Communication Resources for Formation Launched

NEW DELHI, Feb. 15, 2010, 10.00 Hrs (CBCI News):

President of the Pontifical Commission for Social Communications, Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli released three books and DVD resources for teachers and launched a national programme for formation in social communications of the seminarians, religious and lay leaders in India at the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) Centre, New Delhi, February 12. The programme was launched during a three-day meeting of the bishops and secretaries of social communication in the 13 regional bishops’ councils and leaders of communication in the church in India and several other dignitaries.

“This is indeed a very positive and praiseworthy initiative, a gift of the Church in India for her ministry in communications,” said Archbishop Celli while releasing the books. It was his first visit to India as the head of Vatican’s topmost official responsible for social communications.

“The Holy See, he said, is very pleased with this project. Many people in other countries are waiting for this book. This initiative is a big moment in the life of the whole Church and it can be an inspiration for many. I am very glad that the Church in India is creating the new path especially for formation in Social Communications – this is indeed a big investment,” the Archbishop added. He complimented the CBCI Commission for Social Communications and the Don Bosco Communications- India for the remarkable achievement. The three volumes titled Communication for Pastoral Leadership is a 9-credit formation programme for the various stages of formation.

Archbishop Celli called the project a profitable tool for the Church in other countries too.

“This project will empower Church personnel in communications both staff and students in the seminaries as well as lay leaders in the Church,” commented the CBCI Social Communications Chairman Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Mumbai. “I am particularly grateful to Fr George Plathottam, CBCI Social Communication Secretary, who took up and completed the project speedily and effectively,” said Cardinal Gracias. He paid tributes to the Salesians and others who worked on the project. The Cardinal observed that in the last decade or so there has been a growing interest among the bishops in social communications.

The project code named Communication for Pastoral Leadership (CPL) has in addition to the three books, resources for teachers. The CBCI Commission for Social Communications has appointed Norbertine priest Dr Joseph Murickan as national coordinator for the programme. In addition to a series of multi-city orientation meetings with formatiors and religious leaders, the team intends to organize several training programmes for the staff of seminaries and formation houses across the country. An interactive website titled www.communicationformation.com has been launched for the project, and a team of 25 experts in communication and formation has been set up to assist the implementation of the programme. The team also plans to select a group of students for in-service training in communication skills. They would assist in the upkeep of the website on formation in social communications.

The project is designed to cover the different phases of formation. Book 1 under the subtitle “Basics of Social Communication” by K J Louis sdb is primarily meant for the initial stages of formation such as the minor seminary. Book 2 with the subtitle “Critical Understanding of Social Communication” by Robert Pen sdb is aimed at the students of philosophy and regency or their equivalent for religious, and Book 3 with the subtitle “Theological Perspectives in Social Communication” by George Plathottam sdb is meant for the students of theology and those in the final stages of religious formation.

Each of the books has a major section on the content divided into three parts and a shorter section on skills suitable for the particular phase of formation. Each lesson ends with suggested activities, references and glossary. The books and other resources are distributed by Tej Prasarini- Don Bosco Communications, Mumbai.

The 25-member Expert Committee will assist in reaching out to seminaries and formation houses which require resource persons to teach the course. They will also assist in evaluation of the course. Several publishing houses have been shortlisted to bring out relevant books on social communications.

Photo caption:
L to R : Fr Fernandes, Fr Pen, Fr Plathottam, Abp Cornelio, Abp celli,
Card. Gracias and Fr Louis. Photo by C. M. Paul