By Ruben Sario
SERI BEGAWAN – Catholic media practitioners should always allow themselves to be inspired and guided by the Holy Spirit, Cardinal Sebastian Francis said.
Describing the Holy Spirit as the ‘Ultimate Influencer’, the Malaysian prelate said Catholic media practitioners should not merely rely on their personal beliefs and influences in carrying out their duties.
“As Christians, we are called to share Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit,” Cardinal Sebastian said when opening the annual general meeting and formation of the Episcopal Regional Commission for Social Communication (ERCSC) in Bandar Seri Begawan.
The event was held from June 23 to 27, 2025 at the Church of Our Lady of Assumption and attended by representatives of the Social Communication Commission (SOCCOM) from the nine dioceses in Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore.
Expressing his appreciation that Catholic media practitioners were harnessing the latest technology including artificial intelligence, Cardinal Sebastian said they should not only be aware of its benefits but also its potential pitfalls and threats.
“Remember, at the centre of it all in our mission is Jesus Christ and the Gospel,” he noted.
He said the coming months would be an exciting time for Catholic media practitioners with the scheduled canonisation of the Blessed Carlo Acutis whom he described as the church’s first Cyber Apostle.
Blessed Carlo, who died in 2006 aged 15 due to leukemia, was known to have helped in establishing multiple church websites in Milan, Italy including one documenting Eucharistic miracles. He is due to be canonized as a Saint on Sep 7 this year.
“He has given life to others through his miracles,” Cardinal Francis added.
On the ERCSC, he said the regional commission was further evidence of the equal partnership in the nine dioceses within Malaysia as well as those in Brunei and Singapore despite the differences in their respective size.
“We are all equal partners, we have our respective bishops and we all work as equals. And we are all part of the larger partnership in the Asian Bishops Conference,” Cardinal Sebastian added.
At the conference, the participants also took part in three formation sessions, the first focusing on evangelisation in a digital world by Fr Clarence Devadass, the Federation of Asian Bishops Conference (FABC) Commission for Synodality executive secretary.
The second formation session by Brunei Apostolic Vicariate Social Communication Commission member Albert Hwong centred on exploring hope through the lens of Scripture and human experience.
The participants also took part in a formation sessionon the elements of communication theology by Fr John Mi Shen the executive Secretary of the Asian Bishops’ Office of Social Communication (FABC). He also serves as the Program director of Radio Veritas Asia.
During the conference, the participants also voted in agreement with Cardinal Sebastian’s proposal that the existing two year term of office for the ERCSC office bearers that expires this year be continued for another two years.
The Singapore Archdiocese had also agreed to host the next ERCSC meeting scheduled for June 15 to 19, 2026 at the St Francis Xavier Retreat Centre.
The participants were taken to visit some attractions around Bandar Seri Begawan including the Royal Regalia Museum and the Kampong Ayer settlement.
