Media award on Communications Day theme

taken from Catholic News May 27, 2007 page 15

By Irtha Daniel

The Archdiocese marked the 41st World Communications Day last Sunday with a 5 p.m. Mass at the Sacred Heart Church, Richmond Street, Port of Spain.

Fr Jason Gordon, Vicar for Administration and member of the Archdiocesan Commission for Communications (ACC) presided at the Mass and Msgr Cuthbert Alexander, Vicar for Communication and ACC head delivered the homily. The Ascension Day liturgy took as its theme Communicating for the Common Good, drawing upon one of the themes in the message of Pope Benedict XVI for the day.

Savatary Lopez (middle), member of Curepe parish Communications Team, and ACC members Celia Regis (left), Msgr Alexander and Louis Blake with MATT president Joanne Briggs after the Mass.

Msgr Alexander said Jesus’ ascending to the Father and disappearing from sight made the need for witnesses vital. “Media practitioners are called to be particular witnesses,” he said. While professional communicators are called to be a sign of hope for others by the way they live their lives, they must also be able to tell their stories in a way that witnesses to the Christ who came into our world, suffered and died on the Cross, rose victorious over sin and evil and is with us today.

“Stories of murder and kidnapping, a sudden death, animals that have lost their way because of climate change” all have that potential, he said.

At the close of the Mass, Msgr Alexander announced that the ACC had decided to offer annually a media award in collaboration with the Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago (MATT). The theme of the award each year will reflect the theme of the message for World Communication Day.

For 2007/2008 it will be “Protecting Children’s Basic Rights”. Details of the award will be given during the visit next month of Fr Paul Soukup, communications professor and author. Fr Soukup who will be a guest of the ACC will talk to various Church groups and will meet members of the media during the week of June 18 to 22.

Although attendance at the Mass was not great Msgr Alexander took this in stride saying, “Even though we are few that’s okay: what has started small will grow. This is the first time we are having such a Mass - I’m sure it will be bigger next year”. Among those attending the Mass, were members of the media, both secular and Catholic, representatives of communication teams from various parishes and members of the ACC.

During the Mass, co-ordinators demonstrated positive use of the media by a slide display of beautiful scenery that was a refreshing accompaniment to the hymns. Mawasi Experience and the Sacred Heart Traditional Choir provided the music and led the singing.

After the Mass, participants gathered at the Sacred Heart Boys’ School for light refreshments. It was a lovely evening and a way to give thanks and praise for the strides made in the field of media and communications.