France - Pibrac

From Friday March 16th to Sunday, March 18th, 22 young religious men and women of the south-west of France met in Coteaux Pais (Jesuit Centre of Toulouse) to reflect on the implications of the Internet culture and media on our vows and community life.

This meeting was organized by Fr. Jean-Dominique Delgue (Betharramite) and Sr. Anne Da (Xaverian), representatives of the Religious Conference in the south-west of France. For Mr. Paul Dima (lecturer), internet and media are essential tools of communication: they reduce the communication costs, they spread images and ideas rapidly and simultaneously to many people. But discernment and common sense are required in the use of these media. Moreover, the user must give proof of a certain maturity and a specific preparation before surfing the internet. The religious men and women asked themselves how these tools interact in their lives: what quality of presence in personal and community prayer? How Internet can disturb our the silence? What place do these media have in community life?