A seminar on “Using Artificial Intelligence in the Mission and Ministries of the Church” was held on March 14 at the Pauline Communication Centre in Bandra, Mumbai, western India, bringing together around 200 religious and lay faithful interested in the role of digital technology in pastoral work.
Organized by the Daughters of St. Paul, in collaboration with the Archdiocese of Bombay, the half-day event featured presentations by Bishop Alwyn D’Silva, Fr. Walter D’Souza, and Fr. Gavin Lopes, who discussed the opportunities and challenges of using artificial intelligence (AI) in Church life and ministry.
Fr. Walter D’Souza, a Scripture professor at St. Pius Seminary in Mumbai, spoke on the pastoral use of AI in catechesis, faith formation, and ministry. He explained various AI platforms and demonstrated how tools such as Canva, ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google Gemini can support liturgical preparation and catechetical teaching.
He emphasized that AI should not replace human creativity but rather assist pastoral workers in making their ministry more effective.
Fr. Gavin Lopes, who teaches Systematic Theology at St. Pius X Seminary, addressed the ethical questions related to AI in Christian communication and media, warning that the rapid growth of digital technologies requires responsible use.
He highlighted concerns such as misinformation, deep fakes, and the misuse of digital tools, urging Church communicators to verify information before sharing it online.
“We must use AI responsibly without harming our common home or allowing people to be exploited,” he said, encouraging participants to develop digital literacy and ethical awareness in their ministries.
Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Alwyn D’Silva of Bombay, who also chairs the Office of Human Development of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC), reflected on pastoral responses to the challenges and opportunities of digital culture.
In an interactive session, he encouraged participants to see digital media as a field of evangelization.
“The mission mandate is for all,” he said, urging the faithful to use digital platforms such as social media, video, and online communication to spread the message of the Gospel.
During the seminar, participants also witnessed the launch of a new book on artificial intelligence and Church ministry written by Fr. Sajith Cyriac, SSP, editor of St. Paul’s Publications in Mumbai.
The book, titled "When the Church Meets Artificial Intelligence," offers both theological reflection and practical guidance on the responsible use of AI in pastoral ministry. It also reflects on the pastoral realities of the Church in India, making it particularly relevant for local ministries.
Participants described the seminar as an informative and interactive opportunity to explore how the Church can responsibly engage with emerging technologies while continuing its mission of evangelization in the digital age.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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