By Matters India Reporter
GUWAHATI, September 26, 2026: Father Martin Sadiq, a priest of the Diocese of Jalandhar and veteran Catholic media professional, has been appointed Director of the National Institute of Social Communications, Research and Training (NISCORT), the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India’s (CBCI) national institute for social communication and media formation.
The appointment was announced September 17 by CBCI President Cardinal Anthony Poola of Hyderabad during the Standing Committee meeting in Bengaluru. Father Sadiq’s formal installation is expected after October 15, 2026.
According to NESCOM News, the CBCI also named Father Nysson Luka as Director of the National Biblical, Catechetical and Liturgical Centre (NBCLC), and Father Robinson Rodrigues as Public Relations Officer of the CBCI. The appointments reflect a broader effort to strengthen leadership across national institutions and communication structures.
Significance for Punjab
Father Sadiq’s appointment carries particular importance for the Catholic Church in Punjab, where the Diocese of Jalandhar has historically been led by bishops from outside the region.
Punjab has about 150,000 Catholics and 24 indigenous priests. His appointment marks the emergence of locally rooted clergy into national responsibilities, a shift from missionary-led leadership to indigenous voices shaping the Church’s future.
Media and communication profile
Born November 3, 1970, Father Sadiq was ordained in 1998 and has served 28 years in priestly ministry, including 24 years in Catholic media.
He led Prarthana Bhawan Broadcasting Pvt. Ltd. from 2019 to 2025 and directed Sat Sewa Sanchar, the diocesan Commission for Mass Media and Communication, from 2016 to 2026. He earlier edited the diocesan weekly Sada Zamana.
His academic credentials include a Ph.D. in Social Sciences/Communication from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), Rome, and degrees in institutional communication, corporate social responsibility, and English literature. His ministry has spanned journalism, broadcasting, filmmaking, photography, and digital evangelisation.
National and international engagement
Father Sadiq has been active in SIGNIS, the international Catholic association for communication, serving as Vice President of the North India Region since 2022.
In April 2026, he organised the SIGNIS India National Assembly in Jalandhar. He also contributed a paper on protecting youth in the digital space to the SIGNIS World Congress in Africa.
He has combined media ministry with priestly formation, serving as Vice-Rector and Professor at Holy Trinity Regional Major Seminary, Jalandhar, and earlier at St. John Vianney Minor Seminary, Amritsar.
The CBCI confirmed that Father Sadiq was chosen after a national-level interview process involving Cardinal Poola, Archbishop Anil Joseph Thomas Couto, and Bishop Rayarala Vijaya Kumar, among others.
Strategic vision for NISCORT
Father Sadiq has prepared a Strategic Vision Report and a Three-Year Implementation Plan (2027–2030) for NISCORT.
His roadmap proposes strengthening training in journalism, public relations, digital communication, and emerging media. Plans include a Student Production House, an AI and Media Innovation Lab, industry partnerships, and an annual National Media Fest.
The vision aligns with priorities of the CBCI Office for Social Communications, particularly ethical digital communication and human dignity in the age of AI. In July, CBCI-OSC and NISCORT jointly organised an international symposium on AI and human dignity.
As NESCOM News reported, Father Sadiq’s appointment signals a new chapter for NISCORT, combining pastoral experience with media expertise to advance the Church’s communication mission nationally and internationally.