Novaliches 1st Media Camp Challenges Parish SocComm Teams To Defend Catholic Faith

The first-ever Communications Camp of the Diocese of Novaliches Social Communications and Media Ministry (SocComm Nova) rolled-out successfully at the Notre Dame de Vie Retreat House in San Agustin, Novaliches, Q.C. last May 19-20, 2017. With 44 representatives coming from 19 parishes of the Diocese, the fruitful event called upon the participants to be courageous in proclaiming the Good News especially in Social Media.

Lifting from the 51st World Communications Day Message of the Pope, the Camp organizers called upon the Parish SocComm Coordinators and volunteers not to be afraid to be “communicators of hope and trust in our time” and to “keep the spirit of truth and love alive”.

SocComm Nova plans to make the Camp a yearly event aimed at deepening the spiritual and technical formation of parish workers and volunteers involved in news and informaitn dissemination.

Thus, the two-day conference was graced by prominent resource persons and experts who took turns to talk about the Role of Social Communications Ministry, History of the World Communications Day Message, Pope Francis’ 2017 Message, Media Relations, Social Media, News and Feature Writing, Basic Photography, Basic Photo Journalism, and the Language of Spiritual Warfare.

The speakers were SocComm Nova Director Rev. Fr. Ambrosio Nonato Legaspi; CBCP-ECSC Secretary Fr. Lito Jopson; Radio Veritas Vice President for Operations Rev. Fr. Roy Belle; AlmuSalita creator and Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Luciano Felloni; SocComm Nova Lay Coordinator Minnie Agdeppa, OCDS; Woman Today writer Ms. Lourdes Nario; Diocese of Novaliches Vicar for the Clergy Rev. Fr. Noel Azupardo; and Chancery Office staff Julius Panday.

In addition, Novaliches Bishop Most Rev. Antonio Tobias, D.D. opened the Camp and enjoined the participants to take advantage of the learning activity for the benefit of their parishes, the Diocese, and the Church.

The Camp participants were challenged to be more proactive in proclaiming the Good News and defending our Catholic faith using all forms of available technology including Social Media. The speakers also emphasized the need to be guided by the message of the Holy Father which is issued every year on World Communications Sunday coinciding with the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord.

In this year’s message, His Holiness Pope Francis cautions people against “the vicious circle of anxiety and spiral of fear resulting from a constant focus on bad news (wars, terrorism, scandals, and all sorts of human failure)”. Instead, he urges us “to engage in constructive forms of communicaiton that reject prejudice towards others and foster a culture of encounter.”

The Camp closed with a celebration of the Holy Mass by Fr. Legaspi. (~Chi-Chi Robles)