Women communicate Christ not only through words, but through presence, compassion, and witness, said Sr. Tessy Jacob during a keynote session at SIGNIS India National Assembly 2026.
The four-day assembly, held from April 13 to 16 in Jalandhar, brought together Catholic communicators, clergy, religious, and lay delegates from across India to reflect on the future of Church media, digital evangelisation, and professional collaboration.
Sr. Tessy, a member of the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit (SSpS), is a PhD scholar at XIM University and Vice President of SIGNIS India. She was the only woman presenter at this year’s gathering.
Addressing the theme “Communicating Christ: A Woman’s Perspective,” she said Christian communication is more than the transfer of information. It is the witness of faith through daily life.
“Communication is the revelation of Christ through life,” she said. “If it does not touch the heart, it has not truly happened.”
She said women often communicate through listening, patience, accompaniment, trust, and compassion — qualities she described as deeply needed in a world marked by division, anxiety, and loneliness.
Referring to Scriptures, she presented women as enduring models of faith communication.
Mary Magdalene was described as the first witness of the Resurrection.
The Samaritan woman was praised for courageous dialogue.
Mary, Mother of Jesus was presented as a model of faithful presence at the Cross.
“Women communicate not only through words, but through presence, compassion, and witness,” she said.
Sr. Tessy also shared her pastoral experience of prayer gatherings with students from different faith backgrounds while serving in a university setting.
Friendship, authenticity, and respectful dialogue, she said, often become natural pathways for sharing Gospel values.
She urged women to use digital platforms with wisdom and responsibility.
“Create narratives of hope, not fear,” she said, while acknowledging challenges such as lack of training, media hesitation, and pressure to maintain online personas. Discussion on Synodality and Participation
The session was followed by an open discussion in which participants said women remain underrepresented in leadership and decision-making bodies, despite the Church’s emphasis on synodality and shared responsibility.
Questions were also raised about why more women are not invited as speakers, trainers, and resource persons at Church communication events.
One participant observed that SIGNIS, as a lay communication association, should create stronger space for women and lay leadership. Another noted that many women religious are gifted preachers, educators, and communicators whose talents remain underused.
Responding to the discussion, Sr. Tessy said the Church must increasingly recognise women’s gifts and create meaningful opportunities for participation. Change may take time, she said, but it must begin with trust, encouragement, and concrete responsibility.
Participants warmly appreciated the session for its depth, honesty, and pastoral relevance. Her presentation added a distinctive voice to the assembly’s wider reflection on mission, peace, and the future of Catholic communication.