88 There are frequent questions about just who is involved in Social Communication in Salesian communities.
89 GC23 spoke of social communication (cf. Acts nos. 254-260: “The journey of faith of the young demands from the community a new form of communication”) in the context of deliberations concerning Salesian activity. It indicated the need for the Provincial to appoint the province person responsible for Social Communication (n. 259).
90 This confrere takes the title of Province Delegate for Social Communication. Other delegates exist in the organisation of a Province; they animate the different Salesian community activities.
91 The clarification needed here is as follows:
Each Delegate receives his delegation directly from his superior. When this does not happen it creates uncertainty about what to do (how much to do, how to do it) and also about any eventual evaluation of the work done. It is worth noting that precise delegation helps guide the one in charge and is an authoritative support for his work in the community.
92 It is convenient, then, for the Delegate to come to an understanding with the Provincial and his Council about the limits and possibilities of his work, once he has received his obedience to animate and coordinate social communication in the Province.
93 The departure point and basic guide for working in social communication needs to be worked out (by the Provincial, Provincial Council, the Delegate) from indications given in the Constitutions and Regulations, from the Project of Animation and Government of the Rector Major and his Council (for example for the six year period 2002-8) and from the SSCS document..
94 The SC Delegate is essentially a team person. He will normally be assisted by a Commission and at times will also have an advisory group. It depends very much on the situation and needs of the Province as to whether there is a commission and an advisory group, or just a combination of the two. Some provinces call whatever entity it they have by other names, but the functions are clear. The Commission works directly with the Delegate in promoting Social Communication in the Province. Its role is spelt out clearly in SSCS n- 167 ff. The Advisory group enables him to seek advice, and is available to study aspects that need further exploration, helps accompany the processes and so on.
95 The commission should be in a position to hold frequent brief meetings. The commission’s work covers various functions. Without being exhaustive, we can offer the following basic ones:
96 Social Communication planning depends directly on the Provincial and his Council at Province level, on the Rector and his Council at local community level.
The Social Communication Commission is a working group in the service of the provincial and local communities. The commission does not impose on, stand aside from, or interfere with the project; it assists by studying the problem/problems arising in the realities of life and action without losing contact with the Salesian reality. To lose contact with Salesian reality would mean losing its precise function of animation. ‘Being at the service of’ includes providing impetus and pushing on ahead.
Study of the problem of communication in all its forms, and study of the real problems of the Province and communities where communications are concerned (therefore problems of personnel as well as activities): these all form part of the commission’s function.
97 The commission backs the Province Delegate and takes on the task of experimenting with:
new projects,
formation courses for young people and adults,
activities aimed at different areas of Salesian activity (schools, parishes, oratories, activities with the young-at-risk, associations, liturgy etc.) in provincial communities,
renewal and coordination of traditional activities (drama, community halls, singing, music, etc.)
links and cooperation with institutions in the local area, be they ecclesiastical or civil
98 The Provincial and his Council are primarily responsible for the planning and execution of the social communication project of the province. They get this done through the Commission. In fact, the Commission is, and functions as, a project office in the social communication sector. There is ample room for action here.
99 As a planning group the Commission extends its services to the local communities as well. The Educative and Pastoral Community (EPC) and the different councils of works run by the community need help in formulating plans and projects, according to the demands of the area, the community, and forces actually present in the field.
100 The term ‘centre’ recalls a double need which the commission should keep as part of its agenda:
The centre is a frame of reference: in terms of organisation.
The centre is a service: in terms of coordination.
101 the centre is a frame of reference: in terms of organisation.
The first task the Province Delegate and Commission must carry out is to organise the Social Communication sector. This is a sector for Salesian presence and action.
To organise means:
studying the situation,
noting resources,
checking on possibilities,
planning what is to be done,
seeing to its evaluation,
starting off with the new project.
102 Provinces are sufficiently accustomed to working to a plan and organising pastoral ministry. Now they need to be ready to be part of this dynamic. [delegate, consulta, commission, local coordinators…]
103 The centre is a service: in terms of coordination.
Often what is lacking is coordination. Provinces are not always fully aware of what already exists in communication. Not all the qualified personnel are valued. Not all the instruments are used to their best capacity. Not all communication realities are connected (publishing, Salesian Bulletin, local bulletins, printing, production centres, youth free time activities, libraries, meeting places, various publications and so forth).
The Commission can offer this much-needed coordination and build up a unified and systematic communication.
104 The delegate and his commission may wish or need to have an advisory group whose role is akin to that of the World Advisory Council. It accompanies, evaluates, researches, guides, studies social communication as it occurs in the Province context. It keeps contact with local communities and the province centre. It assists in the many technical issues at local community level.
The advisory group can be there as a group of experts in the field to help projects succeed, and certainly to advise on the process. Communities should not be left to themselves. Accompaniment ensures two essential things: continuity of projects - when it comes to action, the greater challenge lies in the ability to execute projects planned by others.
Projects need to be monitored constantly to ensure that they are moving in the right direction, and in line with changing situations.
The work of accompaniment offers excellent opportunities for ongoing formation of teachers, leaders and other workers.
The commission responds to communities’ needs. It keeps contact with local communities and the province centre. It assists in the many technical issues at local community level.
105 Just as there is a delegate at Province level, there needs to be a local coordinator at community level. This is a level of activity not regularly developed thus far in Provinces. Details of the role can be found in SSCS n- 173 ff. One particular task of the local coordinator is to be in regular contact with the Province Delegate for social communication, especially to help ensure that projects at local level can be seen to fit within the overall SC system which is being promoted by the Province. This is not intended to be a restrictive comment, but a guiding one.
If the correspondents' network is to be a reality, it is local coordinators for SC who will be the backbone in that they are often in a position to alert either the Province Delegate, or ANS directly, of initiatives and events.
106 A Database on personnel resources. One of the initial concerns of the Delegate will be to discover the talents that are around and to encourage their use. Many young people have both the inclination and the ability to work in communication. The same is true for a number of confreres. The preparation of personnel and qualification for the sectors of Salesian presence are the primary objectives of the work of animation and formation on the part of the Province Delegate.
At the provincial level we have seen that it is more useful than ever to have a database with the names and qualifications of those who can help or collaborate in the communication area.
Having some names available could be very useful for certain situations, for example, when the Salesian community
celebrates some event
prepares a significant occasion for the young or the poor in a local area
has to correct misinformation about Salesians or Salesian Family life and activity.
launches an initiative for involving others in the development field, or in education or evangelisation.