Catholic Press Association Elects Fr. Washington President For Second Term

CHENNAI, Tamil Nadu, Feb. 25, 2010, 15.30 Hrs (SAR News):

The 47-year-old Indian Catholic Press Association re-elected Father Adolf Washington of Bangalore Archdiocese as president, at its annual general body meeting held in Chennai.

He was re-elected unopposed for a second term.

Father Washington, who will serve a 3-year term, is presently the managing director and editor-in-chief of “South Asian Religious News” agency run by the ICPA. He is also the public relations officer of Bangalore Archdiocese and director of communications in the archdiocese.

In his message, shortly after being elected, he said: “The ICPA should become a stronger force by inducting more and more lay journalists from the secular publications. It is my desire that this association should serve to work strongly against fundamentalist forces that are causing communal disharmony and dividing this nation. Together we can make it happen when we put our writing and reporting talents to greater use.”

Editor of “Mylapore Times”, Vincent D’Souza, was elected as the vice-president while F. A. Nathan from Chennai was re-elected secretary.

Other office-bearers elected are Father Jayan Nagapuzha (joint-secretary) Salesian priest Father Glorious Steve (representative of the institution) and Sister Benigna Menezes (representative for women journalists).

The executive committee representing different regions includes Father Chrysostom Hembrom (northern region), Matthew Plathottam (southern region) Roman Bhatia (western region).

The committee will decide on a member representative from the eastern region and appoint a treasurer shortly.

The ICPA is the oldest and the only national press association in the country with its office in Bangalore. Cardinal Oswald Gracias is its ecclesiastical advisor.