“Sharing our journeys is more than just telling a story, it’s about lighting a path for others.”
Port Moresby, PNG, 31 October 2024 -- It was less than an hour before arriving at Fiumicino Airport in Rome that I reflected deeply on every action and decision that led me to this point, appreciating just how good God has been to me. Scaling the mountains of challenges and courageously following that inner voice brought me here. I have been truly blessed to have the opportunity to attend the worldwide Salesian Social Communication Conference in Rome, Italy while also visiting a few significant places.
Valdocco, Turin Experience
It was a tremendous blessing to visit Turin, a five-hour train ride from Rome. The people, especially the FMA sisters who hosted us, and the historical significance of Valdocco made for a heartwarming experience. Though our exchanges in Italian were minimal, one could feel the warmth these elderly sisters radiated through their smiles and gracious service at mealtimes. Even though using a translation app didn’t lead to full conversations, "grazie" (thank you) and "sì" (yes) were often accompanied by my biggest smiles in response to their full sentences. It was a wonderful experience, regardless of the language barrier.
The morning walk down Cottolengo Street awakened my mind to the sensations of the past. As Fr. Ambrose shared stories about Don Bosco’s encounters, particularly with Cottolengo and Baroness Marchesa, he showed me places that were integral to Don Bosco’s journey. It felt like walking through and reliving history - seeing the very place where it all began. I had only read about Don Bosco’s mission in books and lectures, but now I was witnessing it in person.
I couldn’t help but imagine Don Bosco, like in the film Mission to Love, rushing down these streets, joyfully embracing everyone. At the same time, I thought about the hardships of the past. Just as today, times were difficult back then, but Don Bosco, Cottolengo, and Baroness Marchesa made the most of what they had to selflessly serve those in need. Reflecting on this, I began to ask myself, “Am I doing enough?” In a world obsessed with selfies and instant gratification, I felt challenged as I imagined Cottolengo building a hospital for the poor, Baroness Marchesa working for marginalized girls, and Don Bosco caring for his poor boys. Their service was wholehearted.
On the first morning, standing in the Basilica of Our Lady Help of Christians, I was overwhelmed by its beauty. It was the first basilica I had ever seen, and as I gazed at the relics of Don Bosco, St. Mary Mazarello, and the tomb of Dominic Savio, my heart was full. As a past pupil of Don Bosco, seeing his "han mak" - the tools, equipment, and everything in the museum - was deeply emotional. I realized that, in a way, I am a product of Valdocco.
Social Communication Conference
The theme, “Shaping Tomorrow,” focused on the ever-changing landscape of communication. The conference aimed to equip members of the Salesian Family with the skills to communicate effectively, acknowledging that communication is at the heart of social transformation.
As members of the Salesian Family, our goal is to help form young people into “honest and upright citizens,” ensuring that they are protagonists on the internet and social media. Our professionalism in Salesian social communication means staying open to new trends, skills, and emerging challenges in digital communication. We also engage with social issues like migration, refugees, and ecological crises.
The conference presentations provided deep insights into the changing paradigms of communication, emphasizing the God-given authenticity of the human person. The key message was that our communication should draw others toward God. Our digital platforms should promote good values. I also encountered two terms: Digital Missionary and Digital Narcissist. While Digital Missionaries spread the message of God through multimedia content, Digital Narcissists promote themselves and their brands. Sadly, this self-promotion is becoming the norm. Ultimately, the takeaway was that humanity must be at the heart of communication, and we should share our authentic selves, lived experiences, and human emotions, which cannot be automated.
Beautiful Encounters
I hadn’t anticipated how enriching the encounters at the conference would be. I met friends from Europe, Africa, Latin America, South Asia, and East Asia-Oceania. It’s incredible how much I’ve learned about the beautiful stories of what people are doing in their own countries. One particularly inspiring story comes from a fellow past pupil from Slovenia, who is a university professor and volunteers in social communication at a Don Bosco center. Her story made me realize that as past pupils, we are called to carry forward Don Bosco’s dream of service and live his charism wherever we are.
Despite the scorching summer heat, experiencing the beautiful Italian cities, architecture, and countryside was priceless. It seemed like everything was made from the heart where every little design was an intricate work of art, which led me to reflect on how we, too, should strive for excellence in everything we do. I hope that this ethos of “doing our ordinary duties extraordinarily well” can also be embraced in our lives, as we approach our golden jubilee anniversary for the country.
Ending with Gratitude
We are helped on our journey by a whole community of people. I am deeply grateful to the community of people who made this experience possible for me. My heartfelt thanks go to Fr. Gregorio Bicoming, SDB, Provincial Superior of the PGS Vice-Province, for giving me the opportunity to attend, and to Fr. Ambrose Pereira, SDB, Social Communication Delegate and EAO Social Communication Coordinator, for his constant support. I am especially grateful to Fr. Gildasio Mendez, SDB, and Fr. Harris Pakkam, SDB, for their invaluable assistance. I’m thankful to all the wonderful souls I encountered and look forward to carrying these experiences forward, shaping tomorrow in my context and social communication in PGS while continuing to connect and collaborate with my newfound friends and network.
