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 Sunday, 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.
Stock-taking for youth and education
The discussion turned to the broader challenge of nurturing Catholic youth. Isaac H. Gomes, freelance journalist, stressed the need for institutional accountability. He asked: “How are the Archdiocesan resources being utilised to build Christian leadership? Are we following ‘inclusive growth’?”
Concerns were raised about fair pay for Catholic workers, dropout rates among students, and the plight of girls leaving school. Gomes warned: “Poor pay leads to malnutrition, stunted growth, hampered education and resultant vanishing from the Church Register.”
He concluded that before pursuing digital communication strategies, the Archdiocese must address basic issues of children’s welfare. “First let us address the basic issues of our children before we delve into lofty ideas such as Digital Communication and AI,” he said.
The event underscored both the promise and the challenges of Catholic communications in Kolkata, balancing tradition with modern realities while keeping human dignity at the center.