Chiang Mai, October 21, 2009 (SIGNIS) – The SIGNIS World Congress 2009 closed on October 31 with a gala dinner, a video and a book to celebrate the 80th anniversary of SIGNIS.

Among the guests of this gala dinner were the Apostolic Nuncio of Thailand Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, Mgr Francis Xavier Vira Arpondatrana, Bishop of Chiang Mai and Bishop George Yod Phimpisan, President of the Catholic Social Communication Commission of Thailand.

SIGNIS Vice-President Peter Thomas introduced a video presentation of the history of SIGNIS made with the collaboration of Tele Lumiere. The video shows how the Catholic association for communication has evolved with the times, from the beginning of talking movies and radio to today’s media world, always striving to promote a culture of peace.

Former President of OCIC and SIGNIS Peter Malone presented the book The Emergence of SIGNIS. The book is a collective effort from members of SIGNIS that compiles reports, accounts and documentation to help understand the story of the organisation from the Unda/OCIC merger until today.

“This book is very important for us,” said Prof. Chainarong Monthienvichienchai, Head of the Organizing Committee of the Congress. “There is no future without a past”, he concluded. “It is by knowing where we come from that we can now move forward.”