(ANS – Rome) – On 3 and 4 May there will be a short course on Communications for the young people in formation from the Salesians and the daughters of Mary Help of Christians. It will take place at the Faculty of Sciences of Social Communications of the UPS in Rome. The message of Benedict XVI for the 47th World Day of Social Communications (Sunday 12 May) will be presented and studied. Pope Benedict’s message is entitled “Social Networks: portals of truth and faith; new spaces for evangelization.”

This is the second such initiative promoted by the Faculty of Sciences of Social Communications of Auxilium and the Departments of Social Communications of the Salesians and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. About 150 young religious in initial formation are expected to attend – the temporarily professed sisters of the Italian Provinces and Auxilium, the novices of Genzano and Pinerolo, the post-novices of the Community of San Tarcisio and the Students of Theology of Gerini.
The theme will be presented in two stages: the first, of a technical nature, is entrusted to Fr Fabio Pasqualetti, teacher in the FCS, and Mons. Domenico Pompili, Director of the National Office of Social Communications of the Italian Bishops’ Conference. They will introduce their reflections with a dialogue between the two speakers. The second stage will be of a practical nature and will consist of a series of workshops which will study some experiences of the use of social networks in the fields of evangelization and education.

“This is a fine initiative involving both communication and formation. In other parts of the Salesian world there are similar experiences” says Fr Filiberto Gonzalez, Councillor for Social Communication. “I hope that this idea will develop further. It is intended to improve the formation of our young confreres as religious and future ministers of the young, who are the most frequent visitors to the digital continent.”

The material used, especially the two podcast videos of the talks, will be made available. It will be possible to follow and take part by twitter with the hashtag #social networks.

Published  02/05/2013