Youth encouraged to use social media in proclaiming the Word

A Catholic priest encouraged young people to get fully involved in the digital world and use social media effectively in proclaiming the word of God in today’s generation.

Fr. Hans Magdurulang, speaker of the 48th series of ‘Ka-Talk’ forum organized by the Archdiocesan Commission on Youth of Manila (ACYM) urged the youth participants to be online missionaries even as he advised them to be role models in their proclamation of the word.

He told young people to cautious in uttering statements and be role models not just in action but also in words, for words are very powerful.

Themed “Silence & Word (Path of Evangelization),” the 48th series focused on evangelizing by being a missionary through the word of mouth and giving way to silence for better discernment.

Three of the youth participants also shared about their thoughts and experiences in proclaiming the word of God through the digital world.

Fr. Jade Licuanan, ACYM youth commissioner has also challenged young people to be more involved in various types of social media.

“As we continue to evolve in our theme ‘MEDIA IN MISSION: Making good use of the youth’s presence in the digital world,’ we again challenge our young people to really be involved in various types of websites, applications and social networks which can help young people today to find time for reflection and authentic questioning, as well as making space for silence and occasions for prayer, meditation or sharing of the Word of God” he said.

Licuanan dared attendees to use the media as a path for evangelization by posting positive words and messages in their social networking sites and keep silent if they have nothing good to say for the betterment of everyone.

Meanwhile, organizers announced submission of entries for the documentary, MTV and film making contests that can be participated by media buffs with the concept focusing on evangelizing people through the use of mass media, is on September 2012.

The forum was held at St. Scholastica College-Manila last July 7. (Emily Lingat/Jandel Posion)

Tagle leads stalwart speakers at 1st Catholic Social Media Summit

No less than Facebook- and Twitter-savvy Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle is the keynote speaker at the much-awaited 1st Catholic Social Media Summit next week.

Tagle, who is known for his social media posts and television program “The Word Exposed,” will discuss about “Godtiquette vs. Netiquette” on the first day of the two-day summit.

His talk themed “Social Media Spirituality” will relate technology with theology and discuss on the phenomenon of New Media Evangelization.

Joining Tagle in the CSMS panel of speakers is a blogging priest, a radio-show-host, social media marketing expert, a film producer, a television reporter, a bank executive and a phone applications developer.

Fr. Stephen Cuyos, MSC from the Communications Foundation for Asia, will talk about the “Word made Flesh and Digital” in his talk “The Cloud Search: Truth and Authenticity in the Digital World.”

While Cuyos discusses the advantages of establishing social presence of the participant’s organization or parish, GMA7 senior news anchor Mark Zambrano will talk about how the Church can engage digital media for its message.

Meanwhile Msgr. Pedro Quitorio, director of the CBCP Media Office and host of a daily morning news show aired over Radio Veritas, will discuss how to shape a “Digital Future full of Hope” in his talk about “Winning the Digital World through the Word.

Urian Awardee and film producer Alemberg Ang, on the other hand, will give a crash course on basic independent film making, as he discusses how film can be used for evangelization.

For his part, Carlo Ople of TV5 will teach summit participants how to use social media in marketing their products and evangelization events.

If Arvie de Vera of Unionbank will be giving a lecture on maximizing the benefits of electronic-banking and online donation for participant’s fund raising efforts, Jomar Hilario, an internet marketing consultant, will teach them more about earning through the internet.

The CSMS is a two-day summit to be held on July 14 and 15 at the Renaissance Convention Center in Riverbanks, Marikina City.

Being organized by YouthPinoy, it is the first nationwide confab to discuss how the Catholic Church and the lay faithful can exploit social media to benefit their evangelization and mission works.

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 ends tomorrow July 6. Details of the summit, such as the program, registration guidelines, and summit files, are available online at www.youthpinoy.com . (YouthPinoy)