MALAWI: ‘Good Communication, Recipe for Unity,’ – Urges ECM Ag. Sec General
The Acting Secretary
General for the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM), Fr. Emmanuel Chimombo has
said that good communication could be a recipe for bringing people of diverse
backgrounds together and grow in unity.
Fr Chimombo was
speaking on Tuesday in Lilongwe when he opened a two–day workshop for Catholic
Diocesan Communication Secretaries and Catholic journalists from different
media institutions across the country.
speaking on Tuesday in Lilongwe when he opened a two–day workshop for Catholic
Diocesan Communication Secretaries and Catholic journalists from different
media institutions across the country.
“Good communication
helps us grow closer, to know one another better and ultimately grow in unity.
Media can help us greatly in this especially now when the networks of human
communication have made unprecedented advances,” he said.
helps us grow closer, to know one another better and ultimately grow in unity.
Media can help us greatly in this especially now when the networks of human
communication have made unprecedented advances,” he said.
He observed that the
world of communication could help in either expanding or losing bearings in
light of the fact that the speed with which information is communicated exceeds
the capacity for reflection and judgement.
world of communication could help in either expanding or losing bearings in
light of the fact that the speed with which information is communicated exceeds
the capacity for reflection and judgement.
Chimombo who is also
ECM’s pastoral secretary added that negative publicity could distort truth and
misinform people, thereby defeating the mandate of missionary discipleship
which aims at transforming the world to Christ.
ECM’s pastoral secretary added that negative publicity could distort truth and
misinform people, thereby defeating the mandate of missionary discipleship
which aims at transforming the world to Christ.
“The best way to
combat negative issues is to talk good and present a positive face of truth
about family life and always aim at highlighting the positive things the Church
does without making it difficult for people to have access to information,” he
emphasised.
combat negative issues is to talk good and present a positive face of truth
about family life and always aim at highlighting the positive things the Church
does without making it difficult for people to have access to information,” he
emphasised.
Commenting on the 18th
AMECEA Plenary that the country hosted last year in July, Fr Chimombo said Bishops
of the grouping appreciated the positive results new media has provided in
relation to the internet and digital revolution as it directly influences the
task of evangelisation.
AMECEA Plenary that the country hosted last year in July, Fr Chimombo said Bishops
of the grouping appreciated the positive results new media has provided in
relation to the internet and digital revolution as it directly influences the
task of evangelisation.
“Nonetheless,
delegates to the AMECEA also took time to explore the disruptive trends that
are also emerging with both the pros and cons. On the advantages, new media is
a speedy and cheap way of exchanging information and sharing ideas such that
they are making the world a global village.
delegates to the AMECEA also took time to explore the disruptive trends that
are also emerging with both the pros and cons. On the advantages, new media is
a speedy and cheap way of exchanging information and sharing ideas such that
they are making the world a global village.
“On the disadvantages,
the media may be used to disseminate inauthentic information and ideas whose
effects may be toxic to the Gospel and other values such as truth telling,”
Chimombo pointed out.
the media may be used to disseminate inauthentic information and ideas whose
effects may be toxic to the Gospel and other values such as truth telling,”
Chimombo pointed out.
Communications
Coordinator for the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa
(AMECEA), Fr. Chrisantus Ndaga commended the Episcopal Conference of Malawi for
successfully hosting the 18th AMECEA Plenary last year.
Coordinator for the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa
(AMECEA), Fr. Chrisantus Ndaga commended the Episcopal Conference of Malawi for
successfully hosting the 18th AMECEA Plenary last year.
Fr Ndaga attributed
the success to the effective interaction between the clergy and lay people in
the church. “The role played by Catholic journalists during the planning and
plenary sessions of AMECEA was one of the reasons for the success,” he added.
the success to the effective interaction between the clergy and lay people in
the church. “The role played by Catholic journalists during the planning and
plenary sessions of AMECEA was one of the reasons for the success,” he added.
Fr Ndaga said
communication needs to take centre stage in the work of digital age so that the
church could move at the same pace with the world, saying it was the
responsibility of every member of the church to defend the teachings and values
of the Church.
communication needs to take centre stage in the work of digital age so that the
church could move at the same pace with the world, saying it was the
responsibility of every member of the church to defend the teachings and values
of the Church.
Some of the objectives
for the two–day workshop included to help the church embrace new forms of
communication for evangelisation, increase visibility of Catholic communicators
and enhance coordination of catholic diocesan secretaries and lay Catholic journalists
working in the secular media among others.
for the two–day workshop included to help the church embrace new forms of
communication for evangelisation, increase visibility of Catholic communicators
and enhance coordination of catholic diocesan secretaries and lay Catholic journalists
working in the secular media among others.
SOURCE:
Arnold Namanja, ECM Communications
Arnold Namanja, ECM Communications
