About KCBC & KCBC MEDIA COMMISSION
The Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council (KCBC), the Regional Bishops’ Council for the State of Kerala, is constituted under the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) to cater the special needs of the apostolate in the State. It is to be understood as an assembly in which all the Catholic Bishops of Kerala, "conscious of their unity and solidarity, received by virtue of the Episcopal consecration" (CD 3), "jointly exercise their pastoral office in order to promote that good which the Church offers all mankind" (CD 38), "and thus foster unity of action and strive together to meet their common tasks" (OE 4), on questions of common concern to the Episcopal Bodies of three Churches sui iuris of Kerala, and of a state-wide and supra-ritual character and importance, questions involving the Catholic Church and other bodies, and any other matter which the three Episcopal Bodies desire the Council to deal with (cfr. Statutes of KCBC, Art. 2)
The decisions and resolutions of the Council are recommendatory in nature, the competence of each diocesan and eparchial bishop remaining intact, except in cases where legislative power is given to it by the Apostolic See. The Council is a juridical person recognized both by the civil and the Canon Laws and therefore has all the rights, privileges, duties and responsibilities and competencies accorded to such juridical entities in civil law and Church law. The registered office and the Secretariat of the Council are headquartered in the Pastoral Orientation Centre (POC), Palarivattom, Kochi 682 025. Tel. 0484-2805722, 2805815. As the central secretariat of the KCBC, the POC is in constant interaction with the society facilitating social justice, communal harmony and peace and fighting for the interest of the poor and protecting environment.
His Grace Most Rev. Dr. Soosa Pakiam,His Excellency Dr. Yoohanon Mar Chrysostom,His Grace Mar Mathew Moolakkatt are respetively President, Vice-President, Secretary General and Rev. Fr. Jacob G Palyakkapilly functions as the Deputy Secretary General KCBC and Director of the POC.
KCBC MEDIA COMMISSION
INTRODUCTION
The Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council (KCBC) Media Commission continues its mission to engage, empower, and enlighten the faithful through various programmes aligned with the Church's vision of effective communication.
VISION
The vision statement of the KCBC Media Commission is to build a communicating community of communities of all people in the spirit of Jesus Christ through social communications.
MISSION
The mission statements speak of proclamation of the Good News, training of Church personnel in social communications, cultivation of public relations and interactive culture, promotion of performing arts and traditional art forms; eventually influencing the channels of communication with a Christian dimension. To bring out these effects, with the support and blessings of all the bishops of the region, the Media Commission has been organizing various programs, competitions and workshops, all the year round.
This is a commission with very many activities like: All Kerala Professional Drama Competition, KCBC Media Awards, Other Literary and Media Awards, Short Film Competitions, Writing Competitions, Organizing seminars, workshops and training programs, social media activities and promotions. The 'Vathican Tharangam', which is published online monthly includes papal news and current affairs related to Catholic Church. KCBCNEWS Online, which is the official YouTube channel of KCBC Media Commission, with its wide range of videos promote Gospel and Christian thoughts and involve in current affairs has more than sixteen thousand subscribers. Another major successful contribution to KCBC is our online news portal. KCBCNEWS.COM is the official news portal of KCBC which is created in 2021 and managed by KCBC Media Commission. Sign Of Love (SOL) is a video program to communicate the Papal and Catholic teachings in India Sign Language. Another major initiative was to create a website to showcase and record the history of drama festival. KCBC Media Commission instituted a new award for Christian Literature from the year 2024 onwards in association with James KC Manimala Trust.
KCBC Media Commission is also active in social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. It helps to promote and propagate the views and concerns of Catholic community among netizens.
Below is a summary of the major programmes conducted during January to December 2026:
- Commemoration of Ponjikkara Rafi
A special event was organised under the Media Commission to commemorate the life and contributions of Ponjikkara Rafi (born Joseph Raphael; 12 April 1924 – 6 September 1992) was a highly influential and pioneering Indian novelist, essayist, playwright, and short story writer of Malayalam literature. Hailing from Ponjikkara, an islet in Ernakulam, Kerala, he is celebrated for pushing the structural and thematic boundaries of Malayalam fiction.
2.Vangmayam - Monthly Literary Discussion Platform
"Vangmayam" continues as a flagship initiative, providing a vibrant monthly platform for literary discussions. Writers, poets, scholars, and media personnel gather to reflect on contemporary literature, social issues, and faith communication. This initiative has strengthened the intellectual and cultural presence of the Church and other religious people in Kerala society.This year being an year of St.Francis Assisi, there was a special Vangmayam on St.Francis based on the movies and books related to his life.
3.One-Day Media Seminar for Media Directors and PRO’s of Kerala Catholic Church
chiri yoga
A one-day seminar was conducted for media directors and PRO’s from various dioceses and religious congregations across Kerala.
The "Voice of Church" joint meeting of PRO, Media, and Vigilance leaders took place on March 3, 2026, at the POC in Palarivattom, Ernakulam, operating under the theme, “Strengthening Response, Rooted in Reality, Guided by Respect.” The morning segments featured a series of leadership addresses, including an opening prayer by Rev. Fr. Scott Sleeba Pulimuden, a welcome by Rev. Fr. Sebastian Milton Kalapurackal, a presidential address by H.E. Rt. Rev. Dr. Yoohanon Mar Theodosis, and an inaugural address by H.G. Most Rev. Dr. Varghese Chakkalakal. This introductory phase concluded with a strategic session on the implementation of the PRO system, introduced and moderated by V. Rev. Fr. Thomas Tharayil.
