SPEAKERS` ABSTRACTS Update April 20, 2016

SPEAKERS’ ABSTRACTS
Update April 20, 2016
Ronnie Convery
(Wednesday April 27th, 5.30 pm)
Managing Digital identity / Church Experiences
For a Church accustomed to proclaiming, the skill of listening and dialoguing is new. Yet social media is a place of
exchange and the Church must be present in that world, capable of both giving and receiving information and
opinion.
How to respond to criticism on social media? How to moderate comments which may be institutionally painful to
read? How to encourage honest exchange while avoiding sterile or gratuitous insult? The golden rules of when to
intervene and when to stay silent? The importance of monitoring and managing Church social media sites.
These are some of the issues which will be tackled in this intervention.
The speaker has many years experience of managing digital sites and has had to deal with dramatic moments such
as the forced resignation of a cardinal following negative press exposure, and the preparation and follow up to a
Papal visit. The session will offer clear practical advice on managing digital media in a way which is open to
dialogue but respectful of the institutional dignity of the Church.
Margaret Doherty
(Tuesday April 26th, 3.00 pm)
Case Study - Nuns on the Rise
Situation Analysis
Pope Francis dedicated 2015 to promoting and praying for consecrated life in all its various shapes and sizes.
The Media Office of the Catholic Bishops’ of England and Wales, together with the National Office for
Vocation saw this special year as a platform to promote and facilitate a national conversation around
religious life.
Strategy
Testing had shown that there was a voracious appetite for monks and nuns in the mainstream, as well as
the religious media. The big picture project was to get people talking about religious life - why people are
called and why being a monk or nun could be considered as an attractive life choice in today’s world. One
commentator saw that there was ‘a gap in the market for meaning in our culture’.
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Solution
Stats
The number of women entering convents in England and Wales had hit a 25 year high. From a low point
of 7 in 2004, the numbers had steadily increased to a high point of 45 in 2014. Religious life was becoming
an attractive choice for an increasing number of educated, dynamic young and older women.
Right Case Study
Theodora Hawksley, 30, a former postdoctoral researcher at the University of Edinburgh, had recently
joined the Congregation of Jesus (CJ). She was living in a CJ convent in North London, so was
geographically well positioned for TV and Radio studios and had made herself freely available for
interviews. One big bonus was that she was beautiful interiorly and exteriorly, so visibly took interviewers
and social media platforms by surprise.
Experts on Hand as Spokespeople
·
Novices
·
Heads of Religious Orders
·
Sr Cathy Jones – Former Religious Life Vocations Promoter at the Bishops’ Conference of England
and Wales
·
Fr Christopher Jamison – Director of the National Office for Vocation
Timing
Vocations Sunday
The Day of Prayer for Vocations to the Priesthood and Consecrated Life provided a further platform to
promote religious life.
Friends in the Media
Impact
Conservative estimates would indicate that in excess of 10 million people saw, read or heard about the
‘Nuns on the Rise’ story online and offline, primarily in the United Kingdom, but also it became a discussion
starter and trend setter across the world.
Emmanuel Edwards
(Thursday April 28th, 9.00 am)
The Communicative Power of Mercy in Art
The digital age is increasingly making us into a society of images and therefore the Church has a great
opportunity to use our rich Christian artistic patrimony to transmit the message of a God who is rich in
mercy.
From the earliest centuries, the Church has always used art to communicate the faith. This session will
consider the way that artistic paintings or masterpieces have a tremendous potential to communicate the
Christian message to the people of our times. These works can act as a muta predicator, or a form of silent
preaching, that occurs when the onlooker looks upon the work with the “eyes” of the heart rather than
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their rationality. In a certain sense, the communicator faces the challenge of inviting someone to
encounter God through the beauty and symbolism contained in the artist’s work.
A selection of works by artists like Michael Angelo and Vasari, which are found in the Vatican Museums
collection, will be used to illustrate the communicative power of mercy.
Norberto González Gaitano
(Tuesday April 26th, 6.00 pm)
La opinión pública en la Iglesia. Una reflexión comunicativa y eclesiológica
En la primera parte se ofrece una síntesis de los resultados de las investigaciones sobre la Iglesia ante el
tribunal de la opinión pública a través, sobre todo, de los estudios más significativos efectuados en los
últimos 20 años a nivel internacional.
La opinión pública en la Iglesia existe, aunque nunca se la ha llamado así, pues la Iglesia no es una
comunidad política ni democrática. Pero como es una comunión, supone necesariamente la comunicación.
