The SCJs ESIC Business and Marketing School in Madrid, Spain, was host to two communications gatherings in November.  The first, November 23-24, was open to the public and included presentations from journalism and marketing professionals regarding the media and the Church. 

How is the Church portrayed in the media?  How can the Church work more effectively with media?  What is news and who determines it?  How well does the Church utilize new technologies?  How did Fr. Leo Dehon utilize the media? 

These were some of the topics addressed by the presenters, including Fr. Stefan Tertuente, SCJ, a member of the German Province who spoke about the founder and his passion for communications.  He knew, said Fr. Stefan, that it was important for the Church to be a part of public discourse so its concerns could be heard. 

There were approximately 140 participants in the first gathering.  The second, November 26-27, was for SCJs and those who work directly with the community in communications.  Forty people took part.  Presentations were made by SCJs regarding the use of printed and digital media, as well radio, television and even music. However, much of the work done in the second gathering was in small, linguistic groups. 

In the groups, participants discussed ways in which the congregation can communicate better externally and internally.  Suggestions included a photo database in which pictures from the entire congregation could be made available.  The work done on the congregational website was praised, but even the SCJ who spearheads the project –– Fr. Zeferino Policarpo Ferreira of Portugal –– said that more needs to be done to make it a site for the ENTIRE congregation.  This means more news from around the world, and more frequent translations so that news from one side of the world can be understood by SCJs on the other side. 

All groups called for an office of communications to be established at the Generalate.  “This type of work does not get done if left to a committee,” said one participant.  “Someone needs to be in-charge.”

Other suggestions included the adoption of a single logo (the German logo of a heart within a cross was suggested as possibility since it is frequently used), and better use of the internet for the distribution of information (perhaps a password-protected area on the website for members and/or a blog), and simply better communication between those who are responsible for communication within the various provinces, regions and districts. 

Fr. Claudio Dalla Zuanna, SCJ, was the general councilor in-charge of the Communication Congress.  Fr. José Ornelas Carvalho, general superior, joined participants on the final day of the gathering.  Mary Gorski represented the U.S. Province at the congress.