TANZANIA: The Vatican Receives Report of the Directorate of Communication TEC
Sarah Pelaji
The Bishop of the Mpanda Catholic Diocese who is also Chairman for the Communications Committee at the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC) Rt. Rev. Eusebius Nzigilwa has presented a report of the Directorate of Communications TEC at the Pontifical Council for Communications in the Vatican.
He explained this after Tanzania Episcopal Conference visited the Vatican Dicastery for Communications as the bishops continue their Ad Limina Apostolorum Visitatio in the Vatican City.
Among other things the report captures TEC’s plans to improve Tumaini Television with professional equipment and skills in order to nationalize TV Tumaini and strengthen evangelization. The TEC also plans to establish a printing press to reduce the printing costs of TEC Newspaper, religious books and other publications
In the report on the performance of the Directorate of Communication TEC, Bishop Nzigilwa has explained that TEC has extended its ministry of evangelizing through communication services by establishing different social media networks; such as YouTube channel ‘Kanisa Katoliki Tanzania’ which is also a channel for live streaming, which has 11 million viewers and 82,400 subscribers; Facebook 12,000 account, Instagram 43,000 and a website.
The entire Catholic Church in Tanzania is connected with 14 diocesan Catholic Radio Stations which serve communities in different regions/dioceses mostly in rural areas. TEC also owns a television station known as Tumaini TV. TEC also owns a Weekly National Newspaper known as ‘Kiongozi’, whose main apostolate is evangelization.
On the other hand, dioceses have been encouraged to establish Diocesan newspapers and Online TV for sharing Catholic News with the world around.
He expressed TEC’s gratitude to the Dicastery for the Communications and Vatican Media Institutions saying that the Vatican Radio to this day continues to broadcast on new digital platforms sharing evangelical programs, Vatican Information Services has been of big help in sharing or feed information to our local media.
In a special way Radio Vatican- Swahili Services works with our Catholic Media in exchange of news (coming in or going out) and we feel that we are one with the universal Catholic Media.
Different Communication projects have been supported by Propaganda Fide through SIGNIS. This includes purchase of equipment, trainings and establishing new catholic radio stations.
Recently, SIGNIS supported two Dioceses in establishing radio stations which are Radio Hekima of Mbinga Catholic Diocese located in southwestern part of Tanzania and Radio Taa Bora of Tabora Catholic Archdiocese located in the mid-western part of Tanzania.
During the Covid19 pandemic when gatherings were restricted or forbidden completely, the Catholic Church took the advantage of TV and social media to Spread Good News to its People by organizing online media programs meetings via zoom; Live streaming of Holy Mass and conduct Catechism programs to Children through Radio and Television. Catechists used radios and television to teach Catechism to Children and the catechumens.
On his part, the Chairman of the Pontifical Council for Communication, Dr. Paolo Ruffini, has emphasized the importance of building and maintaining unity and cooperation in the process of evangelization by using social media as well as ensuring that human and material resources are used for the welfare, development and benefits of the Church of Christ.
He has mentioned the major challenges in the social communication industry in today’s world, including the use of artificial intelligence in parallel with the emergence of fake news, and pointed out that all of this requires testimony and attention that shows the position and attitude of the Church based on the Holy Scriptures as well as Gospel values, human and moral.
“Evangelization must go hand in hand with the careful teaching of catechesis embodied in the life of the Liturgy, the life of Prayer as well as pastoral activities.
The church should announce and testify to the truth” he said.
In addition, Dr. Paolo Ruffini has also noted the presence of ideological colonialism that can take on an educational, economic and political form. He thus reminded TEC that the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council insisted on the proper use of social media for evangelization by emphasizing that if properly used, they can bring benefits to humanity for they make a great contribution to the development of the people, and to spreading and strengthening of the Kingdom of God.
On the other, said Dr Ruffini, if they are used against the purpose of God the Creator, they can be harmful.
“It should be noted that, the Church through the Decree on the Media of Social Communications ‘INTER MIRIFICA’ recognizes the role of the media. The Church knows that, if properly utilized, the media can be of great service to mankind, since can greatly contribute to the spread of the Kingdom of God.”
This year (2023) the Church celebrates the 60th anniversary of the Decree on the Social Communications “Inter Mirifica” which was solemnly promulgated by His Holiness Pope St. Paul VI on December 4, 1963. The Decree further declared the Church’s responsibility to instruct people in the proper use of the media.
This is the emphasis also of the Dicastery for the Communications which insists on the use of digital media for evangelization.
