We Cannot
But Speak
Acts 4:20
We Cannot But Speak
Acts 4:20
Influencer to Witnesses - Synodal Way for Digital Mission in Asia
September 10 - 13, 2026 | Manila, Philippines
Organized by:
About the Assembly
"For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." — Acts 4:20
As digital missionaries and communicators, this biblical mandate is at the heart of our calling. We are not merely creating content; we are called to be authentic witnesses. Our work in communication invites us to speak of what we have deeply seen, heard, and experienced in our faith. We share these stories in the digital peripheries so that, through our screens and across networks, people may truly encounter Jesus living in us.
In line with our enduring vision to be the Voice of Asian Christianity, this assembly also hopes to give ample, vibrant space to the digital voice of the Asian Church.
In this historic Assembly, we desire for this same grace to unfold. Delegates from across the continent will gather to speak of the realities, joys, and challenges they have seen and heard in their respective countries. Together, we will amplify the diverse digital voice of the Asian Church and transform digital influence into a powerful, synodal witness for Christ in Asia.
With the theme Influencers to Witnesses: Synodal Way for Digital Mission in Asia, the Assembly seeks to gather Catholic digital influencers and missionary across the region with the following goals:
- To form a collaborative network that creates faith-driven digital content, builds fellowship, and strengthens the Church’s digital presence in the region.
- To accompany Catholic digital influencers in their journey from influencers to authentic witnesses of faith, fostering a synodal spirit of listening, collaboration, and shared mission in the digital space across Asia.
Organized by the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences – Office of Social Communications (FABC-OSC) and Radio Veritas Asia, in partnership with the Vatican Dicastery for Communication through the Fully Present Network, the Asian Catholic Digital Missionary Assembly seeks participants who are committed to actively contributing to and sustaining a collaborative digital mission network across Asia.
Participants
Most Rev. Marcelino Antonio "Junie" Maralit, Jr., D.D (Philippines)
Bishop of the Diocese of San Pablo, Philippines, and the Chairman of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences - Office of Social Communication (FABC-OSC). His leadership bridges the areas of church media and the youth. He previously served as Chairman of the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Social Communications and currently leads the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Youth. Recognizing his extensive pastoral vision for the digital continent, Pope Leo XIV appointed Bishop Maralit as a member of the Vatican's Dicastery for Communication, positioning him at the heart of the universal Church’s media and communication ministry.
Dr. Natasa Govekar (Vatican)
Director of the Theological-Pastoral Department for the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication. A graduate of Slovene Language and Literature and Theology from the University of Ljubljana, she holds a Doctorate in Missiology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, focusing her research on the communication of faith through images. An expert in religious imagery, Dr. Govekar specializes in the intersections of art and faith, as well as the dynamic methods of spiritual communication through art and symbolic language.
Fr. John Mi Shen (China)
A prominent priest from the Diocese of Zhaoxian, China, serving as the Executive Secretary of the FABC Office of Social Communication (OSC) and the Program Director of Radio Veritas Asia (RVA). He holds a Doctorate in Sacred Theology majoring in Social and Pastoral Communication from the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in Manila, where he also serves as an associate lecturer. With a rich background in pastoral communication, Fr. John previously coordinated RVA’s Mandarin Service and played a key role in promoting the Bible study movement in mainland China.
Fr. Columba Jordan, CFR (Ireland)
Irish Franciscan Friar of the Renewal based in Limerick, Ireland, known for his popular "Little by Little" video podcast and his role as European Vocations Director. A speaker and digital evangelist, he focuses on Catholic faith formation, relationships, and finding God in daily life.
Pie Mabanta-Fenomeno (Philippines)
She is the current president of SIGNIS Philippines and an elected board member of SIGNIS Asia. An alumna of the Ateneo de Manila University with a degree in Communication, she previously served as the Executive Director of the Communication Foundation for Asia (CFA). Deeply committed to pastoral communication on the digital continent, she frequently spearheads regional training initiatives such as the Cybermission series — designed to equip Church media workers and youth leaders across Asia with essential technical skills and ethical media practices.
