San Paolo (Brazil). On 27 April 2021, the first Social Communication meeting of the Province of Our Lady Aparecida (BAP) took place, after the new Configuration of the Provinces of Brazil . The online meeting was attended by the Communication Coordinators of the Communities of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians from the South-East, South, and Central-West regions of Brazil. The main objective was to strengthen the Social Communication work carried out for the Schools.
The participants were welcomed by the Communication Coordinator of the BAP Province, Sr. Ivone Aparecida Calvo Marcuzo, who spoke about the communication opportunities and challenges in the time of the pandemic. “Although we had to limit our physical presence, this new scenario brought some benefits, such as expanding our presence through the network and improving communication skills. I believe that the biggest challenge is the digital divide, because many do not have access to the network and to the Information Tools.”
The Provincial Vicar, Sr. Maria Ivone Ranghetti, stressed the importance of digital tools during the pandemic: “It is a way to continue doing good through the media, broadening the horizons of the new province reality.”
Ms. Andréa Pereira, Communication Consultant of the BAP Province, presented the results of the evaluation survey of the 2021 Registration Campaign, conducted by the Brazil Salesian Network (RSB). The data shows that last year the Schools made use of advertising material during the enrollment period, and this highlights the significance of the experience and encourages the creation of the 2022 Campaign.
Participants were also presented with the proposal of a Province Magazine, which will be produced in collaboration with the Schools and Social Works. The publication will be annual and, in the first edition, the reports of the actions carried out by the houses in 2021 will be presented. The Coordinators have been entrusted with the commitment to come up with a name for the magazine, whose launch is scheduled for January 2022.
Sharing good practices and fostering relationships through communication tools is an opportunity to get to know the Salesian reality and the Charism of Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello. “Any instrument proves useful and valuable only to the extent that it motivates us to go out and see things that otherwise we would not know about, to post on the internet news that would not be available elsewhere, to allow for encounters that otherwise would never happen.” (Message for the 55th World Day of Social Communications).
