Fr. Charles Vijay Kumar, C.Ss.R., Director of Media at Liguori Publications, facilitated this year’s gathering and led several sessions and reflections on the topic of ‘Being a Redemptorist Missionary in this Digital Continent’. Over the course of the three days, Fr. Charles led the group through a range of topics and themes to help us become familiar with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and with how to use it as Redemptorist Missionaries.

Looking at the theme of this gathering, Fr. Charles first led us through an examination of being Missionary disciples in the digital continent, beginning with a preliminary look at this new age of technology and its applicability. For example, he showed us a video he made of Pope Leo using only AI. Our conversation then delved into understanding this digital continent and what it meant for us as Redemptorists, including recognizing the potential usefulness of AI, while also being aware of the dangers and the safeguards needed to navigate it well. We then broke into individual groups to discuss how we can map the digital mission field, such as identifying who the digitally abandoned are and the wounds they may carry.

The next day, our conversation focused on understanding AI more deeply. The seminar was particularly helpful for those who had not fully grasped the breadth of AI and its applications, from making handouts to creating entire music videos. This led to breakout groups where we looked at using AI to prepare homilies and assessed its capabilities to do so.

On the final day, we then focused mainly on spiritual considerations when using AI. Quickly, we moved through a lot of information that offered us insight into personal considerations as we use this technology, so that we do not lose ourselves to it. The breakout groups then looked at some rules we can give ourselves as missionaries to have a healthy balance between prayer, media, AI and mission. Over the three days, Fr. Charles packed in a lot of information on something we have only begun to scratch the surface of and is constantly changing.

However, our days were not only spent in seminars; we also had many opportunities for prayer and recreation together as students to get to know each other better. Among the spiritual highlights, on day one, we had a divine liturgy led by our Eastern-rite confrères (Fr. Ivan and Br. Gabriel), along with Fr. Santo. Another day, for our morning prayer, we had a beautiful eucharistic procession led by our Mexican confrères. The biggest spiritual highlight was, of course, the renewal of our vows in the Redemptorist way of life. Renewing our vows together was an awesome witness that highlighted our unity and camaraderie as part of one Redemptorist family.

Finally, I can’t end without mentioning the hard work of the recreation committee that helped us wind down every evening, whether it was simply food and drink, leading ice-breaking games, or setting up a watch party for the Spurs. Not only in the evenings but also during the day, they organized a pilgrimage to Holy Hill.

I had a great time this week, not only learning more about using technology as a redemptorist, but also building relationships and renewing old ones. The week was a wonderful experience of deepening my identity as a Redemptorist and of being allowed to step back and see the bigger picture.