At the Offertory during World Communications Day Mass at St Paul Dontozidon May 29, various offerings were presented by St Paul Dontozidon, SOCCOM, Catholic Sabah, ADKK besides Bread and Wine
By ADKK SOCCOM
June 1 2022
KOTA KINABALU – Over 100 social communications (SOCCOM) practitioners from the Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu (ADKK) gathered in person to celebrate the 56th World Communications Day on Sunday, May 29, 2022.
They were doing so for the first time since the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus and the imposition of MCO by the Ministry of Health.
The WCD celebration was hosted by St Paul’s Parish, Dontozidon. The church was packed to capacity, observing social distancing, and with everyone wearing face masks.
The Mass was presided by Archbishop John Wong and concelebrated by Fr Thomas Madanan, the spiritual adviser of the Social Communications Commission, ADKK.
Archbishop John Wong blesses SOCCOM practitioners and officials during Mass on World Communications Day at St Paul Dontozidon May 29
In highlighting the theme of the celebration “Listening with the ear of the heart”, the Archbishop invited all SOCCOM practitioners and all who are involved in social communications to “change from the practice of just seeing and hearing from the virtual world, to seeing and hearing with the ears of the heart, so that we can feel and experience those life situations up close”.
He underscored “Due to the fast and abundant transfer of information and news, people no longer have time to pause to reflect on what they have watched, read or heard.”
“As a result, news that is sad, or that needs a response, for example, is only ‘Like’ on Facebook; communication like this is merely external, artificial and less personal, and does not touch the heart,” lamented Archbishop Wong.
Taking the cue from the theme that marked this year’s World Communications Day, he called on all who are involved in the service of SOCCOM that in each of their service activities “to try to listen to the event or incident you want to report with the ear of your heart first, and then ponder the question ‘What does the Holy Spirit want to say to the readers or listeners in this incident?’ If you can do that, your coverage is sure to make an extraordinary impact.”
Commenting on the celebration, the chairman of SOCCOM ADKK, Joe Leong said the personal presence of Archbishop Wong at the celebration was significant and meaningful.
“Our Archbishop has unfailingly supported this important annual event of SOCCOM in the past years.
“Hence, we see his personal presence as a mark of the Archbishop’s recognition of the important role of social communications in the archdiocese,” he added.
A symbolic handing over to Sacred Heart Cathedral PPC chairman, Jason Joenoi, the next host for WCD 2023
Several parishes in the archdiocese sent delegates to the celebration at St Paul’s, including the Sacred Heart Cathedral parish of Kota Kinabalu that would host the WCD celebration next year.
Other delegations were from Kepayan, Tuaran, Kiulu, Inanam, Menggatal, CMI Bukit Padang, Penampang and Kota Belud.
In his message for the occasion, Pope Francis invites the universal Catholic Church not only to listen to the Gospel message, but to do so with the ear of the heart.
