By Matters India Reporter
Vaishali, Aug 12, 2022: The National Institute of Social Communications Research and Training (NISCORT) inaugurated a new staff residence and an additional floor to its present Academic Block at Vaishali, Ghaziabad in the NCR region.
The Mass Media Communications College is run by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI).
The newly-built staff residence was blessed on August 8 by CBCI secretary general Archbishop Felix Machado of Vasia.
The cost of the new structural edition was sponsored by Agnel Charities and Pilar Father Alarico Carvalho. Father Carvalho also monitored the project, said Father Robinson Rodrigues, NISCORT director.
After the blessing, Archbishop Machado, who is also NISCORT chairman, Bishop Emeritus Salvadore Lobo, Cardinal-elect Anthony Poola, Auxillary Bishop Deepak Valerian Tauro of Delhi and Father Rodrigues celebrated Mass in the newly-built auditorium.
Any new venture should begin with prayers and Eucharistic celebration, said Archbishop Machado, the main celebrant.
“It was a coincidence that the day was the feast of Saomt Dominic and spoke of Saint Thomas Aquinas, a Dominican who was a great communicator.”
Cardinal-elect Poola commended Father Rodrigues for taking up the onerous task of being director of the institute when he was a professor and aware of the prevailing conditions. The credit for the new infrastructural additions also goes to him, he added.
Librarian Anthony, who has served the institute for 21 years, was honored as he completed his service.
The face lift to the building included an additional floor to the academic block. It comprises four big classrooms, a 100-seat auditorium, and separate staff rooms for women and men faculty members.
The other addition was the staff residence with 12 rooms, a chapel, kitchen, refectory and segregated servant quarters.
What exactly is the role of NISCORT? What has it contributed to the church and society so far? Is this Institute on the mainstream media in the country? Every diocese has a Communication Centre and a lot of money is spent on it. But… do they undertake the “burning issues” of the country and create an awakening among the people? These are million-dollar questions. Is there anyone to answer?