Matters India Reporter

Siliguri, August 18, 2022: Salesian General Councillor for Social Communications Fr Gildasio Mendes visited Salesian College Sonada and Siliguri from 15th to 17th August 2022.

Fr Gildasio is on a month-long animation visit, to seven out of twelve provinces of the South Asian Region, namely Guwahati, Shillong, Dimapur, Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai.

After addressing some 1,800 students at the morning assembly in Salesian College Siliguri, Rome visitor, addressed some 150 Journalism and Mass Communication students and class representatives of Arts and Humanities departments.

With a doctorate in Virtual Reality studies from Michigan State University USA, Fr Gildasio encouraged students to pay attention to human dimension in communication.

“People want real and sincere relations,” says Fr Gildasio who taught several years in Dom Bosco University Campo Grande Brazil. (Dom is Portuguese for Don)

“Digital world is about real world,” insists Gildasio adding “Internet is empty without the rituals of daily life.” He encouraged young people listening to him to get skilled in art forms in communication.

“Arts makes the difference in communication. Art is the heart of communication,” he says stressing on the need of using all five human senses in human interaction.

Explaining further, he says, “Art originates from real human experiences which we communicate virtually.” He did not hesitate to say, “invest in art forms – music, theatre, fashion, culinary, and sports among others.

Gildasio gave the example of St John Bosco who was himself a musician, performer, artist and educator. He understood the power of relationship in communication and used artistic skills to communicate and relate to people.

“It is only through communication that we build relationship and work toward a democracy of economy and a democracy of religion,” Gildasio explained.

In 2020, during the 28th General Chapter of the Salesians held in Turin, Italy, Gildasio was elected World Councillor for Communication for the Salesians. He is presently residing at the Headquarters of the Salesian Congregation in Rome.