Daegu archdiocese has set up a new public relations unit to improve its communications, both with churchgoers and the outside world.Father Augustine Jung Tae-woo has been appointed director of the unit which officially opens on Aug. 27.
“Society has changed rapidly and the importance of the media has greatly increased,” said Father Jung.
“This office will make full use of all the media we have available now, including online social networks, to disseminate news from the archdiocese.”
The archdiocese had a PR division in the past, which was merged into the pastoral office.
Auxiliary Bishop Thaddeus Cho Hwan-kil, diocesan administrator and president of the Korean bishops’ committee for social communications, was the key motivator behind its revival.
In a further innovation, the archdiocese plans to introduce a vice-parish priest system, similar to those already in use in Seoul, Uijeongbu and Pusan.
A vice-parish priest’s role is to be deeply involved in pastoral activities and act as an able substitute when the parish priest is away. This differs from an assistant priest’s role, which carries with it no decision-making power.
SIC: CTHIND