Today, the steam has given way to silicon, and ink to digital code. In 2026, we navigate a world shaped by artificial intelligence, virtual realities, and constant connectivity. Yet the challenge remains the same. Like Arnold, we are called to apostolic audacity—to engage new frontiers with courage and discernment. The digital space has become a modern “Areopagus”: vibrant, complex, and often wounded—a place where billions connect, yet many experience deep isolation. It is a world searching for light, often without knowing its source.

The theme of our 19th General Chapter, “Your Light Must Shine Before Others” (Mt 5:16), offers more than inspiration; it provides direction. What does it mean to be faithful and creative disciples when our encounters are mediated by screens and algorithms? The digital world connects, but it also fragments. It informs, yet overwhelms. Increasingly, it is filled with noise—content that is repetitive, superficial, or even misleading.

In this context, letting our light shine requires more than sharing information. We are not merely communicators of news; we are witnesses. Our digital presence must reflect authenticity and grounded hope. In environments where outrage and division often dominate, we are called to foster trust. Our platforms—websites, social media, and internal networks—should become spaces of encounter: places that counter isolation, encourage dialogue, and uphold truth in a time of confusion.

Recognizing this responsibility, the 19th General Chapter (3.2.7) calls for the responsible use of digital media and artificial intelligence. This is not optional but essential. By strengthening digital literacy and collaboration across our communication networks, we can create content that truly resonates. Tools like AI can support our mission—especially in translation and outreach—but they require discernment to ensure that what we share remains faithful to the spirit of the Divine Word.

If St. Arnold Janssen were among us today, one can imagine him using digital tools with the same intentionality he once applied to the printing press. He would not be overwhelmed by technology but would seek to understand and direct it for a mission. As we move beyond the celebration of our 150th anniversary, we are invited to embody that same creative discipleship—engaging the tools of our time with both courage and responsibility.

This is not about appearing modern or “tech-savvy.” It is about remaining faithful to our mission. Whether through AI-assisted translation that connects confreres across continents, or through small digital communities that foster genuine dialogue and prayer, our goal is to keep the Word relational and accessible. Technology serves the person; it is never an end in itself.

In fact, one of the defining trends of our time is a renewed hunger for authenticity. Amid an abundance of automated and impersonal content, people seek what is real—stories of lived faith, sacrifice, and community. Here lies a profound opportunity for mission.

Our communication platforms, including mission journals, are no longer simply repositories of information. They are spaces of storytelling. When we share the lived experiences of mission—whether in challenging contexts or in moments of grace—we do more than report events. We reveal the presence of light. We show that even in a digital age, marked by speed and abstraction, the Spirit continues to work through concrete human lives.

The digital world, then, is not empty or distant from grace. It is a real space of encounter, where the Gospel can still be lived and shared. The question is not whether we are present there, but how we are present.

So we might ask ourselves: how is my digital light shining? Are we using our global connectivity to build a recognizable witness of hope? To be missionaries today is to stand at the intersection of tradition and innovation—ensuring that, even within the vast networks of digital communication, the warmth of the Divine Word remains alive.

Let us not fear the rapid changes of our time. Instead, let us bring into them the enduring light of the Gospel. Platforms will evolve, but the Message remains. And our mission endures: to ensure that behind every post, every message, and every shared story, there is a living witness—a heart committed to the Word, and a light that no system or algorithm can extinguish.

“The press is a powerful lever for good… it is a missionary itself.” — St. Arnold Janssen

How are you using your digital “lever” for the mission today?

The Generalate Leadership Team.