By Matters India Reporter
Kolkata, May 19, 2026: The Calcutta Archdiocesan Social Communications Commission (ASCC) hosted “Chai Pe Charcha” with Archbishop Elias Frank at Archbishop House on May 17, marking World Communications Day with his first media interaction since assuming office in September 2025.
The gathering brought together journalists, clergy, and parish media representatives to reflect on the World Communications Day theme, “Preserving Human Voices and Faces.” Farrell Shah, ASCC Director, opened the discussion, joined by stakeholders including Jesuit Father Julian Das, former editor of the archdiocesan The Herald weekly, Althea Phillips of Times of India, Teresa Rozario of Radio Veritas Asia, and parish newsletter teams.
Archbishop Elias set the tone by urging communicators to focus on uplifting narratives. “There is enough of noise/hyperbole in our communication. Let us all share joyous news and do away with the negative,” he said, stressing that this ethos must guide The Herald.
Concerns on AI and parish priorities
The archbishop cautioned against overdependence on technology. “We must not get overawed by Artificial Intelligence (AI),” he said, adding that Christian communicators should not “renounce their ability for Critical and Original Thinking and not be slaves to readymade solutions offered by AI.”
He emphasized that Parish Finance Committees must earmark funds for commissions and highlighted the urgent need to prepare catechism teachers, noting Pope Francis’ establishment of the Lay Ministry of Catechist in 2021.
Archbishop Elias also underscored the importance of engaging youth while not neglecting the elderly. He raised alarm over declining Catholic families, citing one parish in Howrah where “there were 17 deaths and only two Baptisms in one year.”
Body language, he added, plays a vital role in pastoral leadership. “The body language of a priest, especially parish priest, is very important to motivate the parishioners,” he observed, before lightening the mood: “Cracking jokes was a great way of communication.”
Media voices and future directions
Jesuit Father Robert Anthony, a media representative from St Xavier’s College urged vigilance over viral social media content, while his confrère Father Das noted that “the youth today were not that interested in the print and even the electronic portals” and prefer platforms like Instagram and Telegram over traditional newsletters. He suggested half-day sessions to assess communication needs of the archdiocese.
Shah pointed out the archival value of print and online news compared to fleeting digital media. Salesian Soroj Mullick, directors of Nitika Don Bosco, the faith formation animating body of the Salesian Province of Kolkata, recommended including representatives from all deaneries to embrace linguistic and cultural diversity.
Participants proposed forming a “Think Tank” on AI, subject to the archbishop’s approval.
Correction: This story has been edited. The last section in the previous version inadvertently reported that certain topics were discussed, when they had only been suggested by participants. That section has been deleted.
Archbishop Elias Frank has very rightly showed his pastoral concern (1) the youth and (2) the dwindling number of Catholics in the Archdiocese, in line with the World Communication Day theme “Preserving Human Voices and Faces.” To address these concerns, it’s high time for the ‘Think Tank’ of the Archdiocese to take a close look at its resources and their utilization for the wholesome uplift and growth of the Catholic Community, where Education is the key.
For this, the following points may be considered:
How many Catholic schools, colleges, universities, technical institutes are there in the Archdiocese? This will be a comprehensive list of institutes run by Jesuits, Salesians and various religious congregations.
Are they all operating as per CBCI Education Policy? There are huge doubts in this respect.
What is the number of Catholic students in each institute and their percentage vis-à-vis the total students?
What is the number of Catholic workers in each of these institutions? Do they get fair/humane pay, paid leave, health benefits? There are several Church-run institutes which are blatantly hiring and firing Contractual Workers including teachers. St. Claret School, Debpukur, Barrackpore, is one such school.
How will we promote Christian faith when most parents and children are living from hand to mouth? Poor pay leads to malnutrition, stunted growth, hampered education and resultant vanishing from the Church Register.
How are the Archdiocesan resources being utilised to build Christian leadership? Are we really following ‘inclusive growth’? How will Christian Leadership in the Archdiocese bloom where the percentage of Christian (Catholics plus sister churches) students in Catholic colleges and Universities is below ten per cent?
Are the nutritional needs of all Christian students being addressed to inculcate/encourage Critical Thinking among them? This question is in line with Pope Leo’s WCD message on Preserving Dignity: “Faces and voices are the ultimate expressions of our unrepeatable identity and divine image. They are the foundation of genuine human relationships.”
What is the dropout rate of Christian students?
Is there a mechanism to find out where they land up? Whether in other schools or tea stalls or eateries to be doomed for life?
What is the percentage of dropout of girl students? Where do they go? Marry or get lost as domestic helps or massage parlours?
We must first let us address the basic issues of our children while we delve into lofty ideas such as Digital Communication and AI! We must go back to the basics.
While framing our Communication Policies, we conveniently overlook (1) The Church is a Community of Communities and (2) The parable of the lost sheep (Luke 15:3-7). In many parishes, the parish priest attempts to drive a wedge among various cultural and linguistic groups, instead of becoming a unifying force.