DIOCESE OF RAJKOT
DEEPTI COMMUNICATIONS
Commission for Social Communication
Annual Report-2010
Introduction
Social Communication began in 1999 as an independent office under the name “DEEPTI COMMUNICATION CENTRE” with the purpose of formation and information in the religious as well as in the public field. The main purpose of this communication centre is for evangelization through an available Media.
Social Communication has fostered the circulation of information among the lay faithful, congregations and the common people in and around Saurashtra and Kutch. The diocese wanted her members and institutions know and communicate each other’s activities in order to participate in common vision and mission of the diocese. Therefore, Social Communication was looked upon as possible response to collaboration and mutual support.
Today Social Communication supports the spreading of “Gospel Values”. It works with men and women to come together to a great table to participate in an exchange of brotherhood, for a mutual and sympathetic understanding, dialogue and co-operation. Social Communication sees itself in the mission of helping the Church in Rajkot and Kutch grasp the meaning, and appreciate the importance and validity of the media and the urgency of using them to speak on behalf of the poor and disadvantaged; and to proclaim the divine message without fear or compromise.
Our department of Social Communication comprises 5 members headed by a Director. The list as follows:
Fr. Sebastian Kalathil- Director
Fr. Biju Parambakath- Secretary
Dr.Fr. Jacob Marangatt- Member
Sr. Elsy Myladil DP - Member
Mr. Joy Puthussery- Member
MAJOR ACTIVITES ACCOMPLISHED
1. PUBLICATIONS
2. RAJKOT NEWS BULLETIN IN NEW SHAPE
3. ESTABLISHING COMMUNICATION DESKS WITH OTHER MEDIA
PERSONS
4. LINK WITH OTHER PUBLICATIONS
5. PUBLICATION OF DIOCESAN DIRECTORY
6. SERVICES OF VIDEO-LENDING LIBRARY
7. SETTING REFERENCE LIBRARY
8. PUBLIC RELATIONS
9. CREATING BLOGS
10. UPDATING WEBSITE
11. APPOINTMENT OF A FULL TIME DIRECTOR
STRATEGY OF IMPLEMENTATION
Social Communication proceeds with strengthening the mission of defining the concept of Christian Communication. One of the strategies of implementation is its existing printed media, News Bulletin and other regular theological publications which is bilingual, Gujarati and English. Through these, Social Communication assists the faithful to grasp the meaning, validity and appreciation of the Church’s efforts.
Through the same channel, Social Communication enables the Catholic Community members to develop a communication strategy capable of stimulating a wave of Christian thinking that can reach the people of God (through some essay competitions)
The methods of communication are meant to direct social life of people towards a common pool of ideas and understanding for a constructive interaction. The strategy of the printed media is to carry a spiritual dimension of faith in various columns of the papers.
It has strengthened the network of working with units and section of the diocesan centers and other NGOs in order to accomplish more concepts of human dignity and values of life. It strongly functions towards the improvement of social, economic and spiritual life of the faithful through the print media, video lending library and various constructive interventions.
MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS AND IMPACTS
v PUBLICATIONS: Social Communication has been successfully publishing 15 books and other monthly newsletters and distributed to all parishes, diocese and interested subscribers. One of the impacts of the publication has brought is building up broader and strengthened comprehension of the Church’s mission among the faithful. It also inspired the Christian Communication which prevails in the Biblical revelation that God is the God who communicates with men and women of all times with the aim to establish true relationships with them. In short, the publication has developed the great impacts of communications with God and with each other aimed at building human growth, equality and freedom. The newly published books are: A CRY IN THE WILDERNESS BY BISHOP GREGORY KAROTEMPREL & A PREFACE TO AN INDIAN CHRISTOLOGY BY DR. SUBHASH ANAND.
Regular Publications
1. Vidya Dharsan
2. Third Millennium
3. Journal of St. Thomas Christians
v DIOCESAN NEWSLETTER: “DEEPTI”- This is the quarterly publication of diocesan’ activities. The Newsletter has kept people on post as to the ongoing activities (pastoral and Social) of the different units, sections and co-ordinations of the diocese.
2. Saurashtra Kutch Samachar: This is the bi-monthly publication which is circulated within the diocese. It carries out all kinds of events of the diocese and its centers.
3. Nav Yuv. This is the monthly publication of Youth for the youths of the parishes and their activities
4. Navjeevan Samachar: It carries the main events of the social work department.
5. Kutch Jyoti Sandesh : Kutch Social work forum has introduced to give the
awareness among the people of Kutch.
6. Jeet Prakash Samachar : This publication based on the Surendranagar district in collaboration with other NGOs
v ESTABLISHING COMMUNICATION DESKS WITH OTHER MEDIA PERSONS: In collaboration with other media persons, Social Communication has established Communication desks in almost all the centers. Its impact is to bring about effective communication in development works and Evangelization. It has enabled the Social centers to develop communications strategy of fresh Christian comprehension at grass roots levels. Social Communication has enabled them to coordinate and develop Church’s communications in specific reality and situation of the Church and the country.
· On August 15th (Independence Day) the diocese has published a full page supplementary on our activities in collaboration with Indian Express.
· Rajkot city Channel has given full coverage on the Episcopal Ordination of our New Bishop without any monetary benefits.
· During Christmas and New Year celebration most of the Daily News papers covered the celebration of Christmas of our churches with beautiful headings.
