Present at the meeting and able to get to know each, exchange ideas and make plans for collaboration were representatives of Missioni Don Bosco Media Centre, TV Lux, Tv Noe, Bosco Media Centrum in Brno, Atelier Multimédia, Primaradio in Turin and Radio Meridiano 12 in Rome, of the Portuguese Province with various initiatives and Rádio Juventude Salesiana, and of the Italy Middle East Region with the portal Don Bosconews. Also present with the intention of studying the possibility of a Provincial Project was a delegation from the Special Circumscription of Central Italy.
The first day which was spent with the presentation of the various situations and experiences, demonstrated the great wealth of material and experience already in existence. In the afternoon a visit was made to the headquarters and studios of TV Lux, a television broadcasting centre jointly organised by the Bishops’ Conference of Slovakia, by the Salesians and by other private bodies.
Two main issues were studied by the thirty or so people taking part. As has already happened with the Salesian publishing houses in Europe and in America, those responsible for the audio/video production centres contributed to the revision of the section “business enterprises” in the Salesian Social Communication System (SSCS). Then consideration of the Project for Europe led to a series of suggestions and initiatives. The audio/video production centres said that they were ready to share the material produced and to encourage a knowledge and an exchange of their own production lists of titles, documentaries and broadcasts. Other ways of involving the young were also considered such as an international youth camp about social communication. The experience of the Fest-Clip in France caught the interest of many of those present, and in fact, a European edition is anticipated including Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Portugal and Italy.
All the work was imbued with the spirit of the message of Pope Benedict XVI for the XLIV World Communications Day “The Priest and Pastoral Ministry in a Digital World: New Media at the Service of the Word.” Fr Gonzalez himself referred to it in his homily at Sunday Mass in the Mary Help of Christians parish at which the Provincial Fr Karol Maník presided.
The impeccable organisation and the warm welcome of the Slovak Salesians contributed to the success of the meeting. The next one will take place in two years time.
Published 17/05/2010
