Guwahat: The North East Social Communication (NESCOM) organized a webinar on the Holy Father’s message for the World Communication Day (WCD) 2021 to mark the day on 16 May 2021.
Addressing the 27 delegates of the various media department of the Church in North East India, Father George Plathottam, the Executive Secretary for the Office of the Social Communication of Federation of Asian Bishops Conference, discussed the theme of Holy Father’s WCD Message 2021 – ‘Come and See’. “We need to move beyond the complacent attitude that we already know certain things. Instead we need to go and see them for ourselves, to spend time with the people, to listen to their stories and to confront reality, which always in some way surprise us”, highlighted Father Plathottam.
‘Come and see’ is related to the call of the disciples. Our encounter with the Lord is the beginning of our mission, expressed in our visits to the family, village and the sick and needy. The genuine pastoral care is the real meaning of communication, said the Salesian Priest.
Delivering the Keynote address, Bishop Albert Hemrom, the Chairman of NESCOM stressed on the importance of communication being inspired by truth and offer light and warmth. “Our primary responsibility is to uphold truth in the context of fake news and distorted truth”, said the Bishop of Dibrugarh diocese.
The webinar began with the hymn by the Sisters from Auxiliam Convent, Shillong. Apart from discussing the theme of the WCD, Allen Brooks, the Spokesperson for United Christian Forum of North East India and Assam Christian Forum, presented his views on media activism in the context of North East India. “Through our media intervention, we need to bridge the gap between the haves and have-nots and our communication system should function like life saving tool in this time of pandemic”, he said.
Media Cell activist from Trivandrum Archdiocese, Clinton Damien too was one of the resource persons of the webinar and he highlighted that social media is a great modern day tool for evangelisation and we all need to use it to care for every person under our care.
The President of SIGNIS North East India, Father Johnson Parackal congratulated the NESCOM team and it’s Secretary Father Tom Mangattuthazhe for the creative way of celebrating the WCD with a webinar.
Father G.P. Amalraj, the Deputy Secretary of North East India Regional Bishops’ Council (NEIRBC) in his concluding remarks suggested that NESCOM should help the people in the remote corners of the region with registration for vaccination.
The meeting concluded with the launching of toll free number to access covid relief support within North East India. The helpline number, 18001217119, an initiative of the Commission for Ecumenism of NEIRBC, is available in English, Hindi, Nagamese, Assamese, Nepali, Kabri and Boro and the lines are open from 8am to 6pm.