Of communication and formation

For the past few days I've been toying with the idea of using Google Docs for a questionnaire for the social communications commission. I've used the spreadsheet forms before and found them very useful. More interesting than the exercise of conceptualising the content, preparing the layout and the technical aspects, are the incoming responses. It is something that I've been trying to address since long: the reduction of wide spectrum communication to mere gadgetry! As Fr TD John says, we need to grow in a culture of communication, not just use of media!

The Centre's insistence on innovative means of communication in ongoing formation makes a lot of sense given the context that confreres feel that TV and internet are all that is there of communication. How about seeing to the content of that what we consume? When does one begin to generate content rather than be mere passive recipient of messages? Our formation should help us with this aspect of being able to articulate the message. Not just preach, preach, and preach.