Communication delegates meet in Rome

After two and a half years, the communication delegates of Jesuit conferences worldwide gathered in Rome, in person and online, to discuss various aspects of their work in communications for the Society of Jesus

Led by the Director of Communications at the Jesuit General Curia, Fr John Dardis SJ, the Curia communications team ably hosted the delegates from the Jesuit Conference of European Provincials (JCEP), the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States (JCCU), the Conference of Jesuit Provincials in Latin American and the Caribbean (CPAL), the Jesuit Conference of South Asia (JCSA), the Jesuit Conference of Africa and Madagascar (JCAM) and the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific (JCAP). Despite the different time zones, other delegates joined virtually from Peru, Kenya, India and the United States.

Attending on the Curia side were Fr Pierre Bélanger SJ, editor of the annual Jesuit magazine, Fr Vivian Richard SJ, in charge of social media, Ignatian Year coordinator Sch Pascal Calu SJ, video producer and graphic designer Mikołaj Cempla, Jesuits Global webmaster Stefano Maero, and the office’s secretary and coordinator Caterina Talloru. It was a diverse gathering of cultures and languages, especially evident during the celebration of the Mass, as the group recited the Our Father in their own mother tongue.

The four-day session began with time to reflect on the work in the last two years which have been severely impacted by the pandemic. Sharing in small groups, both face to face and virtually, was a source of consolation for everyone present. On the second day, the delegates presented the new developments from their respective conferences, proving a rich resource of ideas, content, and best practices. Each conference displayed unique ways of reflecting their local context, whether the African Jesuit AIDS network or the coverage of the war in Ukraine, and show of solidarity for refugees from the European conference.

The Curia had its own set materials to be launched, which include a series of short videos on discernment and synodality, a toolkit for apostolic planning, an in-depth resource for Ignatian heritage, and a special app on Ignatian places. Other sessions on vocation promotions, with Fr General’s Councilor for Formation, Fr Mark Ravizza SJ, and social media strategies with Fr Vivian Richard SJ, were focal points during the week-long meeting.

There was a special treat for the communications group: an invitational screening of the documentary film, Il Cammino Ignaziano, at the Filmoteca Vaticana, the Vatican screening room. Directed by Catalan filmmaker Jordi Roigé, the film follows five people who set out on a pilgrimage to trace the steps of St Ignatius in northern Spain.

The most significant part of the gathering was an hour and a half with Fr General Arturo Sosa, who listened to the delegates and gave feedback and important points to the group. Fr General Sosa described the communications group as a network, a team working together with the same intention, and moving forward as a community. He talked about “owning the narrative”, how to be proactive and not merely reactive.

Father General Arturo Sosa reminded the delegates about their mission:

“Don’t lose the complexity between the mission, the Universal Apostolic Preferences and spirituality. […] There is a big temptation to simplify the language, which should be clear but not simple”.

Father General Arturo Sosa SJ

The Universal Apostolic Preferences deepen the commitment to our relationship with reconciliation and justice, which, as Fr Sosa said, is at the core of our communication processes and our message. Towards the end of the week, space was given for dialogue on existing initiatives for the promotion of vocations within the Society, reiterating the importance of investing means and energy in this objective. This topic was also deeply touched upon by Father General during his speech, stressing that it is a priority and deserves dedicated work.

Finally, it was possible to share some proposals for common projects and to dream of the next meeting in 2023. The meeting ended with thanksgiving to God for allowing this space to take place in such depth.

This information was originally published on the JCAP website and the CPAL website (in Spanish).