with Mr. Condrad Saldanha, former Vice-President of the Time of India and presently the Principal Advisor of Don Bosco Centre of Learning, Kurla, inviting us to bridge the ‘Digital Divide’ and how the ‘context’ in which we live presents us with a new paradigm of life. Unless we become ‘Digital Immigrants’ we will never be able to communicate with the young who are today’s ‘Digital Natives’. Understanding the shift from the traditional ‘Culture of the Alphabet’ to our modern ‘Culture of Electricity’ should help us profoundly in our Pastoral Leadership with the young.

Fr. Nigel Barrett, belonging to the Archdiocese of Mumbai with a special passion for the well-being of youngsters in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPOs) challenged the participants to use ‘Social Networking’ sites like Facebook, Orkut as an important tool in our pastoral ministry.

Mr. Angelo Dias, a Salesian past-pupil and Founder of Taproot India and much sort after in Indian Advertising spoke to the Salesians on “Advertising and its impact on Youth”. Many of his awards winning Advertisements for Times of India, Pepsi, Nike, Lead India we also screened.

Ms Carol Andrade, Editor of The Afternoon and Mr. Troy Ribeiro, Director of Litmus Public Relations spoke to the participants on the importance of ‘Press Conferences’. In a world of Information overload, it is the sensational that often catches the eye. We don’t have to fear journalists anymore. Knowing the rights and duties of the journalists and our own rights and duties and keeping in mind the ‘Inverted Pyramid’, Press Conferences can become an important tool for us to reach the Media correctly and confidently.

Fr. Joaquim Fernandes sdb, Director of Tej-Prasarini, Don Bosco Communications enlightened the members on being “Called to be a Communicating Church” while Ms. Tazin Mistry, took us to the world of the young working in BPOs. Fr. Ralin De Souza sdb, Professor of Don Bosco College, Panjim, spoke on the “Internet as a Pastoral Instrument”. Fr. Robert Pen sdb, Principal Divyadaan, Nashik, enlightened us on “Mobiles and their Impact on the Young”.

Release of the documentary  'Water for Life'

A documentary Video, “Water for Life” on the Watershed projects in Ahmednagar was then released by Fr. Provincial. Fr. Ronnie Menezes sdb, the main MC of the program did a splendid job through his eloquence and humor. Special mementos were presented to every speaker.

Special thanks to Fr. Joaquim, Delegate of the Commission for Social Communication in the Mumbai Province and to the staff of Tej-Prasarini for the professional way in which they arranged the entire program. Salesian Mumbai truly feels more confident in the use of ‘Communication in Pastoral Leadership’

By Fr. Glenford Lowe sdb

BOSCO INFORMATION SERVICE # 1901