Toda comunicación conlleva un cierto debate, que en el caso de la Iglesia porta a una singular “opinión
pública”. Esa se manifiesta o se expresa en modos diversos según la materia sobre la que versa: cuando se
trata de las exigencias de la fe, se llama sensus fidelium y se comporta -o se debería comportar- como cabe
esperar respecto al dogma y sus exigencias para la comunión en la fe; cuando se trata de cuestiones de
gobierno que afectan al bien de la comunión, vige -o debería regir- el principio jerárquico, es decir el de las
exigencias de la comunión; y, en tercer lugar, cuando se ocupa de cuestiones contingentes, estamos –
deberíamos estar- en el ámbito del debate y de la opinión libre, en el ámbito de la disputa, que conlleva las
exigencias de la libertad y la pluralidad. Desarrollar esta idea central es objeto de la segunda y tercera parte
de la conferencia, tras haber expuesto sintéticamente las enseñanzas sobre el tema del Magisterio y de los
Papas a partir de Pío XII hasta Juan Pablo II, especialmente, y del papa Francisco.
En la tercera parte se aplican estas ideas al caso de los abusos de menores, en curso de solución en la
Iglesia católica desde las medidas de Benedicto XVI, desde la perspectiva de la comunicación institucional y
se sostiene la tesis que el problema ha sido un error eclesiológico práctico, no sólo de comunicación.
La conferencia concluye con cinco recomendaciones a los operadores de la comunicación eclesial.
SER Philippe Jourdan
(Thursday April 28th, 4.15 pm)
The Apostolic Administration of Estonia is at the present time the oldest Apostolic Administration in the
world and, as says the Canon Law (371 §2) „an apostolic administration is a certain portion of the people
of God which is not erected as a diocese by the Supreme Pontiff due to special and particularly grave
reasons and whose pastoral care is entrusted to an apostolic administrator who governs it in the name of
the Supreme Pontiff“. In part because of its sovietic past, Estonia is one of the less religious countries in
the world – or at least certainly in Europe – with about 80 % of the population without religion, and the
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catholic community representing a tiny 0.6 % of the inhabitants. The rest have a lutheran or orthodox
tradition.
In my paper, I will try to answer to the question of how is it possible to communicate about the Catholic
Church in countries where the share of catholics is one per cent or less of the total population. It is an
essential task of the Church, because if it can be estimated that only 3 % of all Catholics live in countries
where there are 1 % or less of catholics, it is important to note that half of humanity live in those same
countries. So a great part of the mission of the Church is to make itself known precisely in those vast areas,
even if the Church cannot there have so many ressources and possibilities and access to the public opinion
as it has in countries with a larger catholic presence.
I shall try to discuss those topics sharing on the experience we have had in the country I am coming from
with its challenges and difficulties, but also with its opportunities.
Charles Marsh
(Tuesday April 26th, 10.00 am)
The New Role of Communicators: From Content Diffusors to Promotors of Culture
The role of organizational communication officers is changing rapidly. Today’s digital environment means
that every member of an organization, trained or not, is now a public communicator. Any action from any
colleague can instantly become the topic of widespread public discussion – anything from a personal Tweet
to transportation choices to selection of vendors. In this new reality, Church communication officers must
do more than create and deliver messages to key publics: As communication leaders, they must help
promote a values-driven culture that infuses every action of their organization, both verbal and nonverbal.
Communication officers must help ensure that every action from every colleague communicates the
Church’s values and key messages. This presentation will offer “best practices” to help communication
officers address this challenging new mission. Topics of discussion will include general theories, such as
Change Theory and the four new roles of effective communication managers, and specific tactics, such as
Force Field Analysis, Monroe’s Motivated Sequence, and the Planning Grid. Ideally, the presentation will
help equip communication officers to become promotors of organizational culture in the new digital
environment.
Damien Schmitt
(Thursday April 28th, 10.00 am)
Apps: new ways to share values?
Why as Catholic Christians we must be involved in the digital media space. There are 7.3 billion people on
earth, 3.4 billion are connected to the internet (November 2015). Facebook has 1.44 billion people actively
using their platform each month. 700 million people between Twitter and Instagram. Media consumption
trends in the United States - Average time spent with major media per day in the United States as of
October 2015, 12 hours. People are going mobile. More than 86% of our Facebook traffic is from people
on mobile devices. The app is a platform that meets people where they are today. How the features of our
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app meet the needs and demands of people living in the digital continent. Five factors for success in
spreading the Gospel through the mobile app and social media. Content has to be “Now”, Relevant,
Beautiful, Good, and True.
Keywords: evangelization, mobile, digital, consumption, connection
Antonio Maria Sicari
(Thursday April 28th, 9.00 am)
Dalla presentazione ufficiale del Convegno, mi piace sintetizzare questa semplice indicazione: «Nella Chiesa chi si
occupa di comunicazione deve "reimparare a raccontare” per favorire una nuova “cultura dell’incontro”».
Per rispondere all’invito, la mia relazione seguirà questo schema di base:
1.
Per comunicare in maniera autentica e persuasiva il messaggio evangelico, raccontare l’esperienza dei Santi
può avere la stessa funzione che hanno le illustrazioni, gli esempi, le parabole, e offrire una prima verifica
dell’attualità e validità del messaggio stesso.
2.
