(ANS – Moshi) – In the belief that every Salesian must be a good communicator, and that today’s media and rapidly advancing communications technology are gifts which enhance communication when used wisely, 40 post-novices hailing from East Africa Province (AFE), Zambia Vice Province (ZMB), Southern Africa Vice Province (AFM) Sri Lanka Vice Province (LKC) and Guwahati Province, India (ING) took part in an intense seminar of reflection, theory and practice regarding the digital continent from 27 December 2012 to 3 January 2013.

The Seminar, led by experts in the field from the AFE Province’s communications centre at DBYES-BEAMS, and from the Social Communications Department, Rome, engaged the young Salesians and their formators in a profound process of reflection on the impact of new media on their lives as consecrated Salesian Religious, educators and evangelisers, as well as in exploration of practical matters such as the production of newsletters, creating a web page, ways of evangelising through communications activities, especially through drama, music and other arts, and appropriate use of ‘gadgets’, and how to make best use of the various Congregational and Provincial websites and other media, as well as contributing to them. The seminar also covered areas such as ethics in the digital world, spirituality in this context, and awareness of how our habits of mind are profoundly altered by the tools we use.

In addition to the reflection process, a kind of ‘scrutinium digitalis’, the student body also drew up a draft communications policy for the community which they have submitted to the Council of the Community. The policy is based on the SSCS or Salesian Social Communications System, a document which was explored in depth at the seminar and offered to the students as their guiding principle for current and future action in the communications field.

Published 07/01/2013