AMECEA: AMECEA’s Communication Policy, a Blueprint for Member Conferences
AMECEA Secretary General Fr. Anthony Makunde
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
The Secretary General of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA), during the launch of AMECEA’s Communication Policy, expressed that the document can be used as a guide by other conferences in the region when developing or updating their communication policies.
Addressing both online and onsite participants on Monday, August 18, during the launch at the Consolata Shrine in Nairobi, Kenya, Fr. Anthony Makunde said that “The Social Communications Policy is not simply an internal document of the Secretariat. It is intended to serve as a reference point for member conferences and dioceses as they formulate or update their own national and diocesan communication policies.”
According to the AMECEA Secretary General, the policy marks “a prophetic response to the demands of our time” and will provide guidelines for coherent and ethical communication in line with Catholic teaching.
He referenced Pope Paul VI’s Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi, which highlighted that modern media are not just tools of information but instruments of evangelization and catechesis. With this, he stated, “At the heart of the launch lies a conviction that communication is the lifeblood of the Church’s mission.”
Fr. Makunde underscored that the Social Communications Policy is designed to: “Promote professionalism and coherence in Church communication at all levels, safeguard the integrity and truth of the Church’s message, and Provide ethical guidance on the use of digital and social media.”
He added, “A policy gives direction, prevents fragmentation, and ensures that our communication reflects Gospel values of truth, justice, love, and respect for human dignity.”
In tandem with the Communication policy, AMECEA also unveiled its Digital Radio App, an innovation that integrates Catholic media outlets across the region into one digital platform. The app currently connects 66 radio stations and is set to incorporate six television stations owned by different member conferences.
“This means Catholic content is now just a tap away, on phones, tablets, or computers,” Fr. Makunde noted and continued, “Instead of searching far and wide, the faithful can now access Church media in one place.”
Founded in 1961, AMECEA brings together the Catholic Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa and encompasses 128 dioceses in eight Episcopal Conferences and two Military Ordinariates, representing over 80 million Catholics.
The association has consistently championed a vision of the Church as a “family of God”, one that listens, communicates, and walks with its people. Communication, therefore, has always been central to its mission of holistic evangelization, solidarity, and pastoral collaboration.
In conclusion, Fr Makunde narrated, “As we launch both the Social Communications Policy and the AMECEA Digital App, let us recall the words of Pope Francis in Christus Vivit (2019): “The digital world can expose us to the risk of self-absorption and isolation, yet it can also help us to grow in a sense of unity, of solidarity, and of belonging.”
“May this initiative help us to use every available tool for the proclamation of Christ, the service of our communities, and the building of a Church that truly communicates hope,” he said.
