Empowerment

In his homily during the culminating mass of the 3rd National Catholic Media Convention last August 17 at Betania Retreat House in Cebu, Bishop Mylo Vergara of Pasig, chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Social Communications of CBCP, highlighted three points to ponder.

God’s presence. Just as Joshua was assured of God’s presence in the midst of the threats and challenges, God’s presence is also obvious in the Church today. God has been the strength of all who partake of spreading the Good News of His love despite the limits and weaknesses. God never abandons those who He has chosen to proclaim His saving action even in today’s culture of religious indifference. This presence inspires each of us who are involved in the mission of social communications.

Tools. Given the limited time after the listening to the theory of pocket film-making, each of the twenty-five groups was able to make it to the presentation. The media of social communications today can be used as tools to let the young and the old experience the presence of God. Using the tools offered by our contemporary gadgets today, we have proven that we can tell the message of God’s compassion for His people. With the available tools and skills given to us today, we can storm the social media with contents that touch the soul.

Compassion. Inspired by the Gospel, the content of all our proclamation using the tools God has given us is the compassion and mercy of God. People at the periphery who are hungry and thirsty of God’s forgiveness and unconditional acceptance cannot escape from His reach. The media of today must continue to become an instrument of allowing people to know how much God cares for each one of us no matter how sinful we are. As workers of evangelization, we need to continue find ways on how to promote reconciliation and accompaniment for those who are led astray.

Indeed, as Catholic media practitioners, we are empowered. This empowerment is brought about by God’s presence, the available tools and the compassion of our loving creator.