Local Organizing Committee for WYD Seoul 2027 (South Korea)
As South Korea prepares for World Youth Day (WYD) 2027, the Local Organizing Committee will share how this landmark event aims to connect the Asian Church with the world. They will discuss the pastoral vision for WYD Seoul and how it plans to engage a highly digitalized, yet often isolated, modern generation of young people.
Peter Monthienvichienchai (Thailand)
A Thai-British media executive, digital transformation expert, and the Secretary General of SIGNIS (The World Catholic Association for Communication), making history as the first Asian elected to this global executive position. Based in Bangkok, he holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from University College London (UCL) and is a former corporate Chief Information Officer. Deeply committed to Church media, Peter also serves as the Executive Director of LICAS News (Light for Catholics in Asia), where he collaborates closely with the Bishops' Conference of Thailand to oversee a regional network of journalists amplifying lay voices across the continent.
Michael Unland (Germany)
Executive Director of CAMECO (the Catholic Media Council), a Germany-based international consultancy specializing in media and communications development for developing countries. With a background rooted in international economics, linguistics, and social research methods, Unland leads CAMECO’s global mission to evaluate, advise, and support community media projects, particularly those working on the margins of society. A frequent speaker and panelist at major international events—including Vatican-led communication webinars and global media conventions—he is a strong advocate for digital transformation within Church networks.
Edwin Lopez (Philippines)
He makes history as the first layman appointed Executive Secretary of the Episcopal Commission on Social Communications (ECSC) for the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP). Alongside this position, he continues to serve as the international manager for the Asia-Pacific region of the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN), a global Catholic media organization he has been with for over two decades. A seasoned media executive and educator, Edwin is a board member of TV Maria and a professor in the philosophy and theology department at San Carlos Seminary in Makati City. He holds postgraduate degrees in business administration, international management, and development communication.
Dr. Anna Jihyun You (South Korea)
An acclaimed South Korean media journalist, communication scholar, and President of WeBien YOU Creative Communications. Over her 30-year broadcasting career, she has served as an anchor and New York correspondent for major networks like SBS and CNBC, earning a Korea Presidential Citation. Deeply engaged in Catholic digital ministry, she served as a Screening Committee member for SIGNIS Asia and made history as the executive spokesperson for the landmark 2022 SIGNIS World Congress in Seoul. She holds a Ph.D. in Communications from Kwangwoon University and is a leading regional voice on ethical communication and human dignity in the era of AI.
Fr. Felmar Fiel, SVD (Philippines, South)
A Divine Word missionary priest from Mindanao (Davao del Sur) who serves as the General Manager of Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), the continental media platform of the Catholic Church in Asia. An accomplished digital communicator with a Master’s degree in Development Communication, he previously led the Word Broadcasting Corporation (DYRF) in Cebu. He is widely recognized for his highly popular online content, blogs, and daily video reflections in Bisaya/Cebuano, which creatively bridge modern digital media with grassroots pastoral evangelization.
Fr. Cyril Victor Joseph (India)
A communication expert from the Archdiocese of Bangalore and the first National Coordinator for the Media Apostolate of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI). He holds a Doctorate in Institutional Communications from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome and has trained internationally with EWTN (USA) and the University of Missouri. In India, Dr. Cyril spearheads groundbreaking media training and pastoral communication structures, notably driving the development of Catholic Connect, a national digital application designed to network and unite the Catholic community across 132 dioceses.
Hosts/Facilitators
Margaux Salcedo (Philippines)
A powerhouse in Philippine Catholic communications, widely recognized as the founding editor-in-chief and core driving force behind Dominus Est (DominusEst.PH), an award-winning faith website and multi-platform digital ministry. Launched in 2019 under the blessing of Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Salcedo has successfully merged her corporate media expertise as a former television news anchor with digital evangelization, transforming the volunteer-led platform into a vibrant storytelling network that reaches millions of viewers weekly.
