(ANS – Amatitán) – The Provincial Social Communications Delegates from the regions of North and Central America and South America assembled from 4th to 7th August at the Betsaida retreat centre in the Province of Mexico-Guadalajara (MEG). This annual meeting followed the format established some years ago.

The meeting was convoked by the Social Communications Department and chaired by Fr Filiberto González, its General Councillor. It brought together 24 people including delegates and co-workers.

It was found that, since the previous meeting held in São Paolo, Brazil, all the Provinces in both regions had a fairly stable Communications team. This fact contrasted with the lack of awareness about Social Communications noted in the various provinces.

It was also found that, although some steps had already been taken, there was much more to do about collaborating with other sectors of animation in each Province, particularly with Youth Ministry and promotion of Vocations and Missions.

Among the topics discussed during the working days were social networks, and new technologies in general. Two reports were presented: ‘Towards a formation process for religious working in education on the use of new information and communications technologies (ICT)’, by Dr Alejandra García Bado, a lecturer at the Technological and Higher Studies Institute for the West, and ‘Ministry and education in social networks (opportunities, risks and suggestions)’, by Fr Antonio Gutiérrez Montaño, director of the Catholic Communications Centre in the Archdiocese of Guadalajara.

At the end of the Amatitán meeting four regional contacts were chosen to facilitate the sharing of work and reflection among the various Communications Delegates. There was also a desire to explore, in the spirituality of Catholic communicators, how to experience God.

The meeting of Social Communications Delegates was enriched by a trip to Mexico City, visiting the Basilica of Guadaloupe, the National Museum of Anthropology and the archaeological site of Teotihuacán.

Published 8/8/2012