The JESCOM Annual Meeting of the Jesuit Conference of South Asia (JCSA), held from 11 to 13 September at Sevasi, Vadodara, brought together provincial JESCOM Coordinators for prayer, reflection, learning, and collaborative planning to strengthen communication ministry across South Asia.

Mr. Shyam Parekh, Executive Director of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Ahmedabad, delivered the keynote address on “Disruption and Change: Rethinking Communication Borders and Boundaries in the AI Era.” He highlighted AI’s impact on communication and emphasized the need for responsible, value-based engagement with emerging technologies. Dr. Sanjay Chaudhary, Professor at Ahmedabad University, further explored the relationship between media and AI.

Fr. Vernard Antony, SJ, JCSA Communications Coordinator, presented the newly launched jescoms.asia website as a common digital platform to enhance the visibility of Jesuit communication initiatives. Mr. Glen Gomez encouraged coordinators to contribute news, reports, photographs, and other content. Benedict Mayaki, SJ, from the Communications Office of the Curia in Rome, introduced the global Jesuit digital networking platform Mighty Networks.

The meeting also featured provincial reports, sharing of best practices, and a visit to Anand Press, which celebrated its centenary. On the final day, zonal groups proposed initiatives including media training, collaborative productions, shared resources, common publications, and digital platforms. Participants stressed the need to strengthen media formation for Jesuits, lay collaborators, and mission partners, while exploring AI’s responsible use and technical support for youth ministry initiatives such as MAGIS Digital Home.

Fr. Vernard Antony highlighted the role of JESCOM Coordinators in strengthening provincial media apostolates, building effective teams, promoting collaboration, and sharing content through common platforms. Fr. Joe Victor, Secretary of CSID, encouraged coordinators to translate discussions into practical collaborative initiatives. It reaffirmed the commitment to strengthening communication ministry through collaboration, professional formation, adequate resources, and responsible engagement with emerging technologies in service of the Jesuit mission in South Asia.

Reported by Fr. Vernard Antony, SJ, JCSA Communications Coordinator