Bishop Alex Vadakkumthala Blends Humor and Faith to Champion Catholic Reading at Kairos Media Conclave 2026

Karukutty, September 21, 2026: In a keynote address marked by wit, warmth, and pastoral insight, Bishop Alex Vadakkumthala, Bishop of Kannur and Ecclesiastical Advisor to Jesus Youth International, called on media workers to revitalize Catholic reading habits during the Kairos Media Conclave 2026. Held at Assisi Shanti Kendra, Karukutty, the day-long event gathered nearly 100 media personnel and collaborators from Jesus Youth and Kairos Media missions across regional, national, and international levels.

Bishop Alex set a lively and engaging tone for his keynote by opening with a popular, lighthearted Malayalam film song, drawing laughter and rapt attention from the gathering. Using the song’s themes as a creative launchpad, the prelate seamlessly transitioned into a serious reflection on the state and future of Catholic reading in today’s fast-paced digital era. He urged media professionals and youth leaders to cultivate reflective, value-grounded reading cultures capable of nourishing faith amidst modern information clutter. Later Bishop Alex shared an article that would also reach a wider audience through an upcoming feature in the Kannur diocesan publication, anchored by the very same musical introduction.

Earlier in the day, Bishop Alex presided over the Holy Mass, where his homily challenged the assembly to ensure the conclave translated into clear, concrete outcomes for effective evangelisation and pastoral communication.
The conclave featured key contributions from prominent Church communicators and media figures:

• Strategic Digital Presence: Fr. Dr. Biju Alappat, Secretary to the CBCI Office for Social Communication, delivered an address on expanding the Catholic Church’s digital footprint in India, underscoring its necessity for credible witness, ecclesial unity, human dignity, and the common good. Fr. Alappat was formally felicitated by Dr. Chackochan Njavallil, Director of Kairos Media and the event’s coordinator.
• Encouragement for Kairos Initiatives: Kerala Jesus Youth Chaplain, Fr. Adv. Paulachen, commended the ongoing creative endeavors of Kairos Media and urged teams to stay anchored in responsible, truth-driven storytelling.
• ” Media Next” Symposium: An afternoon panel moderated by Anto P. Lazer brought together industry professionals Tena Conil, Jacob Jose, Leo Thaddeus, and Ann Sebastian to evaluate emerging media trends and the unique challenges facing Christian creative professionals.

The intensive 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM program concluded with open floor reflections on the future roadmap for Kairos Media, culminating in Eucharistic Adoration to reaffirm the participants’ shared mission of service through modern communication platforms.

Along with the news, read the featured article and watch an insightful video conversation with the Bishop.

More photos https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/folders/1nN3J1ggOMCCmYqiUPcWj5OCrKN6c_DeN