Manila: The Veritas Asia Institute of Social Communication (VAISCOM) established by the Federation of Asian Bishops Conference (FABC) Office of Social Communication (OSC) for the formation of pastoral personnel in Asia has launched three online courses.

Chairman, FABC OSC, Bishop Roberto Mallari, inaugurated a website (www.vaiscom.org) and launched the online course via Zoom conference, January 6.

The new institute and the online program, Bishop Mallari said, would instill dynamism among pastoral leaders in Asia and help them acquire knowledge and skills needed for effective ministry.

Executive Secretary of the FABC OSC Dr. (Fr.) George Plathottam sdb, said Vaiscom is committed to form personnel for various communication ministries of the church in Asia by means of online, in-campus and in loco programs. It will offer training and research support as well as follow up programs.

“The current online mode of learning, though planned long before the outbreak of Covid 19, has become a timely and common platform of learning,” he added.

In the online format, Vaiscom plans to offer three programs – Basic, Advanced and Diploma , and students would be able to access video lessons, study notes and other resource materials.

FABC Assistant Secretary General Fr William LaRousse, quoting Pope Paul VI said, the mission of the church in Asia is for all peoples. He called the new program timely and hugely beneficial to the Church in Asia at a time when FABC is celebrating its golden jubilee and communication presents us new opportunities.

Fr Victor F. Sadaya, General Manager, Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), Fr John Mishen, Director designate of Vaiscom, and Fr Bernard Dashi Tang, Program Director, RVA, who spoke during the opening function, hailed the establishment of the institute and the launching of the program.

The course entitled “Communication for Pastoral Leadership” (CPL) is set to begin from July 2021, and Vaiscom has started admissions to the program.

The course has lot of flexibility and is offered to individuals as well as institutions like seminaries at an affordable fee. Applicants can register for one course or for all the three and complete the program at their own pace.

The course is prepared by a team of Salesians under the leadership of Fr Plathottam with technical support from Delhi-based Manna Media Hub and Manila-based Asia Pacific Consortium of Educational Research and Radio Veritas Asia (RVA).