ROME: 30th April 2005 --  PCN stands for Peace Communication Network.  It was the brainchild of a group of Religious communities in 1995, including SDBs, FMAs, OFMs, SJs and many others; on 21st April PCN celebrated its 10th birthday with a meeting of the consortium.

    Calling itself a 'Network of Religious for Communities and Ecclesiastical Groups', PCN's board currently contains two Salesians, the President, Fr Paul Leung originally of the China province but working at the UPS in Rome, and Vice President Sr. Marie Gannon, originally from the US but currently teaching at the Auxilium and UPS.  The Treasurer is Sr. Angela Colombi, a Combonian Sister.

    When PCN began in September 1995, there were 30 groups as founding members.  Today there are 170 registered, of whom 102 are active.

    There have been difficult times, especially when the platform for services was not adequate for the demand.  Today PCN uses the same platform as CEI (The Italian Bishops' Conference) and, in Sr Gannon's words, is 'heading towards growth and consolidation'. 

    The April 21st meeting was an opportunity to explain its services to current and interested future members.  PCN includes amongst its services mailboxes without limit of size and time, web space with the latest technologies available on the servers, VPN protection since they are on the same platform with the CEI servers, the possibility of good telpehone discounts, and ADSL connections.  The webmail service is excellent and may be of interest to Salesian missions in the EAO region - no limits on size or time.  One approach is to take out a local dial-up with no mailbox then use the PCN mailbox via Webmail.  Less expensive, more secure and always there.