(ANS) – Fr. Gildasio Mendes, Councillor General for Social Communications, led a virtual meeting of International Salesian Social Communication Coordinators, where participants discussed progress, future plans, and initiatives to enhance the Salesians’ digital communication strategies. The meeting focused on upcoming events of global and regional importance, news and updates from regional coordinators, and the use of communication technology and skills for social transformation.
The coordinators from different regions shared updates on their programs, activities, and challenges. Highlights included the Don Bosco Global Youth Film Festival (DBGYFF 2024), the Mobile Journalism Project, and the Shaping Tomorrow – International Social Communication Conference. A recurring theme was adapting to evolving digital trends while maintaining a strong Salesian identity in social communications.
Fr. Rigobert, representing the African Madagascar Region, spoke about developing a communication plan for each province and the soon-to-be-launched new regional web portal for the region.
Fr. Ernest Rosario shared updates from the South Asia Region from their annual meeting in Mumbai, highlighting plans for setting up a Regional Social Communication Office for South Asia., a mobile journalism workshop, and a communication conference. He also announced the National Catholic Media Conference “Illuminair”, which will take place in Bangalore.
Fr. Paul Spiteri is the new coordinator for Central Europe. He is thrilled about this new responsibility and looks forward to coordinating programs in his region. He also appreciated the Shaping Tomorrow conference, which was held earlier in Rome.
Fr. Ambrose Pereira, representing the East Asia and Oceania regions, acknowledged the success of the Shaping Tomorrow Conference and looked forward to sessions on AI writing and translation services.
In Latin America, Fr. Pablo Abreu SDB highlighted efforts to foster affiliation around Don Bosco through Salesian music productions and shared updates on the Salesian Bulletin and Publishers Meeting.
The meeting also focused on enhancing visibility and support for Salesian social works in the Americas. Fr. João Carlos detailed preparations for the National Meeting of Salesian Radios and an upcoming pilgrimage to Salesian sites in Turin and Rome.
Fr. Harris Pakkam provided updates on the Don Bosco Global Youth Film Festival – Season 3, underscoring its focus on youth and climate change. He mentioned that the festival was not limited to Salesian institutions and that many non-Salesian institutions have also shown interest in screening the selected films this time. He said it is a source of pride for the congregation as it is a mammoth effort across the globe.
Fr. Maciej Makula shared the Mobile Journalism project aimed at educating and motivating young people. He shared the concept of the “charism of digital missionaries” as introduced in the Synod on Synodality. He also looks forward to the training courses and materials, which are in great demand.
Fr. Gildásio thanked all coordinators for their dedication and collaboration, reiterating the importance of aligning Salesian communication efforts with modern trends while fostering a strong connection with young people worldwide. He also mentioned the upcoming launch of the Don Bosco Music platform, which aims to create a global hub for Salesian music.
Additionally, Fr. Ernest updated us on the work in progress from the International Salesian Commission for Artificial Intelligence (ISCAI). The short document will offer a Salesian perspective on Artificial Intelligence (AI). It will focus on the definition of AI, its uses, challenges, and some possible projects and proposals.
The meeting concluded with words of appreciation for the achievements, support, and encouragement that have made these global initiatives possible.