Last July 3 to 5, Jesuit Communications (JesCom) Executive Director Fr. Emmanuel Alfonso, SJ, Head of the Secretariat for Social Communications of the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific (JCAP), convened the Secretariat in Hong Kong for their first face-to-face meeting after the pandemic.
Together with JesCom Multimedia and Training Manager, Paolo Antonio Gonzalez, and President of the Conference, Fr. Primitivo Viray Jr., SJ, the first day covered comprehensive reports on media and social communication activities and projects. Sharing their accomplishments over the previous year were representatives from Jesuit Provinces across the Asia-Pacific region, including Australia, Malaysia-Singapore, Vietnam, Timor-Leste, Indonesia, China, and the Philippines.
For the Secretariat, Fr. Alfonso reported that among the significant accomplishments last year were the hosting of a live-streamed panel discussion on the message of Laudate Deum together with JCAP Reconciliation with Creation (RWC), and the facilitation of a workshop on digital citizenship for students of Sanata Dharma University.
The second day was allotted for planning next year’s possible projects. Paolo Antonio Gonzalez, also an assistant instructor at the Ateneo de Manila University DISCS, set it up by providing the current Asia-Pacific media environment. Fr. Alfonso then led a strategic mapping of critical issues faced in the region, while Fr. Viray communicated to the group the General Curia’s priorities.
In the afternoon session, a SWOT analysis was conducted, before the group planned for common projects over the next two years, such as a media campaign for the visit of Pope Francis to Asia in September, a revamped Vocations Promotion video, as well as workshops and modules to further strengthen initiatives on protecting the environment- upon the urgent appeal by Superior General, Fr. Arturo Sosa, SJ.
The highlight of the third and final day was the group’s audience and meeting with Stephen Chow Sau-yan, S.J., Cardinal and Bishop of Hong Kong. Previously the provincial superior of the Chinese Province of the Society of Jesus, Cardinal Chow Sau-yan also shared his insights about the state of the Catholic Church in the Chinese context. With the available time for recreation, the group also immersed themselves in the local sights, sounds, and culture of Hong Kong with an enjoyable trip around the city.
After they reconvened for a thanksgiving mass later that evening celebrating a fruitful three-day conference, the group bade each other good luck and farewell, armed with a renewed sense of purpose and mission for the Jesuit cause in the region.
