Pope John Paul II stated in his Apostolic, Exhortation, and Ecclesia in Africa: “Today, in fact the mass media constitute not only a world but also a culture and civilization. And it is also to this world that the church is sent to bring the Good News of salvation. The heralds of the Gospel must there fore enter this world in order to allow themselves to be permeated by this civilization and culture for the purpose of learning how to make good use of them”(EIA 71 emphasis ours).
He went on to reaffirm that “the first Areopagus of the modern age is the world of communications which is unifying humanity and turning it in to what is known as ‘global village’. The means of social communication have become so important as to be for many the chief means of information and education, of guidance and inspiration in their behavior as individuals, families and within society at large” (EIA 71).
Much as our recent Synod did not deal specifically with the topic of mass communications, the whole synod, from its conception and inception through its convocation and preparation its inauguration and celebration, was successful thanks to the use the modern means social communications.
The media and the presence of the means of communications were so evident that these Acts will be incomplete if the current indispensable role of the communication media in the work of evangelization in our Archdiocese was overlooked.
The church therefore must be present in world of mass communication. “Training in the use of mass media is therefore a necessity not only for the preacher of the Gospel, who must master, among other things, the media style of communication but understand this kind of communication, they must be able to make use of its contribution with discernment and a critical mind” (ibid; see also Redemptoris mission 37).
In answer to the above recommendations of our Holy Father with regards to the use of mass communication in the evangelization work in the Archdiocese, one cannot but commend some of the initiative like
- The regular publication of parish bulletins and newsletters which feature good catechesis apart from relevant pieces of information.
- The hosting of parish website on the internet.
- The electronic recording of teachings and events for church members on CD/VCD/DVD etc.
- The revived Archdiocesan Communications Office in the Archdiocesan Pastoral Centre which is currently responsible for
- The Catholic Digest Television Programmes;
- The Catholic Radio Programmes in Akan and English.
5. The fairly good patronage of the Catholic Standard and the keen competition among our parishes for Nuncio’s Trophy.
6. The encouraging support for the events of the universal Church’s Communication Sunday, etc.
There is still a lot to do in fulfilling of the Pope’s exhortation above to the Church in Africa and of some of the recommendations made at the First Archdiocesan Synod (of 1996/7; see pp: 13 – 14) and now repeated in the second Synod, namely.