INDIA COMMUNICATIONS SUNDAY (November 17th 2013)

COMMISSION   FOR   SOCIAL   COMMUNICATIONS                                WESTERN   REGION   CATHOLIC   BISHOP’S   COUNCIL   (WRCBC)                                                                                                       C/o  “ PRASHANT ”,  Post Box No 4050,  Navrangpura P.O.,  Ahmedabad  380 009                                                                                               Tel.: (079) 66522333 / 66522999 / 27455913   Fax: (079) 27489018   email:  sjprashant@gmail.com                                     Chairman:   Rev. Godfrey de Rozario sj  –  Bishop of Baroda                                                                                                             Secretary:   Fr. Cedric Prakash sj, Director, “ PRASHANT ”,  Ahmedabad

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6^th November, 2013

To All

·        Bishops, Western Region  

·        Secretaries/Coordinators of  Diocesan Social Communications(Western Region)

·        Other Catholic Communicators

Sub: INDIA COMMUNICATIONS SUNDAY (November 17^th 2013)

And

GOLDEN JUBILEE of INTER MIRIFICA (December 4^th  2013)     

Dear Bishops, Sisters,Fathers, Friends,

Greetings to each one of you!

We are sending you this communication to remind you of TWO VERY IMPORTANT DAYS that are at our doorstep:

INDIA COMMUNICATIONS SUNDAY (November 17^th 2013)

On Sunday November 17^th ,the Church in India will observe the 47^th WORLD COMMUNICATIONS DAY. The theme this year is"Social Networks: portals of truth and faith; new spaces for evangelization."This theme was   powerfully elucidated by our Holy Father Pope Benedict XV in his message for the day which was released  earlier on January 24^th  (http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/communications/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20130124_4)

In this YEAR OF FAITH, we urge one and all, to observe the day -with appropriate Liturgical Celebrations and other relevant programmes. We request all Bishops and Diocesan Communication Secretaries to ensure that an announcement   about Communications Sunday is made at all Masses in their respective Dioceses on the preceding Sunday(November 10^th)

GOLDEN JUBILEE of INTER MIRIFICA (December 4^th  2013)     

This is indeed a very special day for the Universal Church –a day on which the Church gave the world an unequivocal document on the need and importance of communications in today’s   world

 http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/pccs/documents/rc_pc_pccs_doc_04121963_inter-mirifica_en.html

 Fr George Plathottam sdb the Secretary of the CBCI-OSC writes “I am sure you are making plans to celebrate the Inter Mirifica Day on Dec. 4, 2013. The day marks the Golden Jubilee of the signing of the Decree Inter Mirifica. I am attaching an article I wrote for the Catechetical Review of Bombay Archdiocese, “Awakening Faith.”  You may use the material for your animation, if you so wish.  You may also use the article for study, translation of further publication with due credits.  Here in NISCORT we are observing the day with a one-day seminar for priests, religious and laity on social communication in the teachings of the Church.”

It is therefore important for all of us to make use of this Golden opportunity to let the world know the importance which the Church has been giving to social communications-these past fifty years! We are planning to have a small programme in Ahmedabad or Baroda on that day..If others from the Western Region are interested in participating do let us know by November 15^th the latest ,so that we can make the necessary arrangements! Thanks.

We request all to treat BOTH days with the importance they deserve. Let us   all take communications in the Church seriously. Do send us a one-page report of how you have observed both days in your Diocese. Thanks

On September 21^st 2013, Pope Francis  addressing the participants in the Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications said that   the goal of the Church for its communications efforts is “to understand how to enter into dialogue with the men and women of today in order to appreciate their desires, their doubts and their hopes.”

Look forward to hearing from you,

With warm wishes and prayers,

Fr. Cedric Prakash sj

Secretary(SOCOM-WR)