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Sr. M. Ceceliatook her perpetual vows on July 9th, 2011 at Most Holy Trinity Parish Church in San Jose, California. View the gallery. |
A Pauline Centenary Pastoral Tool
PAULINE SPIRITUALITY AND MISSION, n. 9 *****
BLESSED JAMES ALBERIONE AND THE MASS MEDIA OF SOCIAL COMMUNICATION
by Sr. Maria Cecilia Payawal, PDDM
INTRODUCTION
As a member of one of the congregations founded by Alberione (Pious Disciples of the Divine Master), I want to discover more deeply the values that he has in relation to the mission of the mass media of social communication. Moreover, I want to see the relevance of his vision and mission to the world of today. In this manner, I hope to present a research which can inspire more apostles, or which can arouse a call to proclaim the Good News through the mass media of social communication.
I. BLESSED JAMES ALBERIONE: IMPORTANT CHARACTERISTICS
As a person and a founder, Alberione had important characteristics from which the persons who work in the mass media of social communication can learn. Among these characteristics are the following:
A. Dynamism
As a follower of Saint Paul, one of the marks that struck him was dynamism, the continuous and incessant adaptation to the signs of the times and the sensibility to persons, in relation to the history and society where the mission is developed or fulfilled. For Fr. Alberione, dynamism is a prudent, attentive and gradual way. It is walking through or within history, but with the way of God, because «the Lord continues to light the lamp, when it is needed; he does not light it immediately in the beginning, when it is not needed, but he gives it when the right time comes». In this way, dynamism signifies «ongoing formation and auto-formation». In relation to the mission of evangelization through the mass media of social communication, «It does not deal only with continuous adaptation of the fastest and most effective means. It deals with investing this dynamism of the mass media of communication of the people, in the way that it is being used in the present society: almost at the service of the communicator, of his economic and ideological interest, and therefore inevitably manipulated, overcrowded (masificados) and alienated.» Therefore, «we should change; we have the obligation to change if the mission, the Church, the society and the new times or present moment demand it».
B. Organization
With the progress of the technology of the mass media of social communication, Fr. Alberione noticed that in order to respond to the new challenges, there is a need for a solid and departmentalized (with branches) structure, capable of exhausting all the possible resources. Alberione said: "We have to give great importance to the organizations. [...] Organize well. The organizations have great strength. Everyone, through his own effort can become a saint, but it is weak. If instead of a weak part alone, we unite ourselves, we are converted into strength. In our times, one who is alone or works alone will be defeated. We should always remember that there is need to be united for the mission. This is important for the printing press as well as for the theater, for all the catholic strengths or initiatives." This invitation to organize refers too to the new methods of working in group and above all to the new schemes and organizational structures supported by the new techniques. To be a child of Fr. Alberione, one has to search and assume not only the «fastest and most effective means but above all the fastest and most effective structures».
C. Confidence or Trust in Women
Alberione, in his apostolic work, widens the horizons and underlines the importance of women. His vision about the role of women is revolutionary, prophetic, though in some moments a certain sense of strong «conservatism» can be noticed, which can be contradictory. When the majority of women lived in the strict ambience of the home and convent, Alberione, with certainty, wanted that they study theology, that they take the word, directly and through the pen, convinced that women too are gifted by God with gifts and talents that should bear fruit. He has clear confidence in the capacity of women to participate in the editing of magazines, religious bulletin, in writing books, moral novels, and advertisements. Moreover, he affirms that: "Women are more assiduous than men in the Word, because their nature is more pious; have better intuition on religious truths; know better how to apply them in everyday life..." Because of this confidence, it is not surprising that Alberione founded female congregations who will be apostles of the mass media of social communication, in the same way as men.
II. THE MISSION OF THE MEANS OF SOCIAL COMMUNICATION
In his writings, Alberione clarified the particular missions of the means of social communication.
A. The Mass Media, Agent of Change: In the transformation of mentality, of knowledge, of organization, of the society itself, the functions that are being assumed by the mass media are to be underlined. Through these means, information immediately comes to us, creating a contact, despite the distance, and it becomes an element of unity among men [women]. And this makes possible a wider diffusion of information and culture.
B. The Mass Media, Channel of Questions and Hope of Men [Women]: The instruments of social communication affect the principles that regulate and govern human relations under the Christian point of view. These same inventions are made to reveal the questions and hopes of human society, and to give them the response, and unite humanity more closely.
