Internet and folk art ‘important’
JAKARTA (UCAN) — Catholic leaders in Indonesia have stressed the importance of modern technologies as well as traditional folk art in Church communication as they celebrated World Communications Day recently.
On May 24, St. Anna Church in Duren Sawit, East Jakarta, launched its website which contains Church documents, spiritual reflections and homilies, as well as information on parish activities.
“It is hoped that this new website will encourage parishioners to use such communication media according to their needs,” parish priest Jesuit Father Yohanes Sudriyanto told UCA News.
Father Sudriyanto, noting that online communication is common nowadays, said, “We should use it to enhance communication among the more than 10,000 parishioners grouped in 82 different neighborhood communities.”
Pope Benedict XVI had chosen “New Technologies, New Relationships: Promoting a Culture of Respect, Dialogue and Friendship” as the theme for this year’s celebration.
Jesuit Cardinal Julius Darmaatmadja of Jakarta launched the new website (www.gerejastanna.org), which is managed by the parish’s social communication and youth desks, during a special Mass.
In his homily, he urged all Catholics to use modern communication technologies wisely so as to avoid any negative impact as a result of such use. “We should be grateful for this proliferation of technology. We should use it for good as best as we can,” he said.
Acknowledging that such technologies make people’s lives easier, the prelate reminded the congregation that face-to-face interactions are still important as digital communication can be impersonal.
Meanwhile, Jesuit Bishop Julianus Sunarka of Purwokerto, in Central Java, and four priests concelebrated Mass in St. Philip’s Church of Kapencar in Wonosobo to mark World Communications Day. In his homily, Bishop Sunarka maintained that folk arts are important as communication media in the rural areas, and mentioned the ketoprak (a Javanese play combining drama, music and dance) and wayang kulit (leather puppet performances) as examples.
“Ketoprak and wayang kulit are also mediums of communication. They are very useful,” he said. “When we watch ketoprak, we gain moral insights.”
In Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, 70 Catholic media workers attended Mass at St. Joseph the Worker Church of Penfui to mark the special day. Parish priest Fathers Florens Maxi Un Bria noted that communications technology is developing rapidly. “We can access various kinds of information from all over the world,” he said.
Nevertheless, he stressed that the role of such technology should be to spread truth, harmonize differences and resolve conflicts. “Catholics should use this technology as a tool for peace,” he stressed.
In Atambua diocese, west Timor, the diocesan Social Communications Commission organized a writing contest from May 22 to 24 based on the World Communications Day theme. Thirty-seven Catholic students from senior high schools in the diocese took part in the contest.*
Source:
http://www.ucanews.com/2009/05/27/internet-and-folk-art-important/
May 27, 2009
Seni untuk pencerahan? seni rakyat pula? setuju! Yang penting tetap manis dan berguna…:)