Scores of Indonesians join activities held by the Bishops’ Social Communications Commission
Due to the pandemic, the event was celebrated online. “We officially launched a new plan called Komsoslympics, aimed at gaining new followers for the PKSN in our society and it really works,” said Fr Antonio Steven Lalu, executive secretary of the Social Communications Commission of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Indonesia,
Jakarta (AsiaNews) - Unlike previous years, the ongoing pandemic has led to the cancellation of the annual National Social Communication Week (PKSN[*]) organised by the Social Communications Commission (Komsos[†]) of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Indonesia (KWI[‡]).
The National Social Communication Week is an annual event held in various dioceses. Its goal, among others, is to generate enthusiasm in local Catholics and Indonesian society about spreading the “good news” via every modern wireless communication media.
This year's edition could not be held in person due to the pandemic. The first one was held in 2016 in the Diocese of Weetebula, on Sumba island, NTT province, followed in 2017 in the Diocese of Manokwari-Sorong, West Papua, and other dioceses.
Newly developed programmes that have gained a lot of attention
Although the dedicated Week could not be celebrated in person this year, the event was successfully held online, this according to Father Antonio Steven Lalu Pr, executive secretary of the Social Communications Commission.
“We officially launched a new plan called Komsoslympics aimed at gaining new followers for the PKSN in our society and it really works,” the clergyman told AsiaNews today. What is more, certain things surprised him.
“Compared to our previous PKSN, this year's initiative had many programmes and gained a lot of attention, especially with the participation of religious people,” said Fr Lalu who is also a diocesan priest from the Diocese of Manado.
What satisfied him the most with the newly designed programmes was that many young people took part in the Commission’s online writing programme.
“New approaches have created many opportunities for anyone to join our online programme. This meant that a variety of participants – youth and consecrated people – could easily join and participate in this event.”
“In total, the number of participants in the opinion festival, podcasts, storytelling videos, etc. was 438, from various dioceses. Our Komsoslympics programme also gained 546 followers.”
Along with several chief editors from various Indonesian media outlets, the Commission included AsiaNews as a key source for its online writing programme. The online writing coaching clinic offered tips and solutions for writing news, articles, essays, and media opinions.
Trials and errors: a good experience to practice new things
Sister Ayda OSU, a Jakarta nun and professional accountant, spoke about her experience in the Social Communications Commission’s 2021 National Social Communication Week.
“Initially I wasn't sure I wanted to take part in this event, especially the opinion festival since I am only a beginner,” she told AsiaNews today. “Not many nuns write, but this spiritually moved me to participate. I was motivated by several speakers during the online writing coaching that I was eventually pushed to write a simple opinion,” she added.
Deny Kus is a social communication activist in Pulo Gebang parish, East Jakarta. Speaking about his participation in the writing programmes, he said: “I received a lot of support and help from a key source, which improved my writing. I learnt from my mistakes by comparing my original text to the correct version.”
Rosita Sukadana had the same experience. An expert in agriculture economics, she is a keen activist with the “Red and Green” movement that focuses on providing food to patients in palliative care in Surabaya, East Java.
“My main problem was not having confidence to start writing,” she explained. “However, with a lot of support from Komsos KWI speakers during the online writing coaching programme, I was able to take a first step to write. My thanks go to the editor-in-chief of Sesawi.Net who gave me writing lessons that allowed me to edit my first writing.”
Sister Yovita Yutta Sueng OSU also talked about her experience. The Ursuline nun teaches at the Regina Pacis Junior High School in Solo, Central Java. “My first challenge was to overcome my low self-esteem,” she said. “But AsiaNews’s Indonesian contributor kindly helped me edit my first public writing, which motivated me to start new writings.”
Creating a new network among Catholic writers
Father Lalu notes that the Social Communications Commission’s 2021 National Social Communication Week was truly a model to help Catholic writers to network.
With its increased practice in holding the Week’s annual event in some dioceses, the Social Communications Commission has attracted a lot of attention from dozens of social communication enthusiasts.
This year's event with its variety of programmes has created a new way to promote Pope Francis' message for the 2021 International Social Communications Day, held yesterday.
For Fr Steven Lalu, “More and more Indonesian Catholics are being motivated by Pope Francis's message to experience the media hands-on and learn about communications to bear witness to the truth.”
[*] Pekan Komunikasi Sosial Nasional
[†] Komisi Komunikasi Sosial
[‡] Konferensi Waligereja Indonesia
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