Diocesan World Communications Day Showcase

Every year on the Sunday before Pentecost, the Church celebrates the achievements of communications and media, focusing on how they can best be used to promote gospel values. Established by Pope Paul VI in 1967, World Communications Day is an annual celebration encouraging us to reflect on the opportunities and challenges presented by modern means of social communication – the press, motion pictures, radio, television, and the internet – to communicate the gospel message.
 

Read the Message for the 58th World Communications Day

In his message for the 58th World Communications Day, Pope Francis emphasized the theme of artificial intelligence and the wisdom of the heart for fully human communication. The evolution of artificial intelligence systems has made it increasingly natural to communicate through and with machines, blurring the lines between computation and thought. This revolution poses new challenges to ensure that machines do not contribute to a large-scale system of disinformation and do not increase the loneliness of those who are already alone.

Pope Francis urges us to guide artificial intelligence and algorithms with responsible awareness, emphasizing the need for each individual to be conscious of the use and development of these different forms of communication that intertwine with social media and the internet. It is crucial for communication to be oriented towards a fuller life of the human person, preserving the warmth that only communication between people can provide.

The Diocese of Metuchen will mark this celebration with the Diocese of Metuchen’s World Communications Day Media Showcase, along with an evening celebration scheduled for the end of May 2024. This event will highlight the story of the Diocese of Metuchen and the work of the Church through the eyes of our students, professionals, and seniors, embracing the movement of the Spirit within the current synodal process and the National Eucharistic Revival.

Celebration and Showcase:
A special celebration honoring the exceptional work of our contributors will take place at the St. John Neumann Pastoral Center in Piscataway. This event will include an honor from the Bishop of Metuchen along with showcasing your work throughout the St. John Neumann Pastoral Center - allowing the community and diocesan family to appreciate the creativity and insights shared by our talented diocesan members throughout the year.

Submission Types:

1. Photography
2. Written Stories
3. Graphics

1. Elementary School Aged Children (Ages 6-12)
2. High School Teens and College Students (Ages 13-24)
3. Adults/Seniors (Ages 25 and above)
4. Religious and Consecrated Life (those affiliated with religious communities within the Diocese of Metuchen)

Submission Guidelines:

Photography:

• Submit high-resolution photographs that creatively explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and human communication.
• Ensure your photographs align with the theme and convey a sense of wisdom and heart in communication.

• Share your stories or narratives reflecting on the challenges and opportunities presented by artificial intelligence in human communication, especially for people of faith.
• Stories should be between 500 and 1000 words.

• Submit digital graphics, illustrations, or artworks that creatively depict the theme of Artificial Intelligence and Wisdom of the Heart.
• Files should be in a printable format with a resolution of at least 300 dpi.

• Submit a podcast episode (MP3 format) exploring the theme of artificial intelligence and human communication. Please include a brief description of the relevance to the theme.

• Submit short videos (MP4 format) that creatively explore the theme of artificial intelligence and human communication.
• Videos should be no longer than 10 minutes in duration.

• Print Media
• Social Media
• Blogs/Websites
• Digital Art Galleries

How to Submit:
Please complete the attached application form with one of the following submission categories. All applications should be sent directly to the Office of Communications and Public Relations by email at communications@diometuchen.org and domnjsocialmedia@gmail.com with the subject title ‘World Communications Day 2024 Submission – (Your Name)”

1. Photography: Attach high-resolution images, application form, and ID photo to an email and send it to communications@diometuchen.org and domnjsocialmedia@gmail.com
2. Written Stories: Email your stories in a Word document or PDF format along with an application form and ID photo to an email and send it to communications@diometuchen.org and domnjsocialmedia@gmail.com
3. Graphics: Submit digital artworks as attachments along with a complete application form and ID Photo to an email and send it to communications@diometuchen.org and domnjsocialmedia@gmail.com
4. Podcasts and Videography: Please upload your files to a cloud storage service (Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.) and attach the link along with a complete application form and ID Photo to an email and send it to communications@diometuchen.org and domnjsocialmedia@gmail.com

• Contact Information
• Type of Submission
• Category (Elementary, Teens/College, Adults/Seniors, Religious or Consecrated Life)
• Parish Name and Town / Community

Deadline for Submissions:
The deadline for submissions is April 30, 2024. Late entries will not be considered.
All residents within the Diocese of Metuchen are warmly welcomed to contribute to this celebration of responsible communication and creativity, reflecting the spirit of Pope Francis' message. We look forward to celebrating your exceptional work and showcasing it throughout the St. John Neumann Pastoral Center.