Church communication in the new normal: perspectives from Asia and beyond
Bangkok:
Asian Research Center for Religion and Social Communication
(2022), xxvii, 343 pp.
ISBN 978-974-487-164-0
"Despite the wide-ranging topics presented in this collection, this volume takes ‘communication’ as the keyword for the various research and reflections on the life and mission of the Catholic Church during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as post-crisis. The reader will readily recognize that what is referred to as ‘communication’ here is an extremely elastic and multi-dimensional category. Within the context of the Church, particularly as discussed in this book, communication refers to words and images that the Church transmits to the faithful and to the world to help the people cope with issues brought about by the crisis. This communication helps contextualize these dramatic events in sound theological principles which need to again and again be creatively restated and reaffirmed with every human happening, both big and small, that takes place. Second, communication also refers to pastoral and evangelizing actions carried out by the Church and its members to sustain the life of the Church amid the grave situation of imposed isolation, pastors and members of the flock succumbing to COVID-19, shuttered church doors, and unlit altar candles. Third, communication refers to the models and strategies by the Church and its leaders to employ technological means to promote ecclesial communion, nourish the faith life of the people, and to dialogue with individuals and groups to create a truly synodal Church. Finally, communication also refers to ways that the Church discerns and engages with the signs of the times in order to transform raw experiences into valuable lessons, human suffering into salvific grace, and pandemic isolation and division into greater post-pandemic interculturality, interdependence, and collaboration." (Introduction, p.xx-xxi)
Contents
PART ONE: CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE GLOBAL CHURCH
1 COVID-19: Responding Theologically from the Asian Context / Gnana Patrick, 2
2 Christ, Cross and COVID-19: Words that Never Die in the New Normal Religious Communication / Norman Melchor R. Peña Jr, SSP, 14
3 The Search for Meaning and Values in the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond: Paradigm Shifts in Communicating the Joy of the Gospel / Christina Kheng, 36
4 Interculturality in the post-Pandemic World / Lazar T. Stanislaus, SVD, 50
5 The Task for Interreligious Dialogue post-COVID-19 / Robert Kisala, SVD, 71
6 The COVID-19 Pandemic from Ecological Perspectives: The 'Prophet' SARS-CoV-2 / Michael Q. Nguyen, SVD, 85
7 Religious Leaders and Social Media: Religious Communication during and post-Pandemic / Anthony Le Duc, SVD, 98
8 Catholic Liturgical Teleparticipation before and during the Pandemic, and Questions for the New Normal / Leo-Martin Angelo R. Ocampo, 125
PART TWO: LOCAL CONTEXTS
9 Neighborhood Change vis-à-vis Challenges of Digital Neighborhood Church post-COVID-19 Pandemic / Rico C. Jacoba, 150
10 Prophetic Dialogue and Pastoral Communication post-COVID-19 Pandemic in Vietnam / Anthony Quyen Huy Nguyen, SVD, 177
11 The Pastoral Methodology and Prospect of Korean Catholic Church in the post-COVID-19 Era: Centering on the Integrated On-Offline Pastoral Ministry / Ignatius Minsoo Kim, 198
12 'Tengaw' Observance: Implications of the Kankanaeys' COVID-19 Response for the New Normal / Brandon Billan Cadingpal, 217
13 Digital Religious Communication in the Syro-Malabar Church during and post COVID-19 Pandemic / Robin Xavier, Mariot Jose Panjikaran, Angel Treasa Alex, and Nandini Lakshmikantha, 240
14 Ecclesial Communion: Reflections from the Pandemic Experience in Thailand / John Patrick Murray, OSA, 259
15 Digitally Mediated Pastoral Ministry during the COVID-19 Pandemic, and Questions for the Future / John Mishen and Anthony Le Duc, SVD, 269
16 New Approaches to Vietnamese Catholic Hospital Ministry in the post-Pandemic Time / Trong Quang Pham, SVD, 291
17 The Communicative Role of Camillian Chaplains in their Pastoral Ministry during the COVID-19 Pandemic / Vince Henry M. Salles, 309
CONCLUSION
Themes for Church Communication in the New Normal / Anthony Le Duc, SVD, 330
1 COVID-19: Responding Theologically from the Asian Context / Gnana Patrick, 2
2 Christ, Cross and COVID-19: Words that Never Die in the New Normal Religious Communication / Norman Melchor R. Peña Jr, SSP, 14
3 The Search for Meaning and Values in the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond: Paradigm Shifts in Communicating the Joy of the Gospel / Christina Kheng, 36
4 Interculturality in the post-Pandemic World / Lazar T. Stanislaus, SVD, 50
5 The Task for Interreligious Dialogue post-COVID-19 / Robert Kisala, SVD, 71
6 The COVID-19 Pandemic from Ecological Perspectives: The 'Prophet' SARS-CoV-2 / Michael Q. Nguyen, SVD, 85
7 Religious Leaders and Social Media: Religious Communication during and post-Pandemic / Anthony Le Duc, SVD, 98
8 Catholic Liturgical Teleparticipation before and during the Pandemic, and Questions for the New Normal / Leo-Martin Angelo R. Ocampo, 125
PART TWO: LOCAL CONTEXTS
9 Neighborhood Change vis-à-vis Challenges of Digital Neighborhood Church post-COVID-19 Pandemic / Rico C. Jacoba, 150
10 Prophetic Dialogue and Pastoral Communication post-COVID-19 Pandemic in Vietnam / Anthony Quyen Huy Nguyen, SVD, 177
11 The Pastoral Methodology and Prospect of Korean Catholic Church in the post-COVID-19 Era: Centering on the Integrated On-Offline Pastoral Ministry / Ignatius Minsoo Kim, 198
12 'Tengaw' Observance: Implications of the Kankanaeys' COVID-19 Response for the New Normal / Brandon Billan Cadingpal, 217
13 Digital Religious Communication in the Syro-Malabar Church during and post COVID-19 Pandemic / Robin Xavier, Mariot Jose Panjikaran, Angel Treasa Alex, and Nandini Lakshmikantha, 240
14 Ecclesial Communion: Reflections from the Pandemic Experience in Thailand / John Patrick Murray, OSA, 259
15 Digitally Mediated Pastoral Ministry during the COVID-19 Pandemic, and Questions for the Future / John Mishen and Anthony Le Duc, SVD, 269
16 New Approaches to Vietnamese Catholic Hospital Ministry in the post-Pandemic Time / Trong Quang Pham, SVD, 291
17 The Communicative Role of Camillian Chaplains in their Pastoral Ministry during the COVID-19 Pandemic / Vince Henry M. Salles, 309
CONCLUSION
Themes for Church Communication in the New Normal / Anthony Le Duc, SVD, 330
