Karnataka Regional Social Communication Secretaries Meet to Strengthen Church’s Digital Mission

Mangaluru, June 26, 2025 – The Karnataka Regional Commission for Social Communication convened a meeting of Diocesan Secretaries and Joint Secretaries on 25 June at the Sandesha Foundation in Mangaluru. Representatives from all 14 dioceses across Karnataka came together to discern the Church’s mission within today’s rapidly evolving media landscape.

“Communication Is at the Heart of God”

Delivering the Presidential Address, Most Rev. Dr. Henry D’Souza, Bishop of Bellary and Chairman of the Commission, rooted the Church’s communication mission in the Trinitarian theology of communion. “God is the perfect communicator,” he stated. “In the Most Holy Trinity, we see divine relationship; in Christ, the Word made flesh, we encounter communication in its most personal and salvific form.”

He reminded participants that communication is not merely a skill or function, but a spiritual vocation and a missionary witness. Bishop Henry emphasised that social communication must serve synodality, foster inclusion, and proclaim the truth in love. Referring to the synodal journey of the Church, he added, “You are the voice of the Church in today’s world—called to communicate across boundaries with wisdom, humility, and the heart of Christ.”

Vision for a Pastoral Communication Culture

In his Welcome Address and Orientation, Fr. Sudeep Paul MSFS, who also serves as Director of Sandesha, set the tone for the gathering, describing it as more than a meeting—a mission of discernment, direction, and dreaming together. “We are not here merely as media producers, but as bridge-builders and missionary disciples in the digital world,” he said.

Fr. Sudeep presented a roadmap for regional social communications anchored in two core goals:

1. Building a Well-Connected Catholic Community

Fr. Sudeep introduced the Catholic Connect App, a platform designed to:

• Share diocesan and parish-level news in real-time

• Offer spiritual resources, marriage preparation tools, and pilgrim services

• Foster unity and identity through the “My Diocese / My Parish” feature

With a vision to reach 5,000 users across Karnataka by 2028, the platform aims to make every Catholic institution and parish feel connected and empowered.

 2. Creating a Media-Literate, Spiritually Nourished Church

In response to the digital challenges of misinformation, superficial content, and digital addiction, the Commission aims to:

• Conduct media literacy training for youth, families, clergy, and educators

• Launch 10 model media clubs across dioceses

• Involve 1,000 youth in digital engagement by 2028

• Develop a central repository of faith-based multimedia content

“Our goal is not merely to adapt to media trends,” Fr. Sudeep explained, “but to lead with pastoral wisdom and Christ-centred creativity.”

Voices from the Field: Diocesan Reports

A key highlight of the meeting was the presentation of diocesan communication reports. From vernacular video catechesis and youth-led digital evangelisation projects to livestreamed liturgies and parish newsletters, the sharing reflected the vibrancy and diversity of local initiatives across Karnataka.

Many secretaries underlined the need for technical training, contextualised content, and localised support to strengthen their pastoral outreach.

Exploring AI Tools for Evangelisation

During the afternoon session, participants received training from Fr. Roshan D’Souza on the use of emerging AI tools in pastoral communication. The practical workshop covered AI-assisted content creation, visual design, scriptwriting, and faith-based video production—offering new avenues for digital evangelisation. The session reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to remaining innovative while grounded in the Church’s pastoral and ethical values.

Moving Forward Together

The meeting concluded with a strong call to renewed communion and commitment. Action points included:

• Expanding the Catholic Connect App’s reach in each diocese

• Organising local media literacy workshops

• Collaborating with the Family and Youth Commissions

• Creating content in local languages, rooted in liturgy and Catholic identity

In his closing message, Bishop Henry reminded participants:

“Jesus is the Word made flesh. Our task is to make that Word visible, credible, and living—through every screen, every message, and every moment of encounter.”

A Church That Listens, Speaks, and Walks

The Karnataka Regional Office for Social Communications remains committed to building a media-literate, faith-filled, and connected Church—where communication is not only effective, but also pastoral, ethical, and synodal.

“Let every message we share, every video we post, and every story we tell reflect not just our skills—but the Gospel we are called to proclaim,” concluded Fr. Sudeep.

By Fr. Sudeep

Karnataka Regional Secretary