Abp John Ribat learning about social media from a digital native

By Bp. Donald Francis Lippert, O.F.M. Cap.

Port Moresby, PNG, 28 September 2016 -- A good bishop needs to be a good communicator! They communicate on so many different levels every day. As shepherds in the dioceses of PNG-SI their principle task is that of communicating the ‘Good News’ of Jesus.

The recent workshop of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, held at Emmaus Conference Center in East Boroko, was dedicated to the topic of communication, with a special emphasis on the important area of social communication.

The workshop, led by Fr Fabrizio Colombo, MCCJ, director of SIGNIS Services Rome, part the Vatican department dedicated to communication. He was assisted by Sr Daisy Lisania msc and Fr Ambrose Pereira, SDB.

The workshop had valuable information and a practical component. It began with a very enlightening discussion on story-telling. Story-telling is a very important aspect of the peoples of PNG-SI. Telling a good story is the fastest way of getting and holding people’s attention and communicating a meaningful message. The Gospels, demonstrate Jesus as one of the best story-tellers of all time!

The bishops learned the various elements for putting together a powerful story… and were given the opportunity of putting what they learned into practice. They were given the task of preparing a two-minute interview-style discourse. Each of these “interviews” were recorded by the presenters. Then came the moment of truth. The video of each of the interviews was presented to the entire group of bishops for comment and constructive criticism. While it was clear that the bishops are not novices at communicating their message, all were happy with the helpful exercise, because one can always do better!

The most interesting aspect of the workshop was an in-depth consideration of the ever-expanding world of social media made possible by the internet. Fr Fabrizio introduced some of the many platforms of social networking: Facebook, Twitter, Google+, WhatsApp, etc. Bishops were surprised to hear of the billions of people throughout the world who are using these kinds of social media. The number of users here in PNG-SI is no less astounding. After an honest consideration of the benefits and also the possible dangers of social media the bishops had the opportunity to interact with the true experts on social media – the young people! 15 brightest minds of the final year students of Don Bosco Technological Institute, Boroko joined the bishops for this session. The “natives” of the land of social media, were delighted to lead the “immigrants,” to their digital world! The students were paired with the bishops and acted as tutors to them. They shared their experience and expertise in the area of social media and opened up immense possibilities for social networking. Bishops and students both found the experience valuable and worthwhile.

It is obvious that social media is here to stay and, despite the challenges, if we want to reach the people of today especially the youth, with the Good News of Jesus, we need to take advantage of these new tools that are now at hand.

Besides being a time for learning about Social Media, it was a time for interaction and networking among themselves, prayer and celebrating personal events and achievements. Diocesan communication personnel will now commence their Media Workshop at Emmaus Conference Centre. It runs from the September 29 to October 2. Animators Fr Fabrizio Colombo, MCCJ, Fr Ambrose Pereira, SDB and Sr Daisy Lisania msc look forward to welcoming the participants from different corners of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. It promises to be a very interactive workshop. Main stream media personnel will share their insights and dwell on opportunities available for church media personnel. The participants will also have the possibility of a field trip to a leading media outlet.

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Archbishop Douglas Young on social media

Bishops with the digital natives

Bp Christian Blouin

Bp Francesco Panfilo at the Eucharistic celebration

Bp Jozef Roszynski svd sharing his vision

Bp Rochus Tatamai msc happy to be on social media

Bp. Donald Francis Lippert getting insights into social media

Fr Victor Roche svd

Group photo of the Bishops at the workshop