Media Release

Moodbidri, Sep 22: In a timely and crucial initiative, the Commission for Social Communication of the diocese of Mangalore, in collaboration with the St Mathew's Deanery (Moodbidri Varado), successfully organized a comprehensive training programme on 'Cyber Safety'. The event, held at the Corpus Christi Church Hall, drew an enthusiastic crowd of around 100 participants from 14 parishes across the deanery.

The half-day workshop, was designed to address the growing challenges of the digital age. The audience was a diverse mix of young students, members of various parish media teams, and interested netizens, all eager to enhance their digital literacy.

The training was led by a distinguished team of resource persons from the diocesan commission for social communication. The expert panel included Fr Anil Ivan Fernandes, director of the Canara Communication Centre, diocese of Mangalore, Sr Grace Bennis, diocesan joint secretary of the Commission, Leo Victor Zalki, diocesan resource team & executive member (Modankaup), Wilson Pereira, diocesan resource team & executive member (Beluvai), and Pramod Rodrigues, diocesan resource team & executive member (Hospet). 

The sessions delved into critical topics pertinent to today's online environment. Trainers addressed prevalent issues such as misinformation and cyberbullying, with a special focus on identifying sophisticated online scams, including new threats emerging from the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the current era.

Speaking at the event, Fr Anil Ivan Fernandes, the lead trainer, emphasized the necessity of such programs. "In an era where our lives are increasingly intertwined with the digital world, it is not enough to be just users; we must be responsible digital citizens," he stated. "Our aim with these workshops is to empower individuals with the knowledge to protect themselves and to harness the power of social media for positive growth."

The programme was meticulously organized under the guidance of Fr Onil D'Souza, dean of the Moodbidri deanery and parish priest of Moodbidri.

Fr Rohan Lobo, parish priest of Taccode and the deanery coordinator for the Commission, who helmed the local organization, urged participants to become ambassadors of digital safety. "This training knowledge must be amplified in our parishes and communities," he said. "We must spread this knowledge to make our community safe online and achieve digital peace."

Participants expressed their gratitude for the practical and insightful session. "The training was an eye-opener," said one participant. "What I appreciated most was the practical knowledge achieved on the use of mobile and Google settings. Learning hands-on how to strengthen our WhatsApp security and social media privacy was incredibly valuable and something I can use immediately."

The successful execution of the event highlights the commitment of the diocese of Mangalore to fostering a digitally aware and secure community. The Commission for Social Communication plans to conduct similar workshops across other deaneries in its ongoing mission to promote media literacy and responsible online engagement.