After a moment of prayer, Fr García Morcuende commenced his presentation.
Right at the onset, he struck a chord with the participants as he quoted from Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI saying that the Internet should be an instrument for the world to see the face of Christ and to let his voice be heard. Throughout the presentation, he made it clear that while not underestimating the value of physical presence in the Salesian ministry, it would be lackadaisical on Salesian part to disregard the value of digital presence.
It is an indispensable responsibility, he clarified, to educate the young in the use of social media: to build in them keen moral values that will help them while navigating through the Internet and to produce positive content. Rather than being determined by the media, the Salesians and the young have to use it as an instrument to tell the story of God’s love for everyone.
During the interaction after the presentation, Fr Garcia Morcuende challenged the Salesians of the South Asia region to come up with concrete ways to be effective on social media.
The SSSC (Salesian School of Social Communication) aims to train and enrich those involved in leading the media ministry of various Salesian provinces according to the evangelical, synodal, Salesian and convergent view of communication in order to evangelize and educate the youth of today.
This programme was the fifth session of the fourteen sessions to be held by the SSSC.
Fr. Christopher Valentino, SDB
