4th National Catholic Media Convention

Excerpts from Archbishop Romulo G. Valles’ homily during the Opening Mass of the 4th National Catholic Media Convention last August 6, 2018 in celebration of the Feast of the transfiguration of our Lord @ San Pedro Cathedral.

What would be in the heart of a Catholic Media practitioner?

To be a media person that would report, that would talk, that would convey to people and the community with a heart and spirit full of delight and joy.

I think in today’s world, to come across as a person with the spirit of delight and joy is quiet valuable, quite important. How much more when we add that we are reporters, we are journalists with gospel values. That would always give us the confidence I think, to come across as people in the media, doing her/his work with delight and joy.

Second thought my dear friends, would be the power of words, the power to describe, the power to articulate but mainly words and perhaps with the other part of media like visuals… In the first reading today, Daniel use words to portray and convey the mystery he experienced. With the eyes of faith as Catholic Media people, I think we often encounter situation of mysteries of good and evil and that takes skill to articulate this experience of good and evil using words, using visuals. And that is powerful to portray the truth of the mystery present in the situation… Any situation I guess, with the eyes of faith would allow us to see the mysterious presence of evil and good and above all, the mysterious presence of the hand of God in any situation. And to articulate this, to convey this, to describe it to the larger community is a great responsibility of the Catholic media personnel and it takes great talent, great dedication using words and visuals and sounds just to portray and let people also be there in the experience.

The third thought my dear friends… is to be filled with confidence and hope that in any human situation, using what the Apostles heard in today’s Gospel reading (Mark 9:2- 10); in great difficult human situations or even in success that would make us forget God and success that would only lead us to believe in human capacities. We must be mindful… that we are all sons and daughters of God because the declaration, the voice that said: “He is the beloved Son whom the Father was well pleased” is also ours, ato pud na!

And so, when we face situations as journalists and media people serving the Church, Catholic media people, I think it is good to keep in mind that everything in the end will be alright; in the end, difficult situations will be transfigured; in the end, goodness and grace and the love of God will triumph. And I hope, that can come up, that will show in the way we do our reporting, we do our describing and we do our work as journalists.

I guess, every bishop is supposed to be a communicator, Bishop Mylo is a great communicator but I have been doing this for the past 21 years, today is my episcopal ordination anniversary. I would end by asking you to pray for me so that I will continue to communicate, articulate, bring forth and inspire people to see the Lord present in our lives.