Guwahati, March 14, 2026 — The Catholic Church in Northeast India organised a two-day digital media training programme for priests and women religious as part of preparations for Mission 2033 and the Great Jubilee marking 2,000 years of the Redemption through Christ.The training was held on March 12–13 at the Northeast Diocesan Social Service Society (NEDSSS) Hall, situated on the banks of the river Brahmaputra in Guwahati.
About seventy priests and women religious, along with a few lay participants from dioceses across the region, took part in the programme aimed at strengthening digital evangelisation and pastoral communication.
Inaugurating the programme, Bishop Albert Hemrom of Dibrugarh, Chairman of the Social Communications Commission of the North East India Regional Bishops’ Council (NEIRBC), called on participants to translate the vision of the Church’s Pastoral Plan 2033 into concrete digital evangelisation.
“The question today is no longer whether the Church should be present online, but how we should be present,” Bishop Hemrom said. “Social media has become an environment where people interact, share experiences and build relationships. For many young people, the digital world forms an essential part of their daily lives.”
He noted that Northeast India is blessed with vibrant and youthful communities, rich tribal wisdom and expanding digital connectivity. He encouraged participants to harness modern communication tools to promote evangelisation, vocation awareness, communion and formation.
Addressing the participants, Bishop George Pallipparambil of Miao, Chairman of the Proclamation Commission of NEIRBC, emphasised the role of digital media in the Church’s mission.
“As we journey towards Mission 2033 as a synodal Church, digital platforms can help bring the message of hope to every corner of the region,” he said.
Fr. Paul D’Souza, Secretary of the Proclamation Commission of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI), in his keynote address, highlighted the importance of adapting evangelisation to contemporary communication culture.
“Digital media offers opportunities for evangelisation with renewed zeal, new methods and creative expressions,” he said.
The hands-on training sessions were conducted by Fr. Cyril Victor Joseph, Coordinator of the CCBI Media Apostolate, along with Fr. Felix Anthony, PRO of NEIRBC. They guided participants on the practical use of digital platforms for pastoral communication and evangelisation, including the production of short-form video content for platforms such as Instagram.
The programme witnessed participation from priests and women religious from different dioceses and congregations in the region. The senior-most participant was a 72-year-old Salesian priest serving in Guwahati, reflecting the growing interest among pastoral workers of different generations in engaging the digital mission of the Church.
The initiative forms part of the Church’s broader pastoral efforts in Northeast India to prepare communities spiritually and pastorally for the Great Jubilee 2033, commemorating two thousand years of the Redemption through Christ.
Report by Fr. Felix Anthony, PRO, NEIRBC