Deacons Trained in Pastoral Communication

New Delhi (CBCI News): Today's world largely controlled by social communication media requires communication skills. To address this need, a two-week Pastoral Communication course was held at the National Institute for Social Communications Research and Training (NISCORT) for fifteen deacons,  September 9-12.

The programme was led by NISCORT director Fr. George Plathottam and assisted by Frs. Devasia, John D' Cunha, Jackson, Ramesh, Shyju,  the fifteen participants from four dioceses  took part in the training in the picturesque precincts of NISCORT situated at Vaishali in Ghaziabad district  in Delhi's National Capital Region.

The deacons were taught how to disseminate information in today's digitized world - often a weak point among the church leaders and future priests.

The participants learnt that helping their flock live life in all its fullness demands mastery over means of communication, especially the media, computer, internet and social networking sites.

Classes were held on modern means of communication, the Church and new media and media language. From how to write to managing a controversy to writing letters to the editor to writing a news story to organizing a press conferences to conducting interviews- the course had it all.

Skills on basic communication , proclaiming the Word of God and preaching an effective homily, practical tips on public speaking and audio and video recording, communication through films, aspects of film making, analyzing, editing of media text and on how to be deft with the camera were some of the topics covered during the course.  After they were taught skills for layout, design and writing, the participants had to produce parish newsletters.

The deacons also learnt about the internet, including net banking and handling social networking sites like Facebook.   The programme also included a visit to the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India's headquarters at Gole Dakkhanna which houses most of the important offices. The participants got first-hand knowledge of the working of these offices, crucial in their pastoral ministry.

The deacons, who were provided certificates at the completion of the course, termed it as an enriching experience and wanted that more such courses be held.

Workshop at NISCORT Underlines Importance of Public Relations for Effective Pastoral Ministry

New Delhi : Realizing the importance of good Public Relations, 29 priests and Religious holding responsibility for Public Relations in their respective dioceses and religious congregations came together at NISCORT to attend a 3-day workshop on Public Relations to hone their skills in this vital area. The three-day workshop, September 24-26, was organized by NISCORT in collaboration with the CBCI Office for Public Relations, and was led by   Fr George Plathottam, Director NISCORT.

In this digital era, sharpening of communication skills is vital, especially in the realm of evangelization, Fr Plathottam said.  Modes of communication are increasing by the day, and for effective public relations one has to keep pace with the modern trends including social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter etc,

The participants were taught the basics of writing a news story and how to make it newsworthy and the importance of utilizing social media in their ministry.   

Public Relations Officer of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) Fr. Dominic D Abreo, CBCI Deputy Secretary General Fr  Joseph Chinnayan,   Spokesperson, Delhi Archdiocese, Fr Dominic Emmanuel,   along with senior journalists like John Dayal,  Jacob Kani,  Augustine Veliath,  Rita Joseph shared their insights and expertise during the three-day workshop, September 24-26. 

The participants were taught how to conduct interviews and write press releases. Each of the participants were asked to select one of the 32 topics provided. They then prepared 10 questions pertaining to the selected topic and quizzed their partners and vice versa.  The interviews were video recorded and analysed later. The participants were taught how to select relevant questions and shoot them at the interviewee. They were taught the importance of body language, poise and handling of the mike etc while conducting interview for electronic media.  

The Piece de Resistance of the workshop was the press conference staged by the participants with the help of the staff and students of NISCORT. It was analyzed and reviewed to learn more about how to handle the press and media persons in a proactive way even during a crisis.   

The principals and PROs present, who have to regularly face the press, gladly assimilated the tips provided. Fr Titus D'Costa, a school principal in Ahmedabad, summed up the three-day workshop saying the programme was quite engrossing, and that they were glad to have participated in it. He wished every bishop and religious superior would take programmes like this seriously and train their personnel in communications and public relations. “In a year I have to handle at least two major crisis situations, and the workshop has helped me a lot to deal with such issues, he said.