World Communications Day was established by Pope Paul VI in 1967 to annually draw attention to the communications media and the enormous power they have for cultural transformation. The Church needs to be concerned for, and present, in the world of communication, in order to dialogue with people today and to help them encounter Christ. The revolution taking place in communications media and in information technologies represents a great and thrilling challenge that the Church necessarily has to respond to with fresh energy and imagination to share with others the beauty of God. BETTY AMUKPO puts forward the views of some children. Excerpts:
‘Reflect on the opportunities and challenges of means of social Communications’
World Communications Day was established by Pope Paul VI in 1967 as an annual celebration that encourages us to reflect on the opportunities and challenges that the modern means of social communication present. Examples of modern means of communication are the Press, Motion Pictures, Radio, Television and Internet. These modern means of communication also help the Church to communicate the gospel message to people. Communication has everything to do with faith, and it is a creative and hopeful act. God speaks through vision and dreams (Numbers 12:8). The Spoken Word or the voice of God is considered as a divine communication.
• Umennadi Francis Chibunna
‘Jesus Himself is a powerful example of Communication’
Jesus Himself is a powerful example of communication and relationship building. Jesus communicated God’s love and forgiveness to His disciples and to all those He encountered. His message was one of kindness, compassion, and understanding. Ephesians 4:29 says, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” The Bible also encourages us to love our neighbours as ourselves, which is the basis for any good communication.
• Arnold Akalezi
‘Highlights how important it is for us to talk and connect well with each other’
World Communications Day is celebrated in honour of Saint Francis de Sales, Patron Saint of writers and journalists on whose feast day, the Pope presents his annual World Communications Day message. It is celebrated on the Sunday just before Pentecost, also known as Ascension Sunday. This day is all about highlighting how important it is for us to talk and connect well with each other. The Bible is all about this too, urging us to keep it real and kind when we speak. Like Ephesians 4:15 says, “Talk the truth but do it with love, so we all can grow and be cool like Christ.” It’s a reminder that our words can lift people up, not bring them down. Celebrating World Communications Day is like saying, “Let’s all chat nicely and make the world a better place!”
• Blossom Akalezi
‘Urge parents to form children in the use of media’
As Catholics, we have been celebrating World Communications Day since it was established by Pope Paul VI in 1967 as an annual celebration that encourages us to reflect on the opportunities and challenges that the modern means of social communication (television, radio, especially the internet) afford the Church to communicate the gospel message of Christ (Matt 28:18-20). I urge our parents to form their children to be discerned in their use of the media. And those working in the media should be urged always to promote human dignity and refrain from producing materials that lower moral standards.
• Benedict Oluwakomi
‘It encourages us to reflect on modern means of social communication, to communicate the gospel message’
World Communications Day is celebrated on a Sunday before Pentecost every year. It encourages us to reflect on the advantages and disadvantages that the modern means of social media; communication afford the Church to communicate the gospel message. The ability to communicate is a gift from God to enable us to develop relationships with others and to create culture. Proverbs 18:21 teaches us that our words have the power of life and death. Joshua 1:8-9 states, “He hears us when we speak.” 2 Peter3:9 says that God desires our communication with him. In conclusion, World Communications Day is meant to help us ponder on the significant role of communication, technology, and social media in our world today.
• Sobayo Rita
‘Deliberate on the positive and negative use of media’
World communications Day was established by Pope Paul VI in 1967 as an annual event. The reason why we celebrate World Communications Day is owing to the fact that it encourages us to reflect on the positive and negative use of social media. (Ephesians 5 :29) “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear”. It encourages us to encounter the opportunity and challenges that the modern means of social communication reveal to us. James 1:19 (the press, motions pictures, radio, television, and the Internet).
• Stephen Victory
‘Focus on use of communication media to promote gospel values’
We celebrate World Communications Day, owing to the enormous importance and achievements of the communications media which focuses of how we can best use them to promote gospel values. Since 1967, the Church has been celebrating World Communications Day, which is usually the Sunday before Pentecost. Jesus wants us to make disciples of all nations, and this can be made possible if we positively use all forms and means of communication to propagate this divine mandate (Matt 28:18-20).
• Agbo Josephine
‘Raise awareness about communication’
World Communications Day is celebrated to raise awareness about the importance of communication in promoting social, economic, and cultural development worldwide. It highlights the role of communication in fostering und e r s t a n d i n g and cooperation among people and nations. It also emphasises the need for freedom of expression and access to information for all individuals.
• Okononfua Bryan
‘Communication is essential for the formation of faith and ideologies’
Effective communication is sharing God’s love and message with others. To communicate is to impact something to another person, so that it becomes common to the giver and receiver. Communication is essential for the development of the individual and for the formation of faith and ideologies. Communication is a reality in the world of human beings, animals and plants. It is an ever-going process in our day-to-day life. The need for communication is a basic one for development. According to Proverbs 12:25, “A good word shared or spoken by someone can lift up another person who is suffering. In other words, good communication involves being aware of the struggle of others, and helping to ease their pains.” Jesus is a good communicator. We have to look up to Jesus for effective communication in the world.
• Anita Chima
