By Emmanuel Eko
A Catholic Priest in Nigeria, Fr. Mike Umoh, has suggested using cartoon language in Catechism classes to enhance understanding among children. Speaking at the 2024 Communications Week (ComWEEK) closing Mass at Mararaba, he emphasized today children are wired to understand cartoons better than any other language. While noting that “children today are exposed to cartoons from an early age and find them enjoyable, he encouraged the church to invest in this approach to engage children effectively.
Fr. Umoh, National Director of Social Communications at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), noted that cartoons are a powerful medium that the church cannot afford to ignore. He stressed the importance of embracing the media, citing the church’s official documents encouraging Priests, Bishops, and pastoral agents to do so.
Highlighting the significance of communication in the church, the Director of directors stressed that any message is as good as the medium used. He further advocated for training seminarians in media appreciation, effective communication, and public speaking skills. He also emphasized the need for careful and creative use of media tools to repackage the message of Christ in a way that resonates with children, youth, and adults alike.
Fr. Umoh’s proposal, which he described as ‘cate-tainment’ (a fusion of catechism and entertainment) aims to make Catechism classes more engaging and enjoyable for children. This entails leveraging the power of cartoons to convey the teachings of the church in a relaxed language children understand best.
The annual COMWEEK program, the third edition this year, is an initiative of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), which aims to promote awareness of church teachings on media and enhance media literacy skills for good citizenship and discipleship.