Bernz Ordoñez Caasi (Philippines)
A former anti-Catholic Protestant who returned to the Catholic Church in 2015. He is the founder of Unboxing Catholicism, a digital platform that helps Catholics “defend the faith clearly without being preachy,” and leads Hallow App's operations in the Philippines. He also gives talks on apologetics, evangelization, and spiritual formation while pursuing a Master of Arts in Theology at the University of Santo Tomas.
Small Group Facilitators (Fully Present Network)
Cindy Gorospe-Añonuevo (Philippines)
A communication specialist dedicated to non-profit and faith-based organizations across Asia and Europe, she currently serves as the Social Media Coordinator for Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), the media office of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences - Office of Social Communications (FABC-OSC). In this capacity, she serves as the Project Lead for the 1st Asian Catholic Digital Missionary Assembly. Her global digital ministry footprint includes serving as an alumna of the 3rd cohort and a tutor for the 4th cohort of the Vatican Dicastery for Communication’s Faith Communication in the Digital World project. Cindy is a prestigious recipient of the Cardinal Foley Scholarship Fund, administered by the Catholic Media Council (CAMECO), under which she is currently pursuing her Master of Marketing Communication at De La Salle University, Philippines.
Perry Paul Lamanilao (Philippines)
A strategic communications and community engagement professional with 13 years of experience in community development, humanitarian work, and international cooperation. His work spans strategic communications, media, public engagement, and cross- cultural collaboration, supported by an extensive professional network across Asia and beyond. He is an alumnus of the second cohort of the ‘Faith Communication in the Digital World’ program of the Dicastery for Communication.
Miral Atik (Jerusalem)
A media officer for the Diocese of Jerusalem at the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and a graduate of the fifth cohort of the Faith Communication Program, she earned her bachelor's degree in Communication and Media from the Lebanese American University in Beirut, Lebanon. Based in the Holy Land, she writes, edits, and produces multimedia content that documents the life of the local Church across Jordan, Palestine, Israel, and Cyprus for audiences around the world. Passionate about writing and visual storytelling, Miral believes that communicating the faith begins by speaking to the lived realities of people and the deepest longings of the human heart. She sees communication as a form of evangelization that reveals God's presence and beauty by bringing authentic stories into focus. Her own journey of conversion continues to shape her vocation as a Catholic communicator.
Quegas Mutale (Zimbabwe)
A Social Communicator from the Catholic Diocese of Hwange in Zimbabwe. He is an alumnus of the fourth cohort of the ‘Faith Communication in the Digital World: A Synodal perspective’ (FC4) fellowship run by the Dicastery for Communication in the Vatican. Quegas has a decade of experience in community development in emergency and hazard vulnerable contexts in Zimbabwe in the non-profit making sector with strong standing in lay leadership in the Church. He is also a fellow of the Summer Lay Leadership program run by the Lay Centre in Rome. He brings experience of writing stories for the Catholic Church News, Managing Digital Church media platforms and creating content.
Joan April Chang (Philippines)
A digital communicator, storyteller, and multimedia artist serving as the Media Officer for the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Social Communications (ECSC). A graduate of the 4th cohort of the Vatican Dicastery for Communication’s Faith Communication program, she frequently speaks on digital marketing and evangelization. She holds a bachelor's degree in Marketing Management and collaborates with various religious institutions to develop media strategies and content, including currently driving a strategic communication campaign for Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) Germany. Notably, she represented the Philippines as a digital delegate at the 2025 Jubilee of the World of Communications in Rome, which included a private audience with Pope Francis.
Victoria Lim (Singapore)
A communications professional from Singapore and a graduate of the Vatican’s Faith Communication programme. She holds a degree in Business Administration from the University at Buffalo. For close to a decade, she has worked to raise funds and manage communications for Catholic charities, and most recently as a correspondent for the Catholic News, covering major stories such as Pope Francis’ journey to Singapore and the Conclave. She is currently taking a career break, to raise her two daughters. She prays that the Holy Spirit will continue to reveal to each person their unique gifts and for it to be shared with the world so others can come to know Christ.