Fr Leonard E Dollentas
Editor – O Clarim English Edition
The Scriptures make frequent use of the image of walking, especially with regard to following a path provided by God, Jesus, an angel or a prophet. A frequent implication is that in walking such a path, we are never alone, but accompanied by the light and guidance of our divine companion.
Synodality and O Clarim
In the fall of 2021, Pope Francis called all Catholics, indeed all people of good will, to come together, to walk together, in communion and dialogue, through the process of synodality. It refers to a particular style of engagement where mutuality and equality are hallmarks. It suggests that we recognize that the journey of life need never be accomplished alone, but with the shelter and support of each other.
Walking together requires that we stand with, walk with and continue to contribute to the evangelization efforts of the Catholic Diocese of Macau. There is an African proverb that reads: “If you want to travel fast, walk alone; if you want to travel far, walk together.” Our call is to travel far and to walk with others.
O Clarim was initiated by young people who decided to walk together
O Clarim is the oldest continuous Portuguese newspaper in Macau (GCS registration no.1). Recently, a Chinese edition was added and, more recently, the English edition.
From the path initiated by a group of young Catholics composed of José Patrício Guterres, Herculano Estorninho, José Silveira Machado, Abílio Rosa, Gastão de Barros, José de Carvalho e Rêgo, Rui da Graça Andrade and Rolando das Chagas Alves, after 75 years, O Clarim has grown into a fully operating printed and digital mass media evangelization arm of the Catholic Diocese of Macau. These young Catholics with strong determination and dedication to mass media, planted dreams, and drew forth prophecies and visions. They allowed hope to flourish, inspired trust and created a bright resourcefulness that will enlighten minds, warm hearts and give strength to the present direction of the trilingual (Portuguese-English-Chinese) O Clarim news magazine.
Elements of the process of walking together:
Communion
The communion O Clarim shares with its mission to the Church finds its deepest roots in the love and unity of the Trinity. Its publications are mostly inspired by listening to the Word of God through the living Tradition of the Church and grounded in the sensus fidei (the sense/understanding of the faithful as a whole) that we share. Through the years O Clarim has been faithful to the role it plays in discerning and living out God’s call to God’s people.
Participation
Participation is based on the fact that all the faithful are welcomed and are called to serve one another through the gifts they have each received from the Holy Spirit in Baptism. O Clarim has contributed to ignite the call of the Church to pray, listen, analyze, dialogue, discern and convey the Church’s advice on making pastoral decisions which correspond as closely as possible to the will of God.
Mission
O Clarim’s mission is to witness to the love of God by serving the multicultural Catholic population of Macau. It is a means of communication to enable the Chinese, Portuguese and English-speaking people in Macau to better witness to the Gospel, especially those who live on the spiritual, social, economic, political, geographic and existential peripheries of Macau and, as it has reached the digital world, the world in general.
O Clarim in the digital world
When O Clarim started its official circulation on May 1, 1948, it embarked on its long history of spreading the Gospel and evangelizing the local faithful of Macau. For a number of years, it utilised print publications, providing high quality content for the people of Macau.
In recent years, O Clarim has embraced digital and social media as a means of reaching more people than ever before. With the rise of the internet and social media platforms, O Clarim has recognized the importance of utilizing these tools to connect with people, share the message of Christ, and foster a sense of community among the diverse people of Macau.
One of the primary ways that O Clarim has embraced in the use of digital media for evangelization is through social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. It has recognized the power of these platforms to connect with people and engage them in meaningful conversations about faith, spirituality and community news and updates. Although, the Catholic Diocese of Macau and its parishes have created social media accounts to share daily reflections, inspirational quotes and news about upcoming events, O Clarim serves as the “aggregating” body, unifying all information, allowing the parishes to connect with people in a more personal way and to reach a wider audience than ever before.
Another way that O Clarim is using digital media for evangelization is through the creation of online resources such as podcasts, video series, and blogs. Although, not fully functioning yet and still in the process of development, these resources provide a wealth of information about the Catholic faith and allow people to learn more about the Church on their own terms. Many of these resources are free and easily accessible, making them a valuable tool for those looking to deepen their faith or learn more about the Catholic Church.
In addition to these online resources, O Clarim is planning to embrace new technologies in the coming years such as virtual reality and augmented reality. These technologies allow the Church to create immersive experiences that help people to better understand and appreciate the teachings of the Church. Virtual reality experiences can take people to the Holy Land or allow them to explore the inside of the Cathedral of Macau, while augmented reality can bring statues and paintings to life in a new and engaging way.
Overall, O Clarim’s venture using digital and social media for evangelization has been a powerful tool for reaching people and spreading the message of Christ. By utilizing these tools, O Clarim has been able to connect with people in new and innovative ways, and has created a sense of community that extends far beyond the letters in the print media. As technology continues to evolve, it is likely that O Clarim will continue to walk its journey and find new and creative ways to use digital media for evangelization, and to share the message of Christ to the faithful of Macau and with the people around the world.
Walking together as a team with a mission
The Church has always emphasized the importance of community and the power of collaboration. This is reflected in the teachings of Jesus Christ, who called on His disciples to work together in spreading the Gospel and in caring for one another. In the same manner, the present O Clarim team promotes and encourages each other to work together toward a common goal.
The present O Clarim director Fr Eduardo Emilio Aguero, SCJ, has always fostered a culture of collaboration among the O Clarim editors and other collaborators. He has emphasized that collaboration is an essential component of servant leadership. Everyone at O Clarim should work to create a culture of collaboration, in which team members are encouraged to share their ideas and perspectives, and work together to achieve common goals. Hence, he has promoted a weekly meeting among the editors and monthly meetings among all staff.
It is the aim of the present management that O Clarim continue to implement a culture of servant leadership, in which team members are empowered, supported, and encouraged to achieve their full potential. This can lead to a more productive, engaged, and motivated team, and ultimately, a more successful and impactful organization.
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