BIS # 3713 DON BOSCO COMMUNICATIONS SOUTH ASIA (DBCSA) GENERAL BODY MEETS

by Fr. Isaac Arackaparambil sdb

MATUNGA-MUMBAI, October 19, 2013: Rev. Fr. Godfrey D'Souza, sdb, Provincial of Mumbai Province began the day with the Eucharistic Celebration. In his homily, Fr. Godfrey invited the assembly to be active players in the virtual playground where the youngsters of today are exceedingly present, and maintained that Jesus would do the same in our times, having been an exceptional tweeter himself in his time. He challenged the assembly to create a Salesian Web Base where youngsters could find an interactive platform to savor the gospel and grow in faith.

Fr. Anthony Earathara sdb, SPCSA delegate, officially declared the General Assembly open in the presence of Fr. Filiberto Gonzales, Br. Ephrem Santos, Fr. Thomas Ellicherail, Fr. Noel Maddhichetty and Fr. Joaquim Fernandes and other delegates for Social Communications. Fr. Cleophas Braganza sdb, new web-master of DBIndia.org, thanked his predecessor Fr. P.T. Joseph, sdb, who brought the DB India website to what it is today. Fr. Braganza informed the assembly that the DBIndia.org is the Information Management System, and not merely a website but also an interactive portal. It was suggested that the portal rather than merely carrying Salesian Data could be renewed with more youth engaging material.

The General Body meeting was steered into an enriching sharing of Social Communication Initiatives across the eleven provinces within the framework of Animation, Information, Formation, Production, and Marketing. The delegates representing and sharing were Fr. Joaquim Fernandes INB, Fr. IC Jacob INC, Fr. Paul Maypan IND, Fr. Kalyan Yandava INH, Fr. Johnson Parackal ING, Fr. Gilbert Choondal INK, Fr. Harris Pakkim INM, Fr. Joy Jacob  INN, Fr. Ralin DeSouza INP, Br. Dianetious Fernandez INS, and Fr. Akhilan INT.

Fr. John Kennedy INM was invited to share a report on the Salesian Bulletin English Edition which is circulated in all; the Salesian Institutions pan Salesian SA, apart from the many Families that are beneficiaries. It is delightful to note, that there are seven regional editions of the Salesian Bulletin in the SA region, and the initiative that Don Bosco gave birth to in his life time is still alive today.

Sr. Hilda Braganza, FMA, National Coordinator Social Communications, FMA India was invited to share the initiatives in the Social Communications field among the sisters. She presented a consolidated report of six FMA provinces. Among the many appreciable elements it is nice to see that the FMAs have created Media Education Syllabus for both Formal and Non-formal sectors. Sr. Hilda was handed a memento by Fr. Filiberto Gonzales in appreciation for the initiatives in the FMA India unit.

In the afternoon, the DBCSA delegates visited Don Bosco Centre of Learning (DBLC)-Kurla. Fr. Adolf Futardo sdb, Rector warmly welcomed the delegates to the auditorium where they had a truly enriching and enthralling multi-media experience. An Interactive Symposium with the Youthful Students of DBCL on the theme 'Social Media and Youth', anchored by Mr. Conrad Saldanha,  put the DBCSA delegates in direct touch with the world of the young and their perspective of Media in their lives.  The Inauguration of db Theatre followed which was blessed by Fr. Filiberto Gonzales, Councilor for Social Communications and inaugurated by Fr. Godfrey D'souza, Provincial of Mumbai.