Il fatto di poter “comunicare” indicando il “Volto dei Santi” ha, inoltre, il vantaggio di facilitare da subito lo
scopo della comunicazione stessa che è l’immersione propria ed altrui in una anticipata esperienza di
“comunione”, evocando quella catena vivente che ci lega a Cristo, nella quale – come diceva Péguy – “il
peccatore tende la mano al santo e il santo dà la mano al peccatore. / E tutti insieme, l'uno tirando l'altro, essi
risalgono fino a Gesù”.
3.
In questa “catena vivente”, il Volto del Divino Maestro può assumere nuove e inedite connotazioni che sono
proprie ad ogni singola storia d’amore. Ogni Santo, infatti, non rivela soltanto la qualità unica dell’amore che
Egli ha avuto per Cristo, ma anche la qualità unica dell’amore che Cristo ha avuto per Lui. Senza contemplare
e narrare queste innumerevoli “storie d’amore”, Gesù rischia essere percepito come un personaggio
inchiodato al passato. Saperle invece comunicare significa offrire un incontro vivo e personalizzato con Lui.
4.
Tutti Santi si sono immersi nella Misericordia di Dio e l’hanno riversata sul prossimo. Ma alcuni sono stati
così creativi” da inventare nuovi circuiti di comunicazione ad ogni livello. Basta pensare, ad esempio, al
significato che la parola “carità” assunse con S. Vincenzo de’ Paoli (fondatore de “le carità”), nominato nel
governo dalla regina di Francia “Ministro della carità” (!). O raccontare la storia di S. Damiano de Veuster che
dovette cominciare con l’opera di misericordia più estrema (“seppellire i morti”) per ricostruire l’intero assetto
sociale (e lo stesso “linguaggio”) nella sua isola di lebbrosi...
Alfredo Vela
(Tuesday April 26th, 3.00 pm)
¡Romero es nuestro, Romero es de la Iglesia!
Utilizamos como punto de partida el briefing de la Oficina de Prensa del Vaticano sobre la causa de
beatificación de Monseñor Romero.
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El objetivo de la comunicación del evento de la beatificación fue:
a.
Romero será declarado santo por la vía del martirio porque murió santamente;
b.
Su doctrina es ortodoxa, es decir, su mensaje de pensar en los más necesitados sigue vigente (está en el
corazón del mensaje de Cristo);
c.
Es un motivo de gran alegría para los salvadoreños y para la Iglesia
Realizamos un reframe de “Romero no es comunista” que suele ser habitual al explicar los motivos de su
beatificación. Diseñamos la comunicación especialmente para la población joven (entre los 15 y 30 años)
nacidos después de la firma de los acuerdos de paz, que marcó el final del conflicto interno armado.
La estrategia fue ser impredecibles, creativos y muy positivos.
www.beatificacionromero.org.
SER Basilio Yaldo
(Thursday April 28th, 4.15 pm)
Chiesa e comunicazione: Imparare dai cristiani in ambienti difficili
Oggi è molto importante avere i mezzi di comunicazione sociale: dalla stampa (libro, rivista e giornale) al
cinema, radio, televisione, alle nuove tecnologie come Internet e i Social media (Facebook, Instagram e
Twitter …..). Questi mezzi sono importanti per la Chiesa per compiere la sua missione: Evangelizzazione;
Catechesi; Lavoro pastorale; Conferenze e Comunione.
Anche per le attività particolari della Chiesa abbiamo bisogno di alcuni mezzi come: Radio; TV; posta
elettronica; Giornalismo e News Press. Oggi dobbiamo usare tutti i mezzi di comunicazione per annunciare
la parola di Dio, specialmente negli ambienti dove ci sono delle difficoltà. Per esempio da noi in Iraq, la
Chiesa aveva delle difficoltà quando voleva stampare o pubblicare alcuni documenti ecclesiastici, cioè
doveva avere permessi e autorizzazioni speciali per le cose della religione cristiana oppure per avere una
radio e un canale cristiano locale si doveva rivolgere al governo.
La situazione dei cristiani nel Medio Oriente è diversa da quella occidentale, perché siamo minoranza nei
paesi arabi, non abbiamo tante vie di comunicazioni con gli altri, perché non c’è abbastanza libertà e quasi
tutto è sotto controllo! Come ho visto durante la mia visita in Iran per incontrare la nostra comunità, è
tutto sotto controllo, anche per stampare i libri si devono cambiare alcune parole come “Gesù figlio di
Dio”. Nonostante tutto questo la Chiesa non smette mai di annunciare in questi paesi la parola di Dio e di
trasmettere la verità. Nel nostro paese (Iraq) la via migliore di comunicazione tra i cristiani è la Chiesa, dove
ci sono diverse attività come Bible study, conferenze o convegni, incontri per i giovani, incontri tra le
famiglie, la messa domenicale … ecc.
Inoltre, si possono stampare alcuni documenti come i settimanali della Chiesa, riviste ecclesiali, trasmettere
alcuni programmi per bambini e mostrare i film che sono interessati. Queste cose sono utili per comunicare
con gli altri. Specialmente nella Chiesa che per noi è l’unico luogo dove la persona si sente libera e
tranquilla, perché quando esce si sente piena di entusiasmo.
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