Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Buenos Aires (Agenzia Fides) – On Sunday, May 16, Solemnity of the Ascension, in many countries the Church celebrated the World Day for Social Communications. In his message this year, dedicated to the theme “The Priest and the Pastoral Ministry in a Digital World: New Media in the Service of the Word,” the Holy Father Benedict XVI said that "priests stand at the threshold of a new era: as new technologies create deeper forms of relationship across greater distances, they are called to respond pastorally by putting the media ever more effectively at the service of the Word.”
In Argentina, the World Day was celebrated in different dioceses and archdioceses in the celebration of Holy Mass and other specific activities for this day. For example, in Corrientes communicators from the Archdiocese celebrated their anniversary with a Mass at the Cathedral presided by Archbishop Andrés Stanovnik. Later, in the lounge adjacent to the church, there was a moment of reflection and celebration. During the meeting, there was an exchange of experiences with the communicators working in the heart of the country, and a conference that included an "examination of conscience" on the mission and service of communication.
The note sent to Fides also mentions the celebration in Salta: a Mass at the Cathedral of the Lord and the Virgin of the Miracle presided by Archbishop Mario Antonio Cargnelli, attended by those working in the media (press, radio, television, Internet). In the Diocese of Formosa, Bishop Jose Vicente Conejero Gallego held a conference on the Holy Father's message on Saturday, May 15 and on Sunday, May 16 celebrated Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. In other dioceses, such as Lomas de Zamora, Avellaneda-Lanús, and in the Archdiocese of Paraná, through the Diocesan Commission for Social Communications, Masses were celebrated with special intentions for this day. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Rosario took up a special collection for communications media projects in the Church. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 17/05/2010)
