Media members in Lenten recollection

By Ana-Liza S. Macatangay

Some 40 participants, both from the Archdiocese of Caceres’ Live Streaming team and media practitioners in Naga City and Camarines Sur attended the 2022 Media Lenten Recollection held Saturday, April 2 at Doña Jamora Hall, Villa Caceres Hotel in Naga City.

Caceres Commission on Communications (CCCom) Chairman Fr. Louie Occiano said that given the nature and challenge of being the conveyors of sensitive information, media practitioners should also focus on their spirituality and seek for God’s guidance in fulfilling their mission.

“The Media Lenten Recollection has been a tradition already that is always anticipated by our media friends. As the Lenten season suggests, we give time for self-renewal and pause from our work to give way for prayer,” Occiano said.

Fr. Erwin Blasa, former secretary to the Archbishop, was invited to share his thoughts and served as guest-lecturer during the activity. Blasa just finished his studies in Scriptures in Rome and currently serves as formator at the Holy Rosary Minor Seminary in Naga City.

In his talk, Blasa gave emphasis to the word “re-connet” which he elaborated as having a deeper relationship with one self.

“We tend to get disconnected with things around us due to some distractions. We tend to lose our focus and somehow forget to have a well-balanced life, perhaps due to the demand of your work as media practitioners. We often hear the phrases, “set aside each day,” “try to say good things to others,” and so many things that allow us to be the better versions of ourselves every day,” Blasa added.

LENTEN RECOLLECTION Members of the media in Naga City and Camarines Sur who attended the yearly activity at Villa Caceres Hotel on April 2. CCCOM

The participants had their Way of the Cross and participated in the anticipated Mass after the talk. They went home bringing with them bibles, scapular, rosaries, religious reading materials and spiritual enlightenment.

Occiano, also the parish priest of the Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Joseph, San Jose, Camarines Sur, said that the media Lenten recollection also served as a “breather” for media men who are busy with their work and a deviation from their routine of gathering news information from the grounds.

“I would like to extend my gratitude to all our media friends who attended the recollection and those who really spare their time to be with us. We hope to see you again next year and every year thereafter, as we continue to serve God and put Him in the midst of our daily work,” Fr. Lo stated.

He also thanked Villa Caceres Hotel owner Don Robert Obiedo for the free venue and snacks for the participants. Obiedo has been sponsoring the media recollection for the past 8 years. (PIA5/Camarines Sur)