The Vatican Dicastery for Communication and partners organized a global conference for communicators in Rome, with a slot of two-day session for religious sisters; who serve in different parts of the world to share their pastoral experiences. Sr. Prof. Dominic Dipio, MSMMC, participated in this occasion as a witness and presenter. In a conversation with Sr. Dominic, it was evident that she was overwhelmed by the event that attracted over 10,000 professional and nonprofessional communicators. “We had two days for sister communicators’ session. This is the first ever meeting of this category to be singled out for visibility. The meeting attracted people from different works of life, whose pastoral activities communicated evidently, depicting Christ the perfect communicator.”
“The mission of communicating the word of God through the media is not a reserve for professional communicators,” one of the presenters remarked. It is about the link between humanity and means of communication. Church communication is a life-giving channel to be used by all for spreading the gospel message. The conference of the religious sisters was guided by the theme: “Weaving communion through communication.” Sr. Prof. Dipio added that, it was an amazing encounter with people from different works of life. For instance, Sr. Rosemary Nyirombe, SHS, who serves the victims abducted by Kony during the Lord’s Resistance Army movement and internal conflict in Gulu-northern Uganda shared her experience.
She empowers the needy through training, counselling, psychosocial accompaniment and education. Likewise, Sr. Norma Pimentel, the Director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, Mexico, helps the homeless prevention, disaster relief, clinical counselling, pregnancy care, relief food and the like. She also shared the experience of her apostolate. “It was also an opportunity for networking. Immediately after the conference, three of us (sisters) from different countries were hosted by a Ghanaian online TV, implying that sisters are a family, community and borderless people. In the midst of Catholic sisters was an Orthodox Sr. Vassa Larin, a liturgiologist in Russian Orthodox Church. She lives in Vienna, Austria writing scholarly articles, producer of podcasts and other online content.” Sr. Dominic narrated.
Conclusively, Sr. Dominic emphasised that, there is need to promote solidarity and communion in the mission. In all, the religious are globally called to undertake transformative deeds from grassroots initiatives to global advocacy to improve the lives of the people they serve. The conference provided avenue to share experiences in communicating hope in the contemporary media environment. The opening of the Jubilee of Social Communications invoked the intercession of St. Francis de Sales, patron of communicators and symbolized by a relic of the Saint, during the opening Mass at the Basilica of St. John Lateran. It was wonderfully concluded by the Holy Father, Pope Francis in the Basilica of St. Peter, where the square was packed to capacity with communicators and pilgrims who gave witness to this reality.
The Jubilee of Communication with the theme: Disarming information, sharing hope is a great opportunity to inspire and encourage Missionary Sisters of Mary Mother of the Church, MSMMC as social communication is one their five major areas of Apostolate. Tiziana Campisi, in Vatican News noted that, members were led to experience a special penitential rite and embrace the path of conversion symbolized by passing through the Holy Door, which represents Christ Himself. Father Giulio Albanese, Director of the Office for Social Communications of the Vicariate of Rome who led this rite. He encouraged communicators to view their profession as a mission field and where conversion cannot be separated from professional life.
He urged participants to ensure their communication reflects God’s love and charity not worldly motives. Echoing Pope Francis’ message for the 59th World Communication Day, he underscored the call to share hope with gentleness, a virtue central to the Jubilee’s mission. He called for communication that fosters hope and contributes to building a more fraternal world. Cardinal Reina Baldassare, the Vicar General of Rome in the homily said, “the Jubilee is a time of mercy, where the focus shifts from sins committed to the transformative power of God’s forgiveness.” Citing the example of the woman caught in adultery, Jesus chose the path of gentle communication, avoids aggression and collaborating with truth.
To disarm communication, we must first disarm our pride.” The prelate added that, Jesus did not define the woman by her mistake but recognized her inherent dignity, offering hope for renewal. The act of mercy gives horizon of hope to the woman caught in adultery thus, personal Jubilee! He also urged communicators to adopt the all-embracing style of communication that recognizes the dignity of every human being and fosters care for our common home while celebrating the Jubilee of World Day of Communication.
By Mary Lilly Driciru, MSMMC
