1st Cybermission Congress Empowers Church Communicators in the Digital Era
Feb 29, 2024 by SIGNIS PHILIPPINES
MANILA, PHILIPPINES – The Communication Foundation for Asia (CFA) and SIGNIS Philippines successfully concluded the inaugural Cybermission Congress, held February 21-23, 2024, in Manila. Themed “Pastoral Communication in the Digital Age,” the event drew 80 participants from 20 dioceses across the country, seeking to enhance their skills in navigating the ever-evolving digital landscape for the Church’s mission.
The Congress kicked off with a keynote address by His Excellency Junie Maralit, DD, Chair of the Episcopal Commission on Social Communication. He underscored the importance of the Church’s presence in the digital realm and the need for principled engagement with contemporary communication technologies.
Talks included:
- The Challenges and Call for Netizens by the Document “Towards A Full Presence”: Examining how the Church’s guiding principles can inform digital ministry. Insights from Fr. Michael Dacalos, MSC, on effectively sharing the Gospel in the digital space.
- Becoming Cyber Evangelizers, Leaders and Missionaries: Sky Ortigas of Youth Pinoy on fostering leadership qualities for a more meaningful online impact.
- Making AI Work for Faith-Related Work and Missions: Mennen Aracid’s presentation on harnessing artificial intelligence for religious purposes.
- Fighting Truth and Integrity Towards a Prophetic Algorithm: Dr. Hemmady Mora on combating misinformation and upholding truth in the digital era.
- Adapting Digitalized Operations for Efficient Pastoral Work: Christine Aquino on streamlining Church operations through digital tools.
The first two days featured engaging panel discussions focused on digital technology as an evangelization tool and the use of media for advocacy. Participants also engaged in a lively World Cafe format, exchanging ideas and honing skills covered throughout the event.
The final day centered on strategic planning, with CFA Executive Director Pie Mabanta-Fenomeno guiding participants in developing tailored strategies to become effective cyber missionaries in their content creation, methodologies, and delivery.
The 1st Cybermission Congress received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with attendees praising its relevance and practical guidance. Beyond the event itself, participants formed a network for continued collaboration and support – a testament to the Congress’s success in building a robust community of digitally-engaged Church communicators.
The participants unanimously said that the Cybermission Congress exceeded their expectations. And that this event marks a significant step forward in equipping the Church to harness the power of digital media for spreading the Gospel message and building a more just and peaceful world.
The success of the 1st Cybermission Congress lays the groundwork for future initiatives aimed at empowering Church workers to navigate the complexities of the digital age with confidence and purpose.
This event is also supported by the US Catholic Bishops’ Conference.
Published in: https://signisphcom.wordpress.com/2024/02/29/1st-cybermission-congress-empowers-church-communicators-in-the-digital-era/