Media Release
Udupi, Sep 18: The Udupi Diocesan Pastoral Centre, Anugraha, in Udupi witnessed a significant event on September 18, as the Commission for Social Communication organized a workshop titled ‘AI and Church: Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Enhanced Pastoral Ministry.’ The workshop explored how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can transform pastoral ministry and improve the Church’s outreach in the digital age.
The event began with a prayer song, followed by a warm welcome and an introduction to the topic by the organizer and director of the Commission for Social Communications, Fr Denis D'Sa. In his opening remarks, Fr Denis D'Sa emphasized the growing influence of AI in various sectors and its emerging relevance in church ministry. He stressed the need for the church to embrace modern technology to stay connected with its community and enhance its mission of evangelization.
Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, bishop of Udupi Diocese, presided over the event and delivered an inspiring message. Bishop Lobo underscored the importance of integrating AI into Church ministry, stating that the church must not only witness the faith but also be a proactive participant in technological evolution. He highlighted AI as a valuable tool for reaching a larger audience, enhancing pastoral care, and providing personalized spiritual guidance.
The workshop featured two distinguished resource persons with expertise in AI namely Fr Anil Ivan Fernandes, a Google certified AI coach and director of the Canara Communication Centre, Mangaluru, and Leo Victor Zalki, an Oracle and Google certified AI professional and director of Oxidane Enviro LLP. Both experts shared insights into how AI can support the Church's pastoral efforts by improving communication, outreach, and community engagement.
A total of 45 participants, including priests, religious men and women, lay leaders, and media mentors, attended the workshop. It was a rich learning experience for both beginners and those with technical expertise.
In their joint session, Fr Anil Ivan Fernandes and Leo Victor Zalki demonstrated how modern AI tools could help the church optimize its resources and effectively reach its target audience. They introduced several platforms, such as ‘learnwitheleo.notion,’ which serves as an AI-driven learning assistant for knowledge sharing within the Church. Other tools included ‘instinctive-glider,’ which enhances decision-making through predictive analytics, and ‘Copilot,’ an AI assistant that streamlines tasks like drafting messages or managing church content.
The speakers also showcased ‘leonardo.ai’ for creating engaging visual content for social media and church events, and ‘ideogram.ai’ for generating religious imagery. ‘haiper.ai’ was highlighted for its advanced social media management capabilities, while ‘auth.immersity.ai’ was recommended for creating immersive, personalized religious experiences. Additionally, ‘elevenlabs.io’ was praised for producing high-quality AI-generated voiceovers, and ‘Gamma app’ for crafting visually compelling presentations. Platforms like ‘suno.com’ and ‘storryteller.mootion’ were also introduced as tools for generating audio and visual stories to aid in delivering impactful religious messages.
The workshop concluded with an interactive session, where participants discussed the possibilities and challenges of integrating AI into church ministry. The resource persons emphasized the importance of continuous learning and adaptation as AI technology evolves. The event ended with optimism that the church will continue to explore innovative ways to connect with its community and advance its mission in the modern world.
In the closing remarks, Fr Denis D'Sa expressed gratitude to the resource persons, participants, and the organizing team for making the workshop a success. He reiterated the importance of staying informed and open to technological advancements to ensure the church remains relevant and responsive to the needs of its community.