By THA SC

Bangkok, Thailand, 28 November 2023 -- Don Bosco Home - Bangkok played host to the 28th FABC-OSC Bishops' Meeting from 20-24 November 2023 on the theme "Communication in the Church in Asia Today". Fr. George Plathottam, SDB, the Executive Secretary coordinated this event. The Salesian Commission of Social Communications of Thailand closely cooperated in the organization.

Among the 31 participants were:

• Cardinal Charles Maung Bo SDB, the President of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conference (FABC)
• Cardinal Sebastian Francis, Chairman of FABC-OSC
• Cardinal Kriengsak Kovitvanich of Bangkok
• Dr. Paolo Ruffini, Prefect, Dicastery of the Communication
• Dr. Natasa Govekar, Dicastery of Communication
• Bishops and representatives are responsible for Social Communications of the Federation of Asian Bishops Conference.

Bishop Joseph Prathan Sridarunsil, SDB, and Fr. Anucha Chaiyadej represented Thailand. Qualified lay persons from other Asian countries were also present; some were invited as speakers.

In this meeting, the participants listened to the presentation of the various topics in order to reflect on the Social Communications work that is being done. Among the topics were: Social Communication in Asia in a Rapidly Changing World of AI, The Evangelizing Mission of the Church in Asia and Pastoral Formation in Social Communications. Aside from these, each country presented the work they were doing and reported their various activities. The plan for the Golden Jubilee of FABc-OSC in 2024 was also presented.

At present, the Salesians play a role in the field of Social Communications in Asia and in the country. Fr. George Plathottam, SDB, is the Executive Secretary of FABC-OSC and Bishop Joseph Prathan Sridarunsil, SDB, is the head of the National Catholic Social Communications Commission of Thailand. We Salesians realize that Media work is one of the most important activities in carrying out the Salesian mission. Don Bosco, our model, was a writer, a journalist and a great Church communicator.

Moreover, FABC-OSC Bishops’ Meet is the yearly gathering of the Bishops, secretaries and special invitees who are related to the Office of Social Communications in FABC. From 1996, the event has been held uninterruptedly, marking the 2023 yearly gathering, the 28th Meeting of the Bishops.

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