Catholic school students, teachers encouraged to attend YouthPinoy’s Catholic social media summit

Using social media should be among the innovations that educators should imbibe in their teaching strategies, especially in promoting Christian Values.

This was what Fr. Gregg Bañaga, Jr., C.M. said as he encouraged students, teachers and officials of some 1,346 Catholic schools, colleges and universities under the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) to attend the 1st Catholic Social Media Summit, being organized by YouthPinoy together with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

Bañaga, who is concurrently CEAP chief and president of Adamson University in Manila, said Catholic educational institutions should follow the Church’s lead in using social media to teach the youth about Christ.

“In this age of ever-changing technology, the Church, through various means, conscious of its role and presence in parishes, schools, communities, organizations and certain situations, is using social media to teach the world about Christ, especially the youth,” he said.

The priest encouraged teachers, officials and administrators of CEAP member-schools to do the same, adding that “the responsible use of social media especially in the promotion of Christian Values should be highlighted in our teaching ministries.”

Bañaga added that CEAP will be in support of YouthPinoy, a group of young Catholics promoting the use of online media to evangelize, and other organized groups of young people “striving to become communities of disciples of Jesus Christ.”

“The CEAP will always be supportive of organizations providing spiritual formation, in whatever available means with the view on producing young Christian leaders who will work for social transformation. The association has been longing to see similar groups being organized, strengthened, and recognized in our schools and is committed to give them full support,” he added.

The 1st Catholic Social Media Summit, themed “Ministering Grace to this Generation” [cf. Eph 4:29], is organized by YouthPinoy, in partnership with the CBCP Media Office, Episcopal Commission on Youth, and Episcopal Commission on Missions, and the Catholic Media Network.

It is co-organized by youth groups behind +Big, a new lay movement aiming to inspire Filipinos to live their lives like Blessed Pedro Calungsod did, and the promoters of the 2012 CBCP Year of the Mission.

The summit will be held on July 14 to 15, 2012 at the Renaissance Convention Center, Riverbanks, Marikina City.

Registration fee, including summit kit, meals and certificate, costs P1,000 per participant. Interested parties can register at the YouthPinoy office, 3rd Floor CBCP Building, 470 Gen. Luna St. in Intramuros, Manila, or contact Ms. Nirva Delacruz through mobile: +639321469436/ +639164831443; landline:  +6327096486; and email: ypopportunities@gmail.com.

Registration is due on Friday, June 30. Details of the summit, such as the program, registration guidelines, and summit files, are available for online viewing at www.youthpinoy.com. (YouthPinoy)