The afternoon was dedicated to specialized input sessions focusing on contemporary challenges and security. The first session, moderated by Mr. Joseph Jude Arackal, featured a talk by Mr. Vinod K. Jose titled “Fact, Fiction, and Framing: Attacks on Christians in India,” while the second session, moderated by Rev. Fr. Tom Olikarottu, addressed “Cyber Security and Data Protection: Safeguarding the Digital Frontier” with speaker Mr. Thomson Philip. The event concluded with an actionable planning session led by V. Rev. Fr. Thomas Tharayil, followed by a formal vote of thanks.
4.Maduram Sayanthanam - Monthly Programme for the Elderly
"Maduram Sayanthanam" is a monthly initiative designed as an informative and positive-energy-wakening class for elderly people. Sessions included:
• Health awareness and mental wellness
• Social interactions to reduce loneliness
. Informative class and discussions
Yoga Classes
Zumba Dance Training
This programme has been deeply appreciated by participants for its holistic approach to ageing gracefully with faith and hope.
5.KCBC Chavittunadaka Festival 2026
3 days Chavittunadaka festival was held on May 15 to 17, 2026. There were 3 dramas in this year which includes social drama, Bible Drama and Historical Drama, namely Jayakodi,Pontius Pilate and Nepolian Bonapart.
Chavittunadakam Festival was inaugurated by George Pulikan, well known journalist and a writer.
6.Nadaka Shilpasala 2026 for Children between 10 to 18 years old children
The KCBC Media Commission successfully organized a five-day intensive theater workshop titled 'Arangu'. Held from May 18 to 22 at the POC in Palarivattom, Kochi, the workshop was specially designed for children and young talents between the ages of 10 and 18 to explore the world of acting and stagecraft.
Key Highlights and Activities
The primary goal of the workshop was to nurture creativity, build confidence, and introduce young minds to the core elements of theater. Over the course of five days, the participants were introduced to various aspects of performing arts, including:
Acting Techniques & Expression: Understanding body language, facial expressions, and stage presence.
Voice Modulation: Training sessions focused on clear speech, emotional delivery, and voice projection.
Character Development & Team Building: Engaging group exercises that taught children how to inhabit a character and work collaboratively as a team.
Mentorship and Leadership
The workshop featured sessions led by prominent theater personalities and cultural experts, including the renowned theater director Chandradasan and other distinguished resource persons featured in image.png.
The entire event was meticulously coordinated under the leadership of Fr. Sebastian Milton and Dr. Thomas Panackal
The 'Arangu' theater workshop concluded on a high note, leaving the young participants inspired and more confident. It provided an excellent platform for children to discover their artistic potential, overcome stage fright, and learn the valuable art of storytelling through performance. The event was widely appreciated by both the participants and their parents for its well-structured and engaging approach.
6.60th World Day of Social Communication 2026
The KCBC Media Commission organized the grand celebration of the 60th World Day of Social Communication on 17th May 2026. The event brought together religious leaders, public representatives, and media professionals to deliberate on the evolving landscape of communication and media ethics.
Central Theme: "Preserving Human Faces and Voices"
Key Sessions and Speakers
The celebration featured a line-up of distinguished speakers who addressed the gathering from academic, political, and journalistic viewpoints:
The meeting was presided by Rev. Dr. Jacob Prasad (General Editor and Translator of Church Documents, POC, Palarivattom).Dr. Prasad delivered the presidential address, setting the tone for the event by highlighting the spiritual and ethical responsibilities inherent in social communication.
The meeting was Inaugurated by Mr. T. J. Vinod (MLA, Ernakulam Assembly Constituency)
His address emphasized the socio-political role of communication in building connected, transparent, and democratic communities.
Keynote Address by Mr. Jijo John Puthezhath (Special Correspondent, Malayala Manorama, Kochi.) As a seasoned journalist, Mr. Puthezhath delivered the keynote address, delving deeply into the year's theme. He spoke on the critical importance of keeping media grounded in authentic human experiences amidst the rise of digital abstraction and automation.
The event successfully highlighted the urgent need to maintain authenticity, empathy, and a "human centric" approach in modern journalism and digital media. The celebration concluded with a call to action for all media practitioners to actively work towards preserving human faces and voices in their respective communication fields.
6.KCBC Media Award 2026 Nominaton Forms
The nomination for the 35th KGBC Media Awards for the year 2026 was released on February 15th 2026 at POC. The KCBC Media Awards 2026 will be announced in the month of November 2026 and award will be distributed in December 2026
7. Prathimasam POC
Prathimasam POC is a new and brave step from kcbc media to foster art and stage performances especially drama as kcbe drama festival has received state wide acceptance. It was inaugurated during the 33rd drama festival in September 2022. It is an occasion to witness drama, to honor artists, to establish a link between artists and Church etc. This also includes other artistic presentations too.
Conclusion
KCBC Media Commission remains committed to forming effective communicators rooted in faith, moral values, and professionalism. The above programmes reflect our mission to reach diverse sections of the faithful - media professionals, priests, youth, and the elderly - thus contributing to the evangelising mission of the Church in Kerala.