Click here to download - Jamshedpur Jesuits

Jesuits - Assistancy
Students of theology discuss
‘New Media and Pastoral
Ministry’
The Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI)
Commission for Social Communication and JDV (Jnana-Deepa
Vidyapeeth) hosted a four-day seminar for students of theology
from the major seminaries in India on ‘New Media and Pastoral
Ministry’. It was organized by the JDV Media Association, headed
by Sch. Balaswamy, SJ and was ably guided by Dr Kuruvilla, SJ.
Bishop Thomas Dabre of Pune inaugurated the seminar held at
Jnana Deepa Vidyapeeth (JDV), Pune, on 29 Aug - 1 Sept.
Bishop Dabre said, “We are men and women of God,
followers and witnesses of Jesus, we should be positive in our
thoughts, words and actions in using the new media. We have
our own specific identity, and we have to keep up that identity
by being authentic in our service to our nation, and brethren.”
He also said that we should not forget that we are living in a
multi-religious country where there is lot of inequality of sexes,
divorces, homosexuality and negative portrayal of women. In such
a situation we have to use media critically. We must not limit the
use of media to English language but also to all our vernacular
languages”.
Fr George Plathottam, SDB, the Secretary of the CBCI
Commission for Social Communications, said that a proper media
course should be part of the seminary curriculum and urged that
communications be integrated into all formation. There were
other Resource persons like Bishop Felix Toppo, SJ, Chairman,
CBCI Commission for Clergy and Religious, Mr Soman, Dean
of Cinematography at Film and Television Institute of India,
Harry David, senior journalist, Pune and Mr Micheal Gonsalves,
Journalist.
The seminar provided opportunities for the students to
make their own presentations on the theme in the form of papers,
short films, PowerPoint presentations and posters. Some 68
students who participated in the seminar came from New Delhi,
Bangalore, Allahabad, Mangalore, Mumbai, Goa and Pune
seminaries. They formulated Action Plans to present and discuss
in their respective seminaries.
On the concluding day of the seminar the participants
had an educational exposure trip to FTII (Film and Television
Institute of India) where they were not only exposed to the various
dynamics of film making and television productions, but also
received some practical input on the need for value based media
productions for today’s world.
- Sch Balaswamy, SJ
Eco-friendly roof
for Bom Jesus Basilica
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is planning to
provide an eco-friendly roof to Bom Jesus Basilica, a world
heritage site, which houses the remains of St Francis Xavier.
The massive asbestos roof on the imposing laterite stone
building of Goa’s oldest Basilica will be replaced by eco-friendly
galvanized sheet.
The decision was taken on the recommendations of the
ASI to ensure that tourists were not exposed to the risk of cancer
due to exposure to asbestos, said Jesuit Fr Savio Barretto of
the Basilica.
He said that the ASI had last year done the roof work and
replaced a lot of older Mangalore clay tiles with new asbestos
sheets.
But in a recent meeting, officials informed us that people
were protesting against the move and demanding that modern
galvanised sheets be put up on the roof, he added.
“We agreed to the idea of galvanised sheets because all
such heritage buildings in the world have discarded asbestos
as a building material. I believe that the modern material would
be of great help as it is eco-friendly too,” he said.
Barretto pointed out that the church authorities were also
informed that asbestos is not eco-friendly and according to
studies it could cause diseases like cancer.
Built in 1604, the church attracts thousands of tourists
and pilgrims every year.
A few decades ago, heavy maintenance costs forced the
authorities to switch from tiles and rafters to asbestos to cover
the 300 sq mt wide roof of the church.
The Basilica houses mortal remains of the Spanish saint
Francis Xavier who brought Christianity to the region.
The Navarra-born saint is now Goa’s patron saint.
The Basilica is also recognised as a UNESCO (United
Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organisation) world
heritage site.
- http://www.ucanews.com
JIVAN: News and Views of Jesuits in India OCTOBER 2012 12