3331 Digital and Media Literacy for 37 young confreres, KOR
austraLasia #3331

 

Prezis, Pizzas, Prayer and a Pledge
Digital and Media Literacy for 37 young confreres, KOR

SEOUL: 15 December 2013 --  A variety of well-prepared programs satisfied the goals of this winter seminar: (1) to give positive recognition to Salesian communications, (2) to improve critical perception and use of media, (3) to provide a framework which can support appropriate pastoral growth in the digital era where young confreres are concerned.

    Enveloped in overnight snow and with an arctic wind bringing -8 degree temperatures, it means a really severe winter lies ahead for Seoul, especially the city's elderly and poor.

Fortunately, at the Provincial house at Seoul, the outside freeze has been kept at bay by noisy Salesian youth. 12-15 December has seen the winter seminar program, this time on communications, for everyone in initial formation, from aspirants to deacons: 37 young Salesians and 5 formation team members for 4 days and 3 nights.

I’m really pleased and happy to have time to study and share things in this most interesting field, social communications, with young confreres from the different parts of the province. Even though I'm still tired from just completing final exams (in our case the school year concludes in December), this seminar has relieved the stress.” The words of an aspirant, describing the atmosphere of the seminar.

The seminar’s theme this winter has been ‘Digital and media literacy for Salesians’, run by the Province's Social Communication team. The SC Delegate is Bro. Hilario Seo, and the Formation team too is heavily involved. There are two seminars for initial formation every year, one in summer and the other in winter, the first on matters concerning Salesian spirituality, the second on pastoral or technical questions. A variety of well-prepared programs satisfied the goals of this winter seminar: (1) to give positive recognition to Salesian communications, (2) to improve critical perception and use of media, (3) to provide a framework which can support appropriate pastoral growth in the digital era where young confreres are concerned.

Beside the Salesians who make up the SC Commission, Bro Bosco Park, Fr Savio Seong, Fr Samuel Yu there were also lay specialists in the field lecturing at the seminar: a professor in media literacy Fidelis Choi who is also a Salesian Cooperator, Mrs Genesia Seo, a woman writer for documentary programs at KBS (Korea State Broadcasting System) and Mrs Angela Hong, a professional designer in Don Bosco Media in Seoul.

"Communications is needed for unity, and unity is essential for building a community. That’s why I believe that communication is the most basic of activities for our community life. I hope that you broaden your horizons and knowledge and find ways to apply this to your community life," were the encouraging words of the provincial, Fr Stephan Nam, to participants in the first day’s good-night talk.
Human communication
On the first day the young confreres were introduced to the theme of human communication and attended a lecture on media literacy theory. And until late that night they practised writing up a persuasive story, following the professional guidelines they had heard, as one form of preparation for the good preacher who must proclaim the Lord to the people.
Images and commerce
Day two focused on improving their capacity in creating and using images. They learned how to take good photos using DSLR and how to then manage them with Photoshop in their computers. In the evening time they watched and criticallz analysed several advertising video clips as awarene consumers in a commercial-dominated Korean society.
Presentation (Prezi, PPT, but also pizzas - and of course prayer)
On day three they practised their presentation skills to express their thoughts effectively using presentation tools such as PPT or Prezi. As well they had opportunity to reflect on SMS activity which is almost essential to modern society, trying to discover desirable ways of using SMS as members of a religious community. On the final day they reflected on Salesian communications, leaning of the genius of the Founder in the communication area, trying to put together an overall 'snapshot' of the Congregation’s activity in this field, specially by taking a close look at the province situation to draw up possibilities for building up communities as well as for youth ministry.
A pledge
Young confreres were able to deepen their understanding of communications logic through their enthusiastic participation in the seminar. They have pledged to engage in a more communicative life for building up a good community and made a commitment to be good pastors by "learning the language young people use" in this scene as part of the educative and pastoral activity each day.