Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Honiara (Agenzia Fides) - “You are building that bridge - between a village culture and a cash culture”, said Dr. John Roughan as he addressed the participants at the Media Education Seminar for parish animators, at Don Bosco House of Prayer, Kola Ridge. “Your resource base is in your village. The huge ship needs to change course and it requires a bridging mechanism. With the skills that you have and the communication skills that you have learnt, strive to bring about this awareness to the people in your village”, he exhorted them. Twelve participants from Tetere, Visale, Savo, Tenaru, Tangarare, Marau and Ruavatu spent an enriching and interactive five days from 29 May to 2 June, 2006 understanding the different aspects of communication. They also reflected on the Pope Benedict XVI ’s Message for the 40th World Communications Day on Communication Communion and Cooperation. The message stressed the need to transmit truth, justice and peace; the challenge to be responsible and propagate justice and peace and that the media should always foster the foundation of every culture and society - the family. “Formation, participation and dialogue are three steps that need to be fostered”, stated Fr. Ambrose Pereira sdb, as he dwelt on the theme. Brenda Mauli, SIDT and Link editor encouraged the participants to speak and share about issues in their villages and at grass root levels. Walter Turasi, SIDT video personnel was delighted with the response of the impact of the video “People’s power” - to bring about awareness of the dangers of an eventual eruption in Savo. “We need to learn to use the media to save lives”, he told the participants.
The Catholic Church in the archipelago of Solomons considers the media indispensable for promoting peace, justice and harmony in society and is committed to forming Catholic communicators in the use of new IT promoting seminars for parishes schools and associations keeping in mind the evolution and opportunities offered by the new media which can be effective channels for the Church’s mission to spread Gospel. (Agenzia Fides 7/6/2006 righe 26 parole 262)
