“SIGNIS Caribbean is born” was the firm acclamation by Fr Jason Gordon, Archdiocesan Vicar for Administration, speaking at the official launch of the regional association for Catholic media practitioners last Tuesday evening at Grande Riviere Room, The Courtyard at Marriot.

Among those present for this historic Caribbean Catholic media moment were Sr Angela Ann Zukowski, former World President of UNDA, Vicar General Msgr Christian Pereira, chairman of the Printing Services Ltd Board (Catholic News), Richard Young, and Vicar for Communications, Msgr Cuthbert Alexander.

SIGNIS International Vice President Eduardo Andujar of Cuba had been expected but was unable to attend due to prior commitments, explained Clive Belgrave, emcee for the evening and chair of the Board of SIGNIS Caribbean.

He said the process started more than 10 years ago when the Caribbean School for Catholic Communication (CSCC) began. He said in the last five years there has been much interaction with the parent body, SIGNIS International, which has offered support and encouragement.

Executive members of SIGNIS at last Tuesday's launch. From left, Msgr Jerome Feudjio, Nuala Menezes, Clive Belgrave and Javier Molina

Belgrave added that the Antilles Episcopal Conference (AEC) has given the regional body its full support.

This was confirmed via a videotaped message from Archbishop Edward Gilbert; the recording was made before he left on vacation.

The Archbishop, who is the liaison for Communications in the AEC, said his brother bishops would support SIGNIS Caribbean’s “plans and recommendations”.

In his short address Fr Gordon said SIGNIS Caribbean would be a portal for the regional Church as it relates with the current media-friendly, technology-oriented culture.

SIGNIS will help us, the Caribbean, link with the rest of the world, a world that forms and shapes us, he said. Fr Gordon also mentioned a few of the challenges presented in Aetatis Novae, Pastoral Instruction of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications.

Some of the challenges mentioned were the education of the laity in communication, using the media for spiritual formation, pastoral care, cooperation, public relations, research, media education, and the pastoral outreach and dialogue with secular media practitioners.

Other speakers at the launch were SIGNIS Caribbean Board member Mervin Marshall of the Diocese of Bridgetown, Barbados, and Sr Angela Ann, who is an honorary member of SIGNIS.

Sr Angela Ann, who since 1995 has been on the faculty of the CSCC, gave a brief history of the Catholic media organizations, UNDA and OCIC (see below). She also explained how the name SIGNIS came about, before reading the official letter of welcome from the SIGNIS President, Augustine Loorthusamy.

Sr Angela Ann said SIGNIS Caribbean is the signal for “new energy and new passion” in Caribbean Church communication. “This is a new way of Church…The Caribbean is taking its place around the table.”

SIGNIS Caribbean Executive Committee: Clive Belgrave (Archdiocese of Port of Spain, Trinidad), Nuala Menezes (Diocese of St George’s, Grenada) Javier Molina (Diocese of Belize City and Belmopan, Belize) and Msgr Jerome Feudjio (Diocese of US Virgin Islands)

SIGNIS Caribbean Board: Clive Belgrave, Nuala Menezes, Javier Molina, Msgr Jerome Feudjio, Mervin Marshall (Diocese of Bridgetown, Barbados), Antonius “Sonny” Waterberg (Diocese of Paramaribo, Suriname) Sr Augustine Quarless (Diocese of Kingstown, St Vincent and the Grenadines), Sr Christine Alphonse, OSB (Archdiocese of Castries, St Lucia) Fr George Williams (Diocese of St John’s-Basseterre, Antigua)

About SIGNIS (taken from their website, signis.net)
SIGNIS was created in November 2001 from the merger between two organizations (UNDA, for radio and television; and OCIC, for cinema and audiovisual) that were both created in 1928. SIGNIS is a worldwide association. Its members are national associations grouped by regions of the world.  The association has two administrative headquarters, the General Secretariat in Brussels and SIGNIS Services Rome in the Vatican.

Belgrave heads regional media body

By Msgr Alexander

Before the launch of SIGNIS Caribbean, an association of Catholic media practitioners, at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel, in Port of Spain, last Tuesday evening, members gathered Monday at Vianney House, Belmont, for an all-day session. By the end of the meeting, the first board, including a four-member executive, was named.

Heading the association is Trinidadian Clive Belgrave who for the past year served as interim Chair. Other executive members are: vice-Chairperson Nuala Menezes (Grenada), Secretary Javier Molina (Belize) and Treasurer Msgr Jerome Feudjio (St Thomas, Virgin Islands).

The regional body, an affiliate of SIGNIS International, is intended to provide support and coordination for Catholic media in the Caribbean. It aims to develop and maintain linkages with regional and international Catholic communications and media organisations, including the International Catholic Union of the Press (UCIP) and Organización Católica Latinoamericana y Caribeña de Communicación (OCLACC).

According to the constitution of SIGNIS Caribbean, the Board is to comprise one representative of each of the participating dioceses of the association. Nine members of the Antilles Episcopal Conference (AEC) were represented at Monday's meeting and so nine members were elected to the Board.

Participants at the SIGNIS meeting held on Monday at Vianney House, Belmont

Other members of the Board are: Fr George Williams (St John's-Basseterre), Mervin Williams (Bridgetown), Sr Christine Alphonse OSB (Castries), Sr Augustine Quarless SJC (Kingstown) and Antonius Waterberg (Paramaribo).

Three other dioceses of the AEC – Nassau, Montego Bay and Curaçao – have signified their intention to be members of the association and so membership of the Board is expected to be increased to 12, in the short term. Each Board member has been appointed for two years and is eligible for reappointment.

Membership of SIGNIS Caribbean falls into two categories – full members and associate members. Board members are full members and are entitled to one vote at meetings of the Board.

Catholic media practitioners and professionals working in the Caribbean area, and any other organisation or individual whose membership is approved by the Board are eligible to be associate members. Although associate members are entitled to attend and participate in meetings of the Board they are not entitled to vote.

At Monday's meeting, members made presentations on the work engaging them and others in the field of Catholic communication in their home territories.

A draft of the association's Code of Ethics, which will come up for ratification at next year's annual meeting, was also circulated and discussed.