by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI
“We proclaim Christ in the way we behave in the digital realm, and the Holy Father’s message echoes the importance of seeking the face of Christ across all mediums.” (Bishop Peter Ingham, Chair, Australian Catholic Media Council)
The quotation above by Bishop Ingham refers to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s powerful message for the 47th World Communications Sunday, May 2013, in which he reminds us that: “The digital environment is not a parallel or purely virtual world, but is part of the daily experience of many people, especially the young…in the digital world there are social networks which offer our contemporaries opportunities for prayer, meditation, and sharing the word of God.” If we are to be “true heralds and witnesses of the Gospel”; if we are to “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to the whole creation” (Mk 16:15), we must find ways of using communications technology effectively.
CCSJ sought to draw on the knowledge and skills of the faithful when we advertised our Digital Media Competition on Virtues and Values. The submissions of our winners (see below – in no particular order) have been uploaded to our website here:
- A video submitted by Omare ‘Kirwin’ Asson from Gasparillo (Tortuga parish). The video shows Omare reciting a poem he wrote, entitled “If not for…” (If not for Faith, Hope and Love…).
- A DVD titled “Favour in a Year of Faith (2013)” by Cheryl-Ann Mader. It highlights activities in the Pastoral Area of Morvant Laventille during the Year of Faith.
- Poems by Jeanine Gervais, of St Francis of Assisi Parish, Erin. The titles are:
Invisible People
The bleeding heart
Cry in the wilderness
Save our children
The world cries
The power of words
A woman’s worth
Missing in action
- A video titled “Discrimination in the classroom”, submitted by five students of St Benedict’s College, La Romaine – Issa Khan, Joseph Sutherland, Ricardo Rollock, Michaelanglo Goberdhan and Mark Howel-Paul.
Congratulations to all our winners and to those who submitted entries. CCSJ encourages parishes to take action to ensure that we are using the digital media to spread the Good News. For example, parishes can draw on the expertise of the faithful, particularly their youth, who can train parishioners in effective ways of using digital media to build the common good.
I share with you hereunder one of Jeanine’s eight poems. Like the others she submitted, this one presents key social justice issues which we must address if we are to break the cycle of decay and degradation and strengthen family life, allowing each person to realise his/her potential.
Missing In Action
As I began to grow
There was a missing face.
My dad I did not know
He was absent from this place.
Preschool, elementary and high
There was no one to call dad.
At times I would cry.
That made me sad.
There was no male to teach,
None to direct and guide.
A helping hand to reach,
None was at my side.
There was no father to love,
Kindness and compassion to show,
Problems to resolve.
These I remember as I grow.
I dropped out of school.
A life on the run.
My books was my gun
I thought that was cool.
A life of crime
That’s how I live.
That’s how I spend my time
Things for my son I could give.
I am behind these walls
Looking through these bars.
After many falls
Looking at my scars.
My son I can’t see
Creating a negative reaction.
With him I can’t be
I am missing in action.
I end with the words of Pope Francis (January 24, 2014): “…if a choice has to be made between a bruised Church which goes out to the streets and a Church suffering from self-absorption, I certainly prefer the first. Those ‘streets’ are the world where people live and where they can be reached, both effectively and affectively. The digital highway is one of them, a street teeming with people who are often hurting, men and women looking for salvation or hope… Let our communication be a balm which relieves pain and a fine wine which gladdens hearts. May the light we bring to others not be the result of cosmetics or special effects, but rather of our being loving and merciful ‘neighbours’ to those wounded and left on the side of the road. Let us boldly become citizens of the digital world…In the area of communications we need a Church capable of bringing warmth and of stirring hearts… The revolution taking place in communications media and in information technologies represents a great and thrilling challenge; may we respond to that challenge with fresh energy and imagination as we seek to share with others the beauty of God.”
