Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Jerusalem (Agenzia Fides) - The new Holy Land Catholic Communications Centre, an information service from the Church in Jerusalem that hopes to provide information in five languages - English, Italian, French, Arabic, and Hebrew - has begun operating in the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Some of the project’s objectives are: to create a news source with information on the initiatives, life, and activity of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land; to serve as a center for information coordination and networking among the churches, parishes, and pastoral centers of the various Catholic rites that exist there; and contribute to the spread of correct and authentic reports on the situations in the Holy Land, in response to the Church’s essential mission of announcing the Truth.
Fr. Giuseppe Caramazza, Combonian missionary and former director of the magazine entitled, “New People,” who is responsible for getting the project on its feet and procuring the basic needs such as personnel, materials, staff, the web page, etc., told Agenzia Fides, “This center is at the service of the various expressions of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land. It began this week, which is Holy Week for almost all the Catholic communities of Palestine and Jordan, who celebrate Easter this Sunday. They are currently at www.catcc.net, in five languages. It should be mentioned, however, that only Italian and English are completely up and running. Arabic should be ready in a couple of days, while French and Hebrew will be up in the coming weeks.”
The web page briefly presents the various Catholic Churches present in the Holy Land (Armenian, Caldean, Maronite, Melkite, Syrian, Greek, and Latin) and offers links to each of their own web pages. It also offers some facts about the main leaders of the local Church. “The archive also contains photos, videos, and audio material on ecclesiastical events in the Holy Land. The service will little by little become an authentic news agency,” said Fr. Caramazza.
Regarding the motivations and reflections that can be found at the basis of this project, the Cambonian explained that, “the Church of Jerusalem concluded the Synod in 2000, in which ample time was dedicated to the role of mass media in the Church’s mission. On that occasion, there were five proposals made: begin a Catholic Commission for the mass media; outline a complete pastoral plan that would be clear and applicable in every sector; follow the development of the general mass media, especially those of the Church; define a program of ethics formation for its use; support the work of the media with the necessary human, moral, and material resources. One of the first fruits of the work carried out over the last few years is the creation of the ‘Holy Land Catholic Communications Centre.’”
The project began “discretely,” as it wishes to “grow with time, adapting itself to the demands of the various Churches and the development of its programs in relation to communications,” with the certainty that it will soon be an important reference point in obtaining information on the Holy Land. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 24/4/2008; righe 40, parole 505)
