Manila (AsiaNews) – Archbishop Gilbert Garcera of Lipa, chairman of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), opened the first Asian Assembly of Catholic Digital Missionaries, urging participants to “whisper Jesus” through communication tools, listen to people, respect their cultures, and bring the truth and hope into the digital world.
The gathering, which opened last Thursday until today, is being held at the Pope John Paul II Auditorium of Radio Veritas Asia (RVA) in Quezon City, in the greater Manila metropolitan area.
The four-day meeting brought together more than a hundred digital missionaries, communicators, and Catholic influencers from across Asia to reflect on the topic of “Influencers to Witnesses: Synodal Way for Digital Mission in Asia”.
The event is hosted by RVA in cooperation with the Office of Social Communication of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC).
Bishop Garcera: Every post is a choice
“We bring Jesus, not by shouting over Asia, but by drawing close to Asia, listening to its people, walking with our people, serving them, and gently making the love of Jesus heard and experienced,” Archbishop Garcera said.
The archbishop urged Catholic communicators to view themselves not merely as content creators, but as witnesses with a moral responsibility. “Every headline, photograph, video, post, and story makes a choice,” he said, challenging digital missionaries to consider which voices are heard and which remain on the margins.
He warned that the pursuit of clicks, likes, and followers must never replace the truth, especially in an era of disinformation and AI-generated falsehoods. In fact, “Verify before you publish, listen before you judge, understand before you interpret, give context before you condemn,” he noted.
The prelate also called on digital missionaries to pay special attention to the voices of the poor, migrants, indigenous peoples, young people, and other marginalised groups. “Before we speak about people, learn to listen to people,” he said.
Citing his own personal connection to Radio Veritas Asia, where he served as administrative director for seven years, he noted how the broadcaster’s services in various languages and its shortwave transmissions once carried the Gospel across Asia, reaching communities that missionaries could not easily access.
Today, the means of communication have changed, but the mission remains the same: to bring truth, hope, and the Gospel to the peoples of Asia.
The archbishop encouraged digital missionaries to become bridge builders amidst the continent's religious and cultural diversity. This means speaking the truth without hatred, speaking out against injustice without dehumanising others, and offering criticism without destroying human dignity.
Father Mi: From those who follow me to those I am serving?
In presenting the Assembly on the Radio Veritas website, Father John Mi Shen, executive secretary of the FABC Office of Social Communication and Programme Director of Radio Veritas, highlighted three verbs: to listen, to accompany, and to bear witness.
“Behind every screen is a person who is looking for meaning, connection, and sometimes simply someone who will listen to them,” he said.
He noted how digital platforms in Asia today can overcome geographical and social barriers, connecting people who might otherwise have limited opportunities to participate in parish activities, meet with priests, or attend Bible studies in person.
For him, “Digital ministry is not a replacement for traditional pastoral ministry, but a complement and a bridge”.
Asia's cultural and religious diversity also calls for sensitivity in the digital mission. “Translation is important, but inculturation is deeper than translation,” Father Mi Shen explained.
He also challenged Catholic communicators to rethink the concept of “influence” in digital media. “An influencer normally asks, ‘How many people are following me?’ A witness asks, ‘Whom am I serving, and what am I witnessing to?’” he said.
Finally, the clergyman highlighted the role of the FABC and Radio Veritas in connecting the Churches of Asia and bringing local voices to a wider audience. “Platforms will come and go,” he said. “But the mission remains the same: to bring people closer to Christ and to build communion.”
A meeting of Asian cultures
The gathering itself reflected the diversity highlighted by Garcera in his homily. A performance by international students from the Fondacio Asia training institute brought together traditions from various Asian countries.
Philippine cultural traditions were also showcased through the Sanglahi Dance Troupe and the Rondalla, featuring dances such as the Tinikling and the Pandanggo sa Ilaw.
For participants, the gathering was not merely an educational programme but also an opportunity to build relationships and foster cooperation among Catholic digital missionaries.
Father Ritchie Vincent of the Archdiocese of Madras and Mylapore, India, said he was inspired to attend after noticing the small number of Asians present at the international gathering of digital missionaries held at the Vatican a few months earlier.
“That was a burning desire within me,” he said, referring to his wish to see Asian digital missionaries come together and collaborate.
Other participants expressed the hope of learning from different countries and cultures, exchanging digital communication practices, and developing new forms of evangelisation.
Jennifer Odelia Meredith, from Indonesia, emphasised the importance of mutual prayer and cooperation among Asian digital missionaries. “We hope we can ink collaboration among our Asian young people,” she said.
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