VAISCOM

Communication Formation for Asian Bishops returns after eleven years’ pause
Anthony G. Roman

The FABC-OSC formation program “BISCOM” aimed at Bishops and bishops’ conference personnel returns this month after a gap of eleven years.

BISCOM, or “Bishops’ Institute for Social Communication,” is a flagship program of the Office of Social Communication of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences that seeks the ongoing animation and formation of Asian Bishops.

This year’s five-day BISCOM opened at the Camilian Center in Bangkok on April 15 with the inaugural address of FABC-OSC Chairman Sebastian Cardinal Francis of Penang, Malaysia.

Citing Pope Francis’ World Peace Day Message on artificial intelligence and peace, Cardinal Francis rallied fellow Bishops on the need for formation and updating in the area of social communication.

The prelate also mentioned Pope Francis’ Message for the 58th World Communication Day this year on artificial intelligence and the wisdom of the heart towards fully human communication.

He said, “We are fully human and Christian simultaneously. But until we experience this, our hearts will remain restless, in the words of St. Augustine of Hippo.”

To be “fully present” online and offline is important. This is the central teaching of Prefect Paolo Rufini of the Dicastery for Communication in Rome, he said.

In the book “Pastoral Reflection on Engagement with Social Media,” Dr. Rufini listed ways the Church could move “towards full presence.” “We should not settle for anything less than that,” the prelate added.

“In these days,” he told the Bishops, “to listen to the invited experts but to one another as well.” “The mandate is to evangelize using traditional and contemporary means of communication,” and the “underlying reason behind this,” said the Cardinal, “is the Pentecost experience.”

“According to Pope Francis, the descent of the Holy Spirit in the Upper Room and the proclamation of the apostles outside in different languages shows the move towards inculturation and evangelization,” the Cardinal said.

“This must happen again,” he said in the dioceses and parishes, not least at the 2025 World Youth Day in Korea.

“Let us engage with one another and share our stories and resources without fear,” Cardinal Francis concluded.

BISCOM’s hiatus is caused by changes in the FABC-OSC leadership structure, the COVID-19 pandemic, and its aftermath.

From the first BISCOM on “Church and Public Relations” in 1996, different themes were covered, including BISCOMs that had hands-on training sessions on Internet and computing skills in 1999 and 2007.

In 2001, FABC-OSC collaborated with the FABC-Office of Education and Student Chaplaincy on BISCOM III in communication formation in priestly ministry and mission.

In 2004, FABC-OSC organized a BISCOM on “Interreligious Dialogue as Communication” with the FABC-Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Dialogue.

A 10-day public relations training was held in Manila in 1999, and in 2002, BISCOM IV on the communication of young people was co-organized with the FABC-Office of Laity – Youth Desk.

In 2013, BISCOM VIII tackled the theme “Social Media: Challenges and Opportunities for the Church in Asia.”

With BISCOM, FABC’s animation and training programs for Bishops include BILA (Bishops’ Institute for Lay Apostolate), BIMA (Bishops’ Institute for Missionary Apostolate), BISA (Bishops’ Institute for Social Action), and BIRA (Bishops’ Institute for Interreligious Affairs.

The nine specialized offices of the Federation each handle a "Bishops' Institute" related to their specific ministry.

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