SIGNIS Western Region conducts Seminar on Social Media By Jennifer D` CruzMumbai, Feb. 12. Western Region organized a Media Seminar for Catholic Youth on the Sunday, 9 February 2014 at St. Paul's Provincial House, Bandra, Mumbai. The theme of the Seminar was ''Social Media for Mission Outreach''.
Social Media is surely one of the most powerful tools in today's 21st fast running century. It is so essential and has become indispensable in the life of every young person. It is rightly said that young people are the WTF generation, don't get me wrong, it is 'Wikepidia' 'Twitter' and 'Facebook' generation.
The Media Seminar was attended by young people who came from all the way from Gujarat, Goa, Pune, Nashik, Vasai and Mumbai.
Present were also distinguished persons, Fr. Ashok Vaghela SJ, President of the Signis Western Region and Director of Gujarvani Communication Centre, Ahmedabad, Gujarat; Fr. Edwin Vas SVD, Vice-President of the Signis Western Region and Director of Ishvani Kendra, Pune; Sr. Hilda Braganza FMA, Treasurer and Secretary of the Signis Western Region and Directress of AMAR Media Centre, Wadala, Mumbai; Members of Signis Western Region and friends.
The Seminar began by invoking God's presence as Sr. Silviya Antonymuthu FSP led all present in prayer with a prayer dance.
Fr. Ashok Vaghela gave a brief significance of the day and welcomed the gathering in his inaugural address. Fr. Cleophas Braganza SDB, Director of Don Bosco Youth Services, Matunga, delivered the keynote address. He emphasized on the need of using Social Media to reach out to others, and making God's Word and love known to all.
What followed next was a very exciting Media Symposium on the theme ''Social Media for Social change''. The Moderator of the Symposium was Sr. Joeyanna D' Souza FSP. Eminent speakers - a Youth (Mr. Brinston Carvalho), Social Worker (Mr. Richard D' Souza), Parent (Mrs. Myola Gomes) and Media person (Mr. Kevin Jairaj) gave very valuable insights as to how Social Media can go a long way to bring about social change in the locality and the nation. Smart questions from the youth to the panelists helped to enrich the entire group and to clarify many of their qualms.
The climax of the seminar was a well animated Holy Eucharist, con-celebrated by five priests. This was accompanied by divine singing by a choir comprised of the youth who were participants. Fr. Olavo Caiado from Goa in his homily challenged the young to be the 'message' by being effective like light and salt in the world.
Sr. Hilda Braganza proposing the vote of thanks expressed special thanks to Fr.Alex and the community of St.Paul Provincial House, Bandra for allotting their premises for the seminar and the well decorated hall. She also thanked Miss Dahlia Ribeiro for compering the program.
A young participant expressed the joy of the group in having participated in the event saying that they ''look forward to having some more of this kind in the future. And we thank the core team and all the SIGNIS members for organizing such a wonderful seminar''.