Back-to-back celebrations highlight the jubilee of world communications in the Philippines

As the Jubilee of the World of Communications is celebrated in Rome this January as part of the Ordinary Jubilee Year 2025, the Philippines joins the global celebration with its back-to-back events led by the Diocese of Antipolo and the Archdiocese of Manila.

The coincidental scheduling of these events reflects a shared goal to bring together social communicators and media practitioners to honor their contributions and enrich their mission of spreading the Gospel in a rapidly evolving digital age.

On January 25, 2025, the Diocese of Antipolo will kick off its jubilee celebration with a Holy Mass at 6:30 AM at the Minor Basilica and Parish of St. John the Baptist. The event will then proceed to Siena College of Taytay, where a full day of activities awaits attendees.

The program includes inspiring talks, experience-sharing from various dioceses, presentations by content creators, and a showcase of a Catholic app. In the afternoon, workshops will focus on skills development to further empower social communications ministers in their evangelization efforts.

Father France Baasis, Director of the Social Communications Ministry of the Diocese of Antipolo, emphasized the transformative nature of the gathering.

He said, “In this event, I hope to witness a transformation, not just in our skills or knowledge but in our hearts." 

"Reflecting on Pope Francis' message about Artificial Intelligence and the Wisdom of the Heart, I am moved by the challenge to use technology responsibly in our ministry, not just to inform but to inspire, to bring hope where there is despair, and to remind the world of the dignity of every human being," he added.

He also said that this Jubilee celebration is a moment of empowerment and renewal for the communicators of the church: “This hopefully will remind us that our mission is sacred, that every post, every story, every message we share is an opportunity to lead others closer to God. Above all, I believe this Jubilee will reignite our passion for evangelization, calling us to align our service with the Jubilee Year’s theme, ‘Pilgrims of Hope,’ and infuse love, wisdom, and compassion into every word we communicate.”

On the following day, the Archdiocese of Manila will hold its celebration on January 26, 2025, from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Minor Seminary in Makati. Unlike the Antipolo event, this gathering focuses on fostering camaraderie among Catholic and secular media practitioners.

The evening will feature games, dinner, raffles, and a Holy Mass at 6:00 PM, offering both spiritual nourishment and a much-needed opportunity for rest.

Jheng Prado, Archdiocesan Lay Coordinator of the Archdiocese of Manila Social Communications Ministry, explained the purpose of the event. “Apart from celebrating the role and contributions of communicators in the propagation of faith, the event will serve as a rest time for them. They are often too busy with their work that they sometimes forget they also need to stop, pause, and relax.”

Bishop Marcelino Antonio Maralit, Jr., Chairman of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines Episcopal Commission on Social Communications, highlighted the importance of boldness and innovation in communication in his message.

He said, “As we celebrate this Jubilee of World Communications, I urge all Filipino bishops, clergy, religious, and lay faithful to continue adapting and innovating in the field of communication."

"Let us be bold in our approach, wise in our discernment, and faithful in our proclamation of the Gospel. Let us all work together so that our words—whether spoken, written, or shared digitally—become channels of God’s grace, peace, and hope in our fractured world," the prelate added.

These back-to-back Jubilee celebrations underscore the Church's commitment to fostering collaboration and innovation among communicators in the Philippines.

The events also echo Pope Francis’ message that communication should not only inform but inspire transformation and nurture the human spirit.