Karnataka Regional Social Communication Secretaries Meet to Strengthen Church’s Digital Mission

June 26, 2025

Mangaluru, June 2025: The Karnataka Regional Commission for Social Communication convened its meeting of Diocesan Secretaries and Joint Secretaries at the Sandesha Foundation, Mangaluru. Social Communications Secretaries and Joint Secretaries from all 14 dioceses of Karnataka came together to discern the Church’s mission in today’s rapidly evolving media culture.

“Communication Is at the Heart of God”

Delivering the Presidential Address, Most Rev. Dr. Henry D’Souza, Bishop of Bellary and Chairman of the Commission, rooted the mission of Church communications in the Trinitarian theology of communion.

“God is the perfect communicator,” he said. “In the Most Holy Trinity, we see divine relationship; in Christ, the Word made flesh, we encounter communication in its most personal and salvific form.”

He reminded the participants that communication is not merely a skill or function, but a spiritual vocation and a missionary witness. Bishop Henry emphasized that social communication must serve synodality, foster inclusion, and proclaim the truth in love. Referring to the synodal journey of the Church, he added:

“You are the voice of the Church in today’s world — called to communicate across boundaries with wisdom, humility, and the heart of Christ.”

Vision for a Pastoral Communication Culture

In his Welcome Address and Orientation, Fr. Sudeep Paul MSFS, who also serves as Director of Sandesha, set the tone for the day, describing the meeting as more than a gathering — a mission of discernment, direction, and dreaming together.

“We are not here just as media producers, but as bridge-builders and missionary disciples in the digital world,” he said.

Fr. Sudeep presented a roadmap for regional social communications structured around two core goals:

1. Building a Well-Connected Catholic Community

Fr. Sudeep introduced the Catholic Connect App, a digital platform designed to:

Share diocesan and parish-level news in real-time
Offer spiritual resources, marriage preparation tools, and pilgrim services
Foster unity and identity through the “My Diocese / My Parish” feature

With a vision to reach 5,000 users across Karnataka by 2028, the app aims to make every Catholic institution and parish feel connected and empowered.

2. Creating a Media-Literate, Spiritually Nourished Church

In response to digital challenges such as misinformation, superficial content, and digital addiction, the commission outlined plans to:

Conduct media literacy training for youth, families, clergy, and educators
Launch 10 model media clubs across dioceses
Involve 1,000 youth in digital engagement by 2028
Develop a central repository of faith-based multimedia content

“Our goal is not merely to adapt to media trends,” Fr. Sudeep explained, “but to lead with pastoral wisdom and Christ-centered creativity.”

Voices from the Field: Diocesan Reports

A key highlight of the meeting was the presentation of diocesan communication reports. From vernacular video catechesis and youth-led digital evangelization projects to livestreamed liturgies and parish newsletters, the sharing showcased the vibrancy and variety of local initiatives across Karnataka.

Many secretaries also highlighted the need for technical training, contextualized content, and localized support to strengthen their pastoral outreach.

Exploring AI Tools for Evangelization

In the afternoon session, Fr. Roshan D’Souza conducted a workshop on the use of emerging AI tools for pastoral communication. The practical session introduced applications of AI in:

Content creation
Visual design
Scriptwriting
Faith-based video production

This hands-on training reflected the commission’s commitment to innovation rooted in the Church’s pastoral and moral values.

Moving Forward Together

The meeting concluded with a call to renewed commitment and collaborative action. Key action points included:

Expanding the Catholic Connect App across all dioceses
Organizing local media literacy workshops
Collaborating with Family and Youth Commissions
Creating faith-rooted content in local languages

In his closing message, Bishop Henry reminded all:

“Jesus is the Word made flesh. Our task is to make that Word visible, credible, and living — through every screen, every message, and every moment of encounter.”

A Church That Listens, Speaks, and Walks

The Karnataka Regional Office for Social Communications remains committed to building a media-literate, faith-filled, and connected Church, where communication is not only effective, but pastoral, ethical, and synodal.

“Let every message we share, every video we post, and every story we tell reflect not just our skills — but the Gospel we are called to proclaim,” said Fr. Sudeep in his final exhortation.

— Regional Communications Desk
Sandesha Foundation, Mangaluru
June 25, 2025