Communicators meet on parish teams' training

by Savatary Lopez

taken from Catholic News Dec 10, 2006 page 8

Feedback has been termed the “breakfast of champions”. Some 20 communicators from across the archdiocese gathered recently to share a power session on the best way to prepare our parishes for the next level of Synod implementation.

The brainstorming session hosted by the Archdiocesan Commission for Communication (ACC) took place at Our Lady of Fatima Church, Curepe, on Saturday, December 2. On the agenda for consideration was a draft curriculum of formal training for persons who will embrace the challenge of being the BRIDGE, THE BALM AND THE BOND of parish life where they serve.

In trying to grapple with the issue of how do we as the Catholic Church come to terms with existing communication barriers, finding solutions to these barriers and relaying the solutions within the framework of being the bridge, the balm and the bond, the group discussed the current status of information dissemination within each represented parish.

Some participants had already undertaken formal training in Creating Media Teams at the annual Caribbean School for Catholic Communications (CSCC) and spoke about their experiences in this formal training environment, the topics covered and its applicability for implementation in their parish.

Msgr Alexander at the meeting with Catholic communicators

They spoke about the progress they had made in trying to create communication teams in their parishes. They also considered the importance of developing a vision and a mission for the parish, which should be reflected in the vision and mission of the communication team and incorporate the vision and mission of the ACC.

Other participants indicated the need for more information on starting communication teams; how to identify the right persons and what would be the necessary training for these persons.
What would be some of the qualities necessary for members of a parish communication team? The meeting identified interest in being part of the team, technical skills or talents and an ability to listen and to touch the hearts and heads of people.

A few persons expressed doubt about the effective functioning of the communication team unless there was “buy in” from the parish priest as well as the pastoral council. The establishment of a fixed place of operation for the team was discussed. Participants expressed reservations about finding a fixed location because of the competing demands for scarce space within parish facilities.

In addition to the particular topics on the proposed curriculum for training communication teams, the need to include conflict resolution and leadership training emerged. The timing and location of the training sessions provided some animated discussion with views being expressed for a central location or various locations across the archdiocese.

What clearly came out of these discussions was the need to communicate, not only through the formal communication channels such as the Catholic News and the various parish newsletters, but to find ways to reach those persons sitting on the fences and standing outside the gates.

The meeting highlighted the importance of a structure within each parish community to facilitate the dissemination of information, propose solutions to issues and problems, and coordinate meetings and discussions among parishioners.

Registration for the training sessions for members of parish communication teams will begin in January 2007.