by Jennifer D’ Cruz
BANDRA- MUMBAI, FEBRUARY 12, 2014: Western Region organized a Media Seminar for Catholic Youth on the Sunday, 9 February 2014 at St. Paul’s Provincial House, Bandra, Mumbai. The 
Social Media is surely one of the most powerful tools in today’s 21st fast running century. It is so essential and has become indispensable in the life of every young person. It is rightly said that young people are the WTF generation, don’t get me wrong, it is ‘Wikepidia’ ‘Twitter’ and ‘Facebook’ generation.
The Media Seminar was attended by young people who came from all the way from Gujarat, Goa, Pune, Nashik, Vasai and Mumbai. Present were distinguished persons, Fr. Ashok Vaghela SJ, President of the Signis Western Region and Director of Gujarvani Communication Centre, Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Fr. Edwin Vas SVD, Vice-President of the Signis Western Region and Director of Ishvani Kendra, Pune, Sr. Hilda Braganza FMA, Treasurer and Secretary of the Signis Western Region and Directress of AMAR Media Centre, Wadala, Mumbai, Members of Signis Western Region and friends. The visitors from South Africa were very special guests.
The Seminar began by invoking Gods presence as Sr. Silviya Antonymuthu FSP led all present in prayer with a prayer dance. The Inaugural addressed was given by Fr. Ashok Vaghela who gave a briefsignificance of the day and welcomed the gathering. The Keynote Address was delivered by Fr. Cleophas Braganza SDB, Director of Don Bosco Youth Services, Matunga. He emphasized on the need of using Social Media to reach out to others, making God’s Word and love known to all.
What followed next was a very exciting Media Symposium with the theme: Social Media for Social change. The Moderator of the Symposium was Sr. Joeyanna D’ Souza FSP. Eminent speakers – a Youth (Mr. Brinston Carvalho), Social Worker (Mr. Richard D’ Souza), Parent (Mrs. Myola Gomes) and Media person (Mr. Kevin Jairaj) gave all present very valuable insights as to how Social Media can go a long way to bring about social change in the locality and the nation. Smart questions from the youth to the panellists helped to enrich the entire group and to clarify many of their qualms.
The climax of the seminar was the well animated Holy Eucharist, con-celebrated by five priests. This was accompanied by the divine singing, a choir which comprised of the youth who were present. The homily was preached by Fr. Olavo Caiado from Goa giving a very powerful message to the young to be the ‘message‘ by being effective like light and salt in the world.
The vote of thanks was proposed by Sr. Hilda Braganza. Special thanks were expressed to Fr.Alex and the community of St.Paul Provincial House, Bandra for allotting their premises for the seminar and the well decorated hall. She also thanked Miss Dahlia Ribeiro for compering the program.
A participant commented ‘We thank the core team and all the Signis members for organizing such a wonderful seminar and we look forward to having some more of this kind in the future.’