Communication Report 2010

DIOCESE OF RAJKOT

The Report of Social Communications activities 2010

The 42^nd World communication day was celebrated in vivid manner in the diocesan level as well as in parish level too. It created an awareness to hold the media along with our pastoral, social and other activities. The celebration indeed started with the circulation of the messages of Pope Benedict XVI. The department of Social communications of Rajkot diocese made a Blue print of the celebration after the completion of last year’s meeting.

The main purpose is to evangelize through the available means of modern media. These include the Radio broadcast, television broadcast, newspaper publication, video production and web/internet contribution. The motto of the diocese is to have life and have it in abundance. This motto calls for a transformation in regard to the media and its use.

The main activities

Appointing a full term director to the Department of Communication. The present director Rev. Fr. Sebastian Kalathil has completed his post-graduation in Journalism & Mass Media.

To have a complete development in human person spiritually, physically and psychologically. In concern with this thought, we arranged 2day seminar for all Social Communication coordinators and collaborators to understand and share ideas in relation to the theme of this year. The venue of the seminar was Bishop’s House, Rajkot. There were 25 people from different parishes and the diocesan coordinators participated.

Publishing theological magazines and news bulletins: The department of communication publishes 2 national theological magazines namely: Third millennium and Journal of St. Thomas Christians along with 2 diocesan bulletins.

Bible correspondence course: The Bible correspondence course through out the diocese is taken care by the department of the communication. There are about 200 non-Christians registered this year.

Creating blogs: Most of the priests and religious made it a point to make a personal blog in order to spread the gospel values and spiritual thoughts daily. Most of the sermons are published in the blogs.

Social networking: The face book and orkut is another area to give a good thought and advice to the needy people. Many of our priests and sisters are introduced this social networking to impart the Christian values to the people.

The Rosary celebration made it an audio visual programme for some of the parishes in the month of October.

Another main activity was to publish all our activities in the leading news papers and TV channels. The Zonal coordinators were taken utmost care to publish our activities in the media at respective places.

Calling out all the media persons on the world communications day was the another event which took place in this year. There were 15 media persons attended and shared their view with regard to the journalism with truth. In appreciation for the service being offered to the diocese, Bishop Jose Chittooparambil felicitated all media person with a shawl and a gift. He also urged them enriching to contribute to build up a better society without making any distinction in class, caste or creed.

Future plan:

To strengthen the department of social communication in the diocese with a full pledged office and to establish Communication Centers in different zones with local Christian media professionals and other like-minded persons. We lag the financial support to maintain the communication department.

To Prepare lay people to send for the short term courses in media training if scholarship is available.

Fr. Sebastian Kalathil                                                   

Director