· All India Radio aired the Christmas message of our bishop.
v PARTNERSHIP NETWORK & REPRESENTATIONS: Social Communication has participated in various workshops at national level. It has represented the communications of the Church activities at the forums, i.e. the local newspaper has arranged the workshop for the journalists. The book exhibition committee has asked us to exhibit our publications in the book faire
1. St. Paul’s Publications, Bombay
2. St. Paul’s Publications, Ahmedabad
3. Gujarat Sahitya Prakashan, Anand
4. Gurjar Vani, Ahmedabad
5. Nav Chetna Communications, Bhopal
6. S.F.S. Publications, Bangalore
7. N.B.C.L.C., Bangalore
8. Dharmaram Publications, Bangalore
9. Jeevandeep Communications, Udaypur
10. Vidyodaya Publications, Rajkot
11. Jesus Productions, Patna
12. Yesu Amarvani, Chandigarh
13. Nav Tarang, Sagar
14. Divine Retreat Centre, Potta
v DIOCESAN DIRECTORY: The directory is produced and up-dated every two years. It contains addresses of all centers of the diocese. The pieces of information it provides ease the fast references and communications with all concerned.
v VIDEO LENDING: Social Communication runs a mini video-lending library. It lends movies to the people of the common people on the main areas of education, entertainment and the Bible. It really creates good images to the faithful in terms of various works of the Church in assisting the needy. Video show on “Life of Christ” was arranged on Christmas week. Many of viwers requested and taken the CD of the same.
v REFERENCE LIBRARY: Social Communication has taken the initiative of setting up a small reference library. It has got a huge collection of books on different subjects. Good number of books has been contributed. It’s really appreciated many.
v PUBLIC RELATIOINS: Social Communication has been shouldering these responsibilities in particular at various Government’s workshops and gatherings. It has facilitated press conferences particularly during major events like Episcopal ordination, Christmas Celebration etc. Free leaflet on our activities, the meaning of Christmas etc were distributed.
v CREATING BLOGS: Social Communication has been given wide publicity to the priests in the diocese to create a blog for their centers or personal to share the gospel values and to discuss the public issues. Many of them were responded positively and created blogs. The Social Communication has also created the blog on www.deepticommunication.blogspot.com
v UPDATING WEBSITE: This is the ongoing work of the department of communication to update the website of the diocese. In every week we add the news of the week. The main news and events are updated with some photos. www.rajkot diocese.org
v APPOINTMENT OF A FULL TIME DIRECTOR: Fr. Sebastian Kalathil has been appointed as the new and full time director of the Social Communication. He completed his post graduation in Journalism and Mass Media. The former director is pursuing the same.
v CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR CELEBRATION: Prem Mandir has virtually become the point of unity of different religions. A very effective inter-religious dialogue is being carried out in and around Prem Mandir in silence. No one would dare believe that people in so many thousands would flock to Prem Mandir to have a darshan of Isubhagavan, to pray to Mother Mary and offer candles to her. On the Christmas day, that is on 25th December, 1.5 Lakhs of people visited Prem Mandir to have the darshan of Isubhagavan. The visiting non-Christians keep a great sense of devotion and silence while they are in the church.
*The department of communication arranged a Multimedia show on the life of Jesus and saints
*The exhibition on salvation history.
*Distribution of pamphlets on the meaning of Christmas
* Christms crib was on the theme of “Vanche Gujarat” ( let Gujarat read) assisted by the department of Social Communication
We can say in all earnestness that the Prem Mandir stands here as an effective medium of evangelization.
v WORLD COMMUNICATION DAY CELEBRATION
The 44th World communication day was celebrated in vivid manner in the diocesan as well as in parish level. The diocese of Rajkot organized the celebration of the 44th world communications day on 14th November 2010 during the Holy Eucharist presided by Most Rev. Gregory Karotemprel, the Bishop of Rajkot. With the theme, Priest and Pastoral Ministry in a Digital World: New Media at the service of the Word” the event was held in conjunction with the Year of the Priests.
After reading the message of Pope Benedict XVI to the assembly, Bishop gave the importance of Media in the modern world and also highlighted the advantages and disadvantages of the media. Foremost of which is its responsibility towards the good of the community.
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 to all the parishes and centers. The department of Social communications of Rajkot diocese made a Blue print of the celebration after the completion of last year’s meeting.
Activities:
Two day seminar was held for all Social Communication coordinators and collaborators to understand and share ideas in relation to the theme of the year. The venue of the seminar was Bishop’s House, Rajkot. There were 25 people attended the meeting.
Gathering of Media persons: There were 15 media persons gathered in the Bishop’s house on the previous day of the World Communication day. They shared their view with regard to their profession and towards activity of the diocese. In appreciation for their service being offered to the diocese, Bishop Gregory Karotemprel felicitated all media persons with a shawl and a gift.
v FUTURE STRATEGIES & FORESEEN PLAN
Communication with Media persons: The majority of the media persons are not communicated properly on time regarding our activities, may be due to unavailability or busy schedule of the person. To maintain good relationship with media people and often have communication with them. So it is the strategy of Social Communication to keep up the fraternal communication with the others.
Involvement of lay people in media training: To Prepare lay people in the media by sending for the short term courses in media training.
To establish a multifaceted office: To strengthen the department of social communication in the diocese with a full pledged office (to conduct audio-visual programme) and to establish Communication Centers in different zones with local Christian media professionals and other like-minded persons, we need to update our office and other equipments. We need a financial support to maintain the communication department.
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