CBCP chief invites public to social media confab

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, September 1, 2014—In a newly released video message, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas invites everyone to the Catholic Social Media Summit Version 3.0 (CSMS v3.0) to be held on September 13-14, 2014, which which organizers believe will prepare the youth spiritually in time for their “encounter” with Pope Francis next year.
Acknowledging its indispensable role as a “place of encounter” for many, Villegas reminds the faithful that social media must make an encounter with God always possible.

“The social media has become a place of encounter. It has become a place of encounter among friends—even among enemies. … But the social media must first and foremost be an encounter with God. God among us. God who has taken human flesh,” he explained.
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines president Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas (Photo: CBCP News)

What would Jesus do?

The archbishop encourages Catholics to take time imagining and reflecting on what Jesus would make of the social media if He were physically present today.

“What would Jesus do? If Jesus were using the social media in 2014, how would he do it? What would he do? What would he say?” the prelate asked.

According to Villegas, what Jesus would do with the social media is what the faithful should try doing as well.
The president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) notes that social media has become the “new plaza” which allows people to meet others, to exchange opinions, to listen and be listened to.
“Let us allow the social media to become an instrument to promote peace, to promote harmony, to make friends with everybody in our global village,” said he.

Be joyful

In an earlier letter, Villegas urged Catholic to return to their encounter with Jesus, whom he referred to as the “joy of this abiding encounter which … is always deeper than our tribulations”.

The prelate pointed out the many dangers of “our consumption-driven world” which the Pope Francis stressed consists in “the desolation and anguish born of a feverish but complacent heart, the feverish pursuit of frivolous pleasures, and a blunted conscience”.
Drawing from the Holy Father’s apostolic exhortation “Evangelii Gaudium” (Joy of the Gospel), Villegas called on “all Christians, everywhere at this very moment, to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least an openness to letting Him encounter them; I ask all of you to do this unfailingly each day. No one should think that this invitation is not for him or her, since no one is excluded from the joy brought by the Lord.”

Preparing for the papal visit

Event head Nirva’ana Delacruz, who is also the secretary of YouthPinoy (YP), said CSMS v3.0 will take on an added special meaning in the light of Pope Francis’ upcoming visit to the Philippines on January15-19, 2015.

She believes that the best way Filipinos can prepare for this “papal encounter” is to “reach out to people who are
taken for granted even by self-styled “good Catholics” through “authentic encounters”.

CSMS v3.0 workshop head Jhonsen Sales shared that at the heart of the event are seven workshops designed to transform “armchair faith warriors” into “advocates of mercy and compassion”.

These workshops will explore human trafficking, dealing with members of the LGBT community, Marian consecration, the social costs of being an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW), election catechism, pornography, and justice.

The CSMSv3 advocacies, Sales explained, are rooted in the “Seven Spiritual Works of Mercy” as taught by the Catholic Church, and are oriented towards the soul.

“Just as the Corporal Works of Mercy are directed towards relieving corporeal suffering, the even more important aim of the Spiritual Works of Mercy is to relieve spiritual suffering,” he said.

Registration for the event is P800, inclusive of a kit, ID, and meals. A registration of P1,200 per head will include accommodations. For more information, contact Esteve Mata at 0916-2783807; Sher Cuison at 0921-4746638 or through email, catholicsocialmediasummit@gmail.com. For more information, visitwww.catholicsocialmediasummit.com or www.youthpinoy.com
The CSMS v3.0, which will be held at the Pangasinan Training and Development Center, Provincial Capitol grounds in Lingayen, Pangasinan, is the flagship event of YP, a group of online missionaries under the auspices of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines Media Office and the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Youth. (Raymond A. Sebastián)