Warmly received upon his arrival on February 22, Fr. Fidel began a series of engagements with confreres, young people, and members of the Salesian Family. On February 23, he visited St. Anthony’s College, Shillong, where he met students of the Media Department and addressed them on preserving the human dimension of communication. While acknowledging rapid technological advancement, he emphasized that authentic communication must always safeguard human connection. “The gadgets may change, but communion among communicators and people will not,” he affirmed, encouraging collaboration, dialogue, and shared responsibility.
He was later welcomed at St. Anthony’s School before addressing confreres at a provincial gathering. The Provincial, Fr. John Zosiama, SDB, formally received him. In his keynote conference on “Communication as Communion,” Fr. Fidel reminded participants that social communication is not merely a technical office but a constitutive dimension of every Salesian vocation, as highlighted in Article 43 of the Salesian Constitutions.
He stressed that communication goes far beyond digital tools or media management; it is fundamentally about building relationships rooted in Christ. Drawing on Marshall McLuhan’s insight that technology is an “extension of man,” he cautioned that such extensions can also weaken attention, relationships, and even identity. He pointed to rising digital addiction and loneliness among young people as urgent pastoral challenges, describing cyberspace as today’s “new oratory,” which calls for evangelization without abandoning real, personal presence.
In light of the 29th General Chapter’s call to renewed passion for Christ, he urged that the communication sector focus on the Congregation’s internal renewal—strengthening formation, mission, leadership, crisis communication, and community identity. Quoting George Bernard Shaw, he observed, “The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place,” underscoring that true communication occurs only when communion is built and Christ is made present.
During his stay, Fr. Fidel also visited Dominic Savio Juniorate, encouraging aspirants to grow in competence and character. He toured the Don Bosco Museum, expressing appreciation for the rich cultures of Northeast India, and shared fraternity with the community at Sacred Heart College.
Fr. Fidel’s visit left a deep sense of gratitude and renewed commitment among the confreres. More than a series of conferences, his presence served as fraternal accompaniment, inviting the province to rediscover communication as a lived experience of communion—rooted in Christ and expressed through authentic relationships. As the province continues its mission in a rapidly evolving digital and social landscape, the message remains clear: technology may expand the reach of the mission, but only genuine communion will sustain its soul.
{gallery}INDIA – INS Fr Fidel Visit{/gallery}
