SIGNIS Caribbean meet in AGM, discuss plans

A Caribbean Assembly of persons involved in Catholic Communications was among the ideas accepted at the 15th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of SIGNIS Caribbean (SC), held February 20 via Zoom.

SC is an association of Catholic media practitioners and professionals from the Antilles Episcopal Conference (AEC).

A March 5 release from SIGNIS Caribbean said that training is also on the agenda for the next year, including continuing formation “by an international expert in the field of Crisis Communications, and a workshop on Narrative 4.”

Led by a global educational organisation, Narrative 4, according to the release, uses personal storytelling to build empathy between people “so they can improve their communities and the world together.”

SC members also agreed to continue work on creating a cluster structure of dioceses to bolster Catholic Communications in the Caribbean.

The AGM was attended by nine of the 12 member dioceses, most of which submitted reports ahead of the meeting. The reports outlined the activities and the needs of members in Communications.

“Those needs included human resources, equipment, and training. SC is working on a funding proposal, with the assistance of SIGNIS World, to fill some of those needs,” the release stated.

SC President Lisa Bhajan of the Archdiocese of Port of Spain spoke of the symbiotic relationship between SC and the AEC Communications Commission.

“She likened the Commission to flowers offering nectar, while SC was like bees spreading the stories of hope, the Good News from the various dioceses.”

She added that the bees—the SC members—must return to their “hives” to strengthen and sustain their operations, creating a cycle of mutual support where both the bees and flowers thrive.

Chair of the AEC’s Communications Commission, Archbishop Gabriel Malzaire of Castries, “commended SC for the good work it has been doing, pledged his support and blessed its plans.”