Category Poka Seminary

It is an honor for us to be allowed to participate in this very valuable activity “Effective Training in the Digital Era”. Of course, this is very helpful for us in our current self-development and in the days to come. As a prospective leader and leader, public speaking training is very important to learn, because sometimes when we are asked to speak in front of many people, we often feel nervous, awkward, and have stage fright. Many people are good at conceptualizing and theorizing but are not good at practicing it. During the On Going Formation activity, many things have been learned, even for us participants, all the materials provided by the speakers are important. The materials are even made in such a way that they are easy to understand and comprehend. Many obstacles and problems that are often faced in the pastoral field and are difficult to solve, can finally be answered in this activity.
The activity attended by the Young Priests and prospective priests of the Amboina Diocese is very helpful in realizing a good and quality pastoral life in the future. For us, by following the tips given by the speakers during the activity process, it will help develop ourselves and the development of the faith of God’s people. The people will feel cared for, embraced and supported, so that the anxieties or problems that often occur in the lives of the people will be easy to resolve.
For us, it is very necessary to create activities like this, because currently with the development of technology, many people are even smarter than prospective priests and imams. So the need for prospective priests and imams who are qualified. This is very clear in terms of public speaking. And this is very apparent in terms of preaching and bringing reflections. Prospective priests and imams are required not to be fixated on the text, not to have stage fright and need to use body language to give their own meaning to the words or sentences conveyed.
Imams and prospective priests must also be able to use technology as a means of good priestly preaching, because the reality of today’s people tends to spend time in cyberspace rather than the real world. That is why, good knowledge of technology is also very important for priests and prospective priests to master. However, it should be noted that it is not only about good mastery of technology, but also requires a short and interesting material concept that can provide deep meaning to the listener.
The tips given during the activity process become very meaningful if they are realized in pastoral life. Because sometimes, concepts only become interesting when delivered in the room, but cannot be realized in everyday life. The On Going Formation activity is very important to be followed by all priests and prospective priests of the Diocese of Amboina, not only young priests but it would be good to be encouraged to be followed by all priests, so that it helps us in terms of preaching and delivering reflections. The leader knows where to start and where to end, the leader can read the situation of the listener: whether they are listening carefully to the sermon or bored. But more than that, the leader can know where he should direct his congregation, about solving the problems that occur in the lives of the faithful. And this really answers the needs of the faithful. Attention and support from the leader greatly helps the growth of the faith of the congregation. Therefore, priests who are qualified in terms of knowledge and life practices are needed.
Based on all of this, it would be good if the diocese held various activities like this, so that the future leaders of the diocese are none other than leaders who have good public speaking qualities, good life practices for the good development of the people’s faith. Thank you to the diocese for holding this On Going Formation activity. Thank you to the resource persons who have been willing to take the time to provide materials and training. This activity really helps us to reflect and look back at ourselves now and learn to improve ourselves, train ourselves to become good and quality future leaders. (Frater Blasius Helyanan: Major I)

For approximately two days participating in the ongoing formation activity for young priests and prospective young priests held at Wisma Gonzalo, there were many things that I personally gained. All the new things that I gained during the training were not stated comprehensively. However, there were several points that were most important and beneficial for me and also my fellow brothers and the young priests who participated in this activity.

First, this is the first experience of directly participating in ongoing formation activities. I would like to express my gratitude to the diocese, in this case the chairman of Unio, who has given me the opportunity to be involved in it. I would also like to express my gratitude to Mr. Frans who has introduced, explained and shared many materials and practices for communicating digitally which are very beneficial for us as prospective leaders and leaders of the congregation.
Second, this communication training in the digital era provides a very valuable and inspiring experience. There is no useless material. Everything is very important and has relevance that fits my life as a prospective imam and later becomes an imam among the people. I feel inspired by the many materials, information and new skills obtained from the speakers. For me, this training opened my eyes to the importance of effective communication in reaching the people, especially the younger generation who are more familiar with technology. The provision of materials, interactive discussions and practical exercises in communicating digitally allowed me to practice how to prepare myself as a public figure and young imam in the future. Third, communicating in front of the public and the masses are two different contexts. As leaders and servants of the people, imams and prospective imams are required to master the right methods and techniques. During college and even now, I realized that the methods and techniques used to deliver sermons or speeches are still very far apart. In fact, often not using the right method. However, in this training, I was touched and paid great attention and was determined to learn to use the right method to deliver sermons for every level of audience. There are 5 types of methods that are most suitable for priests and prospective priests in delivering sermons or speeches, namely: the use of the cause-effect method, the problem solving method, the chronology method, the story/narration method and the profit and loss method. These five methods, after being practiced in training, are very helpful for every priest in preparing any material before being presented or preached.
Fourth, communication in the digital era is an important part of our ministry both as prospective priests and young priests. The use of technology as a medium of preaching is very suitable for today’s young generation. As young priests and prospective young priests, this is a relevant opportunity to utilize technology to spread messages of love and hope, as well as to build closer relationships with the congregation. Don’t hesitate to continue learning and adapting to the changing times. With the right skills, we can be a bridge between the church and society. Remember that good communication is not just about conveying information, but also about listening and understanding the needs of the congregation.
Fifth, one of the most striking things about this training is how we use words to build bridges, not walls. In an interactive session, participants were invited to practice writing and presenting content that is not only informative but also interesting. The use of appropriate language, appropriate tone, and clear delivery are the keys to attracting the attention of an audience that is often busy with various distractions in cyberspace.
Sixth, the digital era not only brings convenience, but also new challenges in communication. As prospective imams and imams who have served among the people and society, there is a lot of information that can spread quickly, but so is misinformation. This training teaches us to be responsible communicators, filter information carefully, and disseminate accurate content. With this approach, we not only contribute to healthy discussions, but also build a good reputation in the eyes of the audience.
In closing, one of my recommendations for this training is that I want to invite young imams and prospective young imams to continue to explore the potential of communication in the digital era with. Every interaction is an opportunity to learn and grow. Be a young imam who is able to use the media to listen with empathy, speak wisely, and deliver the message with love. In every message we share with the audience, remember that there is a soul that we need to touch and guide. We are called to be a bridge between the church and society, and with the right communication skills, we can bring hope and revival to many people. May this experience be the beginning of our more meaningful journey in ministry. Never hesitate and be afraid to start something new. (Benny Fasak – Major II STFX Poka)

Ambon, 18-19 October 2024 – Young priests of the Diocese of Amboina, deacons, and brothers from the Major Seminary of Saint Francis Xaverius Poka-Rumah Tiga participated in the On Going Formation activity with the theme “Effective Communication Training in the Digital Era” which took place at Wisma Samadi Gonzalo Veloso. This activity is part of the On Going Formation program initiated by Unio Indonesia, and implemented specifically in the Diocese of Amboina.

The event which lasted for two days presented Mr. Frans Budi Santika as a speaker. The materials presented by him were considered very interesting, relevant, and useful for the participants, especially in facing the challenges of communication in the digital era. With his expertise and experience, Mr. Frans was able to provide insights and effective communication techniques, which can be applied by priests and prospective priests in their pastoral ministry.

RD. Amandus Oratmangun, Chairman of the Amboina Diocese Union, in his speech said that this activity aims to equip young priests and prospective priests with communication skills that are in accordance with the development of the times. “Through this training, we hope that young priests can be more effective in communicating, both in the real world and digitally, to support the mission of the church and the ministry of the people,” said RD. Amandus.

This activity is expected to have a positive impact and be an important step in building more effective pastoral communication that is relevant to the needs of the times. (Fr. YB)