(ANS – Secunderabad) – SIGNIS India- held its Annual General Assembly, 16-19 February at Tulsi Garden Carnival Club, Secunderabad. The event was attended by SIGNIS World President, Mr. Augustine Lourdusamy, the General Secretary, Mr. Alvito DeSouza, and about 100 members, representing 13 SIGNIS regions in India. Also present were some Salesians engaged in the Social Communication area.

SIGNIS President Augustine Lourdusamy complimented SIGNIS India members for the wonderful work done and still being done in the field of Communication. He stated that this year is significant year because The SIGNIS World Congress 2013 will take place in Beirut, Lebanon.

The seminar studied the theme: “NEW MEDIA FOR A NEW GENERATION”. The ‘Jesus Youth’ Leader Dony Peter Chacko in his keynote address emphasized that the new media can be effectively engaged in the mission of the Church. He suggested creating a website for vocations for youth thinking of joining religious life with details of the various congregations in one portal. He explained how companies keep their customers engaged and have a continuous evaluation mechanism to keep products evolving in the market. Today the Church needs to go out to shepherd the flocks who are marginalized and lead people to Christ through the new social networks.

Chairman, CBCI Office for Social Communications, Bishop Chacko Thottumarickal urged the Catholic communication professionals in the country to become more committed to and involved in the mission of the Church and in the proclamation of the Good News of Christ. SIGNIS World Secretary General, Mr. Alvito DeSouza, highlighted the significant contribution made by SIGNIS India to policy making and leadership in the SIGNIS world during the last eight years. Pontifical Mission Society National Director, Fr Faustin Lobo, and CBCI OSC Secretary, the Salesian Fr George Plathottam, also spoke on SIGNIS project writing and sharing of resources and talents. 

The media activity reports of 13 SIGNIS regions from across India were disseminated. Several national and regional projects and activities of the members such as the Hindi film Khristayaan were released. During the event Fr. Joaquim Fernandes sdb Director of Tej-Prasarini Don Bosco, presented a copy of Fr. Peter Gonsalves, sdb music album entitled: ‘The Peter Gonsalves’ Collection-  Lyrical Food For The Soul’ to the general secretary Mr. Alvito DeSouza.

The SIGNIS India members visited the sprawling 1666-acre Ramoji Film City, set up by the Ramoji Group in 1996, and certified by the Guinness World Records as the world’s largest film studio complex.

Published 06/03/2013