Society
Of The Divine Word

Organized in collaboration with the Generalate Office of Communications, the workshop — which brought together 53 SVD missionaries and 11 SSpS sisters — marked the pilot edition of a program that will later be implemented in other Provinces and Regions (PRMs) of the Congregation.

Held under the theme “Creative Discipleship in the Digital Age: Media for Healing and Hope,” the program opened with the Holy Eucharist presided over by Fr. Jeevan Kennedy, Regional Superior of ING. 

“Every one of us is called to bridge the gaps created by a fragmented world,” he said. “Our clicks are never neutral — each one tells a story. Will ours proclaim the Good News?”

Christian Communication Is Incarnation

In his keynote address, Fr. Kasmir Nema, General Communications Coordinator, reminded the participants that communication is much more than content creation. “Christian communication is not about influence but incarnation,” he stressed. “We are Catholic messengers, not social influencers. Our task is to become living signs of the Gospel.”

His remarks opened a lively exchange among participants. One missionary observed, “Today many young people are drawn to sensational content — how can we remain truthful yet engaging?” Another noted that “our greatest credibility lies not in our platforms, but in the authenticity of our witness.”

Storytelling and Interviewing That Liberate and Heal

Filmmaker Dominic Sangma spoke of filmmaking as a form of truth-telling rooted in faith. “Cinema is not just entertainment — it is a therapy that heals the soul,” he said, encouraging participants to remain faithful to their identity and to the stories entrusted to them.

This theme was deepened in a session led by Fr. Dominic Emmanuel on Interviewing and Scripting for Evangelization. He cautioned against monologue-based communication and underscored the need for dialogue that presents Gospel values, not proselytism. Emphasizing neutrality and respectful questioning, he reminded, “Interviewing is not about talking down to people — it is about encounter and dialogue.” Participants widely appreciated the live interview demonstration as one of the most practical highlights of the training.

Equipping Missionaries for a Digital Apostolate

Fr. Anthony Swamy led hands-on workshops introducing participants to Canva, AI tools, video-editing software and content-generation platforms.

Sr. Elizabeth Rani (SSpS) addressed the ethical dimension of missionary photography, reminding everyone that a photo becomes a “visual homily” only when rooted in respect and consent.

In her online presentation, Ms. Theresa Carson encouraged participants to build strategic and thematic content plans, noting: “Social media is about dialogue and presence — not self-promotion.”

Fr. Marlon Bobier Vargas, speaking on the theme Ethics, Formation, and the Culture of Communication, went a step further by reminding everyone that “Jesus would not be about the platform, but about the people.” He cautioned against what he called “clickbait evangelization,” emphasizing that “our profiles should reflect Christ—not ourselves.”