Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Port Moresby (Fides Service) - The Church lives her mission also in the media, a world in which lay Catholics are called to render present the message of God. In Papua New Guinea the local Church is determined to intensify her presence and make use of these new pulpits for evangelisation which are part of the culture and the world of the third Christian millennium.
To do this it is necessary to provide specific education especially among the younger generation: this is a field in which religious and missionaries in PNG are very committed organising events and seminars for formation, sharing and comparison. The most recent seminar was held in January at Port Moresby, with the participation of Jesuit Fr Luciano Odorico, a few Salesians, other religious and lay people, all media operators who shared their experience in the field of proclamation and communication. Some work in radio, others in print media, all agreed on the need for professional expertise and the urgency to educate school children and young people to a correct use of the media.
“We need to be pro-active and creative as we wend out our messages” the participants said. The Seminar concluded on 24 January, feast of St Francis de Sales, patron of journalists and the day on which the Holy Father Benedict XVI released his Message for World Communications Day 2006 "The Media: A Network for Communication, Communion and Cooperation". In the spirit of the Papal message the participants suggested Catholics in PNG should adopt a more energetic approach using radio, print media, TV and the Internet to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Reference points in the Pacific are the Salesians who organised celebrations for the feast day of St John Bosco 31 January in the numerous institutes of education and professional training thy run in PNG. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 2/2/2006 righe 26 parole 225)
