(Miss Jennifer D’ Cruz – Participant) SIGNIS Western Region organized a Media Seminar for Catholic Youth on the Sunday, 9 February 2014 at St. Paul’s Provincial House, Bandra, Mumbai. The theme of the Seminar was “Social Media for Mission Outreach”. 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. Our very special guests were our visitors from South Africa.
We started the Seminar invoking Gods presence as Sr. Silviya Antonymuthu FSP led us in prayer with a prayer dance. The Inaugural addressed was given by Fr. Ashok Vaghela who gave a brief 
significance 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.
We then had 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 (Richard B D’ Souza LMC), Parent (Mrs. Myola Gomes) and Media person (Mr. Kevin Jairaj) gave us 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 panelists helped to enrich the entire group and to clarify many of their qualms.
The climax of our 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 allowing us to use their premises and for the well decorated hall.
As young people we are called to take an active role in the development and transformation of our Church and our nation. What else is a better way to advance then by effectively using the Social Media? As we prayed the Canticle of Praise for the Media, we sincerely thanked God for the new technology and we took a pledge to use Medi
a effectively.
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. We also thanked Miss Dahlia Ribeiro for compering the programme.
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Very good report. Congratulations to all who made the day very fruitful and joyful. Wishing to have such meaningful gatherings in future.
Fr. Ashok Vaghela SJ