Salesian presence at the SIGNIS World Congress 2017

By Fr Sebastian Koladiyil, SDB and Fr Ambrose Pereira, SDB

Quebec City, Canada, 23 June 2017 -- The SIGNIS World Congress 2017 took place at Laval University, Quebec City, Canada from June 19th to 23th, 2017. The theme of the Congress was, “Promoting Stories of Hope”

Among the 250 participants from across the world, there were four Salesians who are involved in the ministry of Social Communication in their provinces. They were Fr. Ambrose Pereira from Papua New Guinea, Fr. Michael Mendel from the USA, Fr. Leos Rysak from the Czech Republic and Fr. Sebastian Koladiyil from Kenya.

From the Salesians, Fr. Ambrose facilitated session on” Voices of Hope from the Traditional Culture”, Fr. Leos, the founder and director of TV Noe, presented a short Documentary for the session on Television and Fr. Sebastian facilitated the session on Television, promoting stories of Hope, in which a Video by BEAMS on the theme, stories of Hope, was shown. This was the only video from the third world that was presented at the Congress. Fr. Michael was requested by Fr. Filiberto Gonzalez SDB to represent the Salesians at the Congress.

The main topics dealt with during the Congress were: Communicating Hope, Hope in the Future, Building Hope and Peace in a world of Cultural and Religious diversity and the New Generation of Catholic Communicators: Experiences and Challenges. After the presentation of these topics there were breakout sessions and panel discussions.

The Congress explored the prophetic power of story and helped the participants to imagine the world afresh. It has been a place to recognize the creativity of Catholic Communicators and to acknowledge and highlight the value of their stories. It has been also a time of sharing and renewing the bonds of fraternity, a time of recognizing that the issues of justice and peace have to be reinforced ever more through the media.

One area that was much explored and discussed was the use, abuse and the need to create a solid program of education for Social Media. With a world in their hand through smart phones, everyone was concerned, where Social media is taking our new generation, and as a result, relationship have taken a new twist. It was a felt need that every communicator should take this issue seriously and work towards a creative presence in the social media.

It was a wonderful time to highlight the positive role of the media in different counties. Space was given to understanding traditional culture and the need to keep alive the language, traditions and customs and the values of people in far-flung corners of the globe. “Listening to participants share passionately about their work with indigenous people has invigorated me to do the same”, said Fr. Ambrose Pereira sdb, participant and speaker from Papua New Guinea.

As SIGNIS opens its 90th year of service everyone was invited to, “build bridges of solidarity, justice and peace, share stories of life and communicate positive feelings of hope”.

SIGNIS members were united in their faith and the steadfast conviction that the creative energy of media can transform violent conflict, build tolerance, celebrate diversity and construct a culture of peace, shaped by respect for human dignity and the promotion of justice and reconciliation.

One of the highlights of the whole event was the presence of renowned Catholic filmmaker Martin Scorsese and the viewing of his latest movie “Silence”, which took him 27 years to make. After the movie, there was a question answer session with him. He later joined the Mass at the Quebec Cathedral with all the participants and the dinner that followed.

Many media house showcased their works and also broadcast equipment too were on display. From 21st about 200 Catholic media practitioners from the USA and Canada joined meeting totalling the number 450. The meeting of Delegates and the SIGNIS Board then followed at which new members were elected, bringing fresh energy and vitality.

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