By PJ Usanga
In the light of the ongoing Media Education Workshop, by the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria through the National Directorate of Social Communications, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), for major seminarians in all major seminaries in Nigeria, the church communication vanguards are at St. Joseph Major Seminary, Ikot Ekpene to educate the seminarians on the responsible use of media in evangelization amongst others.
The media workshop which started on Thursday, March 21, will continue till Saturday, March 23, 2024. It highlights the Importance of effective communication and the indispensable role of communication in the Catholic Church. It further makes ample effort in exploring the significance of media, particularly social media, in building social communities.
The National Director of Social Communications and the training moderator, Rev. Fr. (Dr) Michael Nsikak Umoh, schooled the seminarians on the fundamentals of human communications as an intrinsic aspect of every living being especially as it relates to his interaction and association with his environment.
Fr. Umoh, emphasizing on the significance of digital literacy for priests in the modern era, challenged the seminarians to aspire to become digital priests for the evolving digital generation. He noted that as seminarians undergoing formation for the ministerial priesthood, they should understand the digital landscape and integrate it with the teachings of Christ, because evangelization remains the core mission of the Church.
The CESACC trained communicator, exposed the symbiotic relationship between communication and society and emphasized that effective communication sustains relationships and builds communities, adding that since the church is a communion, there can be no church without communication. He urged the seminarians to be mindful of their behavior, particularly during liturgical seasons, and to understand appropriate space and distances in their interactions, especially during interaction with the opposite sex, to avoid any form of misinterpretation or miscommunication.
Addressing the growing influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within the Church, the Church media veteran recommended the use of Magisterium AI as a valuable tool for priests and the Church at large, highlighting its potential to enhance various aspects of the Church’s mission. He also x-rayed the various models of communication, and how they can be utilized to enhance a vibrant exchange of ideas within the Church community.
The Media Education Workshop organised for all major seminarians across all major seminaries in Nigeria, is a responsive effort by the Church towards building and fostering a media-literate clergy in Nigeria, to enhance effective evangelization and mission in the media evolving society.
