The National Catholic Media Conference 2024, held on November 23–24 at St. John’s Medical College in Bangalore, brought together 285 Catholic communicators, including priests, religious, and laity, to explore the Church's digital transformation as a powerful tool for spreading the Good News of Christ.
With the theme "Illuminaire 2024: Nurturing Digital Stewardship," the conference focused on equipping participants with the skills and vision needed to navigate the digital age.
It aimed to strengthen Catholic ministries and align media efforts with the Church’s mission of evangelization in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
The event was spearheaded by the Salesians of Don Bosco’s Social Communication Unit, in collaboration with key Catholic organizations, including the Vatican Dicastery for Communication.
Esteemed dignitaries such as Dr. Paolo Ruffini, Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication, and Dr. Nataša Govekar, Director of the Theological-Pastoral Department, underscored the Vatican’s commitment to supporting the Indian Church’s digital mission.
The conference also featured prominent figures, including Archbishop Peter Machado of Bangalore, Fr. Gildasio Santos, SDB, Councillor for Social Communication, and Shri Derek O’Brien, Member of Parliament from West Bengal, who shared their perspectives on faith, communication, and public service in the digital era.
Dr. Ruffini and Dr. Govekar highlighted the Dicastery's global mission to empower local churches, with particular emphasis on the role of women in Catholic communication.
"The collaboration between faith and technology offers unprecedented opportunities for the Church," said Dr. Ruffini.
Dr. Govekar echoed these sentiments, noting, "Staying connected with local communities through priests and religious is vital for our mission at the Dicastery."
Archbishop Machado opened the conference with a call to embrace digital stewardship, urging participants to navigate the challenges of modern communication with faith, creativity, and responsibility.
This set the tone for a conference rich in collaboration and forward-thinking leadership.
The program offered a range of sessions addressing critical topics such as digital ministry, ethical decision-making in media, responsible social media use, and the role of artificial intelligence in religious outreach.
Hands-on workshops provided participants with practical training in areas like branding, live streaming, AI tools, and digital wellness.
Participants were encouraged to blend faith with innovation, embracing their roles as digital stewards tasked with ensuring that modern technology serves the Church’s timeless mission of proclaiming Christ.
Inspirational stories shared by priests and religious, alongside insights from media experts, fostered a spirit of collaboration and creativity.
The conference emphasized the importance of connecting with local communities while aligning Indian Catholic media initiatives with the vision of the universal Church.
Reflecting on the event, Dr. Govekar remarked, “It was a delight to attend the Illuminaire conference with sisters and brothers from all over India. I learned about their hopes and challenges in digital communication. Events like these build bridges between the local and global Church, highlighting the power of digital media to proclaim the Gospel.”
The Illuminaire 2024 conference empowered participants with practical tools, theological insights, and a renewed sense of mission.
By fostering collaboration and digital innovation, it highlighted how the Church in India is taking bold steps to remain a vibrant and relevant force in the modern world.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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