MALAWI: Catholic Journalists meet ECM
Executive members of Malawi Catholic journalists under the banner, Association of Catholic Journalists (ACJ) on 29th, June, 2017 met Catholic Bishops who have been meeting at Catholic Secretariat in Lilongwe for their 2017 second plenary.
The Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) Bishops from eight diocese in Malawi challenged Catholic Journalists to refrain from the bandwagon of misinforming the masses by deliberately distorting facts in their stories hence warned them against being compromised or being manipulated by shrewd news sources to write stories in their favour.
The Bishops recommended to orient Catholic Journalists on the Catholic Social Teaching, link the association with international media bodies for training opportunities and to enhance a healthy working relationship between the association and the ECM Communications Commission.
The Bishops also tasked ACJ executive to carry out a capacity building needs assessment for members which can feed into the curriculum for the Catholic University of Malawi (CUNIMA) where Diploma and Degree courses in Journalism could be introduced for Catholic Journalists to benefit.
In an interview later after meeting the Bishops, ACJ President, and Augustine Mulomole said he was excited to have met the Bishops and felt blessed and motivated that they can now effectively contribute positively to their mother Church.
“We are very excited as ACJ. Meeting the Bishops, it’s a no mean achievement and we feel blessed. We have been motivated and encouraged such that we would like to move forward. We thank our Bishops for according us this opportunity.” Mulomole said.
Meanwhile, In a Press Release, signed by the Secretary General of the conference, Fr. Henry Saindi on the agenda of the bishops’ meeting, the Bishops reflected on Missio Agricultural Initiative for Africa, appraised the conference on preparations for the 15th General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops and discussed and endorsed Order of Prayers when there is no Mass.
Fr, Saindi said the Bishops also discussed matters pertaining to priestly formation in Seminaries and received update reports from the Catholic University of Malawi (CUNIMA) adding that, the Bishops will also receive progress and status reports from National Bodies and Organisations such as: Association of Diocesan Catholic Clergy in Malawi (ADCCOM); Association of Women in Religious Institute in Malawi (AWRIM); Association of Men Religious in Malawi (AMRIM) and the Association of Catholic Journalists (ACJ).
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By Prince Henderson-ECM Communications Officer
