The Month of September brings with it some joyful memories with the celebration of Novenas and feast of the Nativity of Mother Mary accompanied with the celebration of mother’s Day in the various Parishes of Goa. This year being the Jubilee Year, the Jubilee of Mothers was also celebrated in various parishes.
However something unique was done in the parishes of Chaudi, Canacona and Panchwadi. A program called Media Mission, was organized during their Novenas, culminating with the feast.
Media mission is a unique media education and communications skills empowerment program organized by Diocesan Centre for Social Communications media.
This Mission helps the people to reflect on their interpersonal communication skills within the family and society, by improving their communication and behavioural approaches. It also focuses on communication skills for children and youth. It deals specially with social media, including safety measures while using social media. Some Cyber Crime awareness inputs are also given. Analysing, news, public opinion and Advertisements to discern the truth behind the message, is also part of the teaching.
Keeping in line with the theme of the jubilee Year the main theme of the Mission was to be messengers of hope through our communications. Stressing how we can communicate to build bridges and uplift the families and society through the use of communications skills and media positively. All the sessions were based on Scripture and teachings of the Church regarding Social Communications Media as well as latest developments in the field of Media.
Fr. Alvito Almeida parish priest of Panchwadi Church and Fr. Sucour Colaco parish priest of Chaudi, Canacona thanked Fr. Barry Cardozo, Director of Diocesan Centre for social communications media, and his team consisting of Fr. Leo Fernandes, executive secretary of Diocesan Pastoral Secretariat and Fr. Onasis D’Cruz, assistant to the director of St. Joseph Vaz retreat Centre. The Parish priests appreciated the unique program expressing that it is the need of the hour. People also gave feedback expressing that it will help them in improving their interpersonal relationships, gave them important knowledge about media and also gave them a rare opportunity to listen to social communication teachings of the church. Some also shared how they were victims of digital scams too.
The Diocesan Centre for Social communications media prepares the themes and assigns a team of priests for the Novenas. Around three to five priests (Diocesan and Religious) collaborate in this program.
Realizing the importance of such a program DCSCM, Goa started this program from June last year and has covered quite a number of parishes all over Goa until now.