C. The Mass Media, Place of Universal Dialogue: Through these instruments, the daily dialogue of men [women] among themselves is promoted and diffused, and in this way it gives the origin and progress to dialogue in the whole society. The news and opinions that are diffused truly make all men [women] in the whole world participate in the happenings and difficulties that affect every individual as well as the whole of humanity.
D. The Mass Media, Channels of Unity or Disunity: The mass media of social communication, certainly, can help to unite men [women]. However, error and lack of good will can produce the contrary affect: less understanding among men [women] and more conflicts, which generate innumerable evil. Oftentimes, we also experience how, through the instruments of communication, the fundamental values of human life are rejected or maltreated.
E. The Mass Media, Promoter of the Family: The honest transmission through radio and television, above all those which support the family, is to be promoted. The listeners and viewers should be moved to participate in the life of the Church and be immersed in the religious truths.
F. The Mass Media, Agent of Socialization: The means of social communication draws near to one another men [women] and communities, and converts them into neighbors and collaborators, thus contributing to the phenomenon of socialization.
G. The Mass Media, Carrier of the "Good News": Today, the Church cannot fulfill the mission that Christ has entrusted to her to bring the Good News to "the ends of the world", if she will not use the means of social communication, the only thing that is capable of reaching all men [women] effectively. The "Word" also becomes image, color and sound, acquiring various forms through the diverse means of social communication.
III. BLESSED ALBERIONE AND HIS RELEVANCE FOR THE PRESENT DAY
The works, thinking, ideologies and mission which Alberione started and developed through the means of social communication have relevance to the present day. He is right in believing that we have to use the same means which men use to propagate evil--the means of social communication. The mission started by Alberione is relevant today, when the television is converted into a "tabernacle" which the family "adores" everyday, and the internet as a "home", especially for the young ones. Alberione truly had an advanced mind not only for his time but also for today and the future. Among his ideologies and convictions, I wish to underline the following:
A. Universality: For me, this is one sign of openness, of compassion towards all, and of the generosity of an apostle. In our pluralistic world, this value is necessary to fulfill a mission, above all the mission of the means of social communication.
B. Dynamism and Signs of the Time: We live in a world of change. Thus, it is very important to recognize and be attentive to the changes that affect the life of every person, of everyone who wants to proclaim the Good News through the means of communication.
C. Family: Calling the group of his followers a "family"--the Pauline Family, reveals the value given by Alberione to the family. This, I believe, is a challenge to the members of the Pauline Family. In this world where little by little, the value of the family is diminishing, the presence of this religious family can be a testimony/witness, a proclamation that being a "family" is still a way towards the fullness of life and the mission which everyone wants to fulfill.
D. Integral Formation: Alberione gave much importance to the integral formation of the apostles of the means of social communication. They themselves should be integrated as persons. That is, they have to live first what they proclaim, with sufficient proclamation and learning through their experience.
E. Confidence in Women: This conviction of Alberione is indeed very much advanced during his time. Despite the recognition of the weaknesses of women, he recognizes too, from the beginning, the values and capacities which they can share in the mission of the means of social communication.
CONCLUSION
For the works, words, convictions, for his entire life dedicated to the mission of the means of social communication, we can conclude that Fr. James Alberione is a "patron for communicators". He is a man who knows how to communicate, what to communicate, and to whom to communicate. He is a man who lived the three "faithfulness" of communication:
Faithfulness to God: To search all the means so that the Word of God may reach everyone.
Faithfulness to Man [Woman]: Faithfulness to the good of the person, to solidarity, to the responsibility of all, to the superior quality of life that promotes these ethical values, this common way/ground.
Faithfulness to the demands of social communication: To animate in a Christian way the social communication.
Fr. Alberione has not been the first, nor the only one in the Church, who had used the technologies of the communication at the service of the Gospel. But he spent all his life in evangelization through these means. His testimony certainly has something unique, and can constitute a point of reference for whoever believes in modern communication.
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ARCHIVES
1. Blessed James Alberione's Life: A Service of Worship
2. The Centrality of the Word and the Eucharist in the Life of the Pauline Family
3. The Eucharistic Adoration: The Disciple at the School of the Divine Master
4. Blessed James Alberione: "I Had a Dream"
5. Mother Scholastica Rivata, PDDM: "Symphony of Joy"
6. The Collaboration of Women in the Mission of the Church: In the Mind of James Alberione
7. How Blessed James Alberione Changed My Life
8. Pauline Spirituality and Mission in Today's Digital Age
Prepared by Sr. Maria Cecilia Payawal, PDDM
3700 North Cornelia Avenue
Fresno, CA-U.S.A.
Tel. (559) 275-9978
