Bangladeshi youth embrace digital evangelization as RVA Bengali Service celebrates Jubilee with "Pilgrimage of Hope"

Radio Veritas Asia's (RVA) Bengali service and the Diocesan Social Communication Commission for Youth in Bangladesh jointly arranged a Pilgrimage of Hope seminar at Christo Jyoti Pastoral Centre on June 1.

This event was organized on World Communications Day, and the theme of this seminar, "Pilgrims of Hope," focused on how youth use the internet to spread the Good News.

The day-long seminar drew youth delegates from every parish in the diocese, alongside seminarians and members of religious congregations.

Through a series of talks and interactive sessions, participants were encouraged to view themselves as modern-day "Pilgrims of" Hope"—using social media and digital storytelling to spread faith-based content rooted in the Gospel.

"The RVA Bengali Service has been a beacon of truth since 1980," said Father Nikhil Gomes, the coordinator of the RVA Bengali service. "Today, with over 34,000 online followers, our mission continues to reach both rural and digital frontiers — uplifting communities and sharing messages of peace, faith, and compassion."

Sister Laily Rozario, RNDM, led a session on scriptwriting and content production, highlighting the importance of media literacy and creativity.

She emphasized the power of concise storytelling in the age of short-form video. "If our goal is to communicate Christian values effectively, we must meet our audience where they are — with engaging, meaningful content that carries messages of forgiveness and love," she said.

The seminar served not only as a celebration of RVA’s decades of service but also as a call to action for young Catholics. Many, like participant Protique Rozario, expressed a renewed sense of purpose. "I had no idea RVA was doing such impactful work," he said. "Now that I know, I’m inspired to support and take part in this mission."

Concluding the event, Father Sagor Corraya, director of Christo Jyoti Pastoral Centre, thanked the speakers and attendees, emphasizing the value of youth-led evangelization in the digital era. "You are the future messengers of hope," he told the young participants. "Let it be the beginning of your journey as digital missionaries."

The Jubilee celebration marked more than an anniversary — it became a milestone in cultivating a new generation of Catholic communicators in Bangladesh, ready to share the Good News with the world.