By Lavoisier Fernandes
We are in the information overload generation and are inundated with information from Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter, Snapchat, YouTube, TikTok, and WhatsApp, whether we want it or not. We have instant access to a plethora of information that is available to us around-the-clock, yet sometimes this information is confused for knowledge, quantity for abundance, and riches for contentment. Because of the abundance of information available to us now, there are more obstacles to effective communication, polarisation, net addiction, and mental health problems. Let us put this off until a different day.
It is acceptable if, amidst the overload of information, you are a Catholic and have never heard of World Communication Sunday. You are not alone; until recently, neither was I.
The Solemnity of the Ascension of Our Lord, which falls on the Catholic Liturgical Calendar prior to Pentecost Sunday, is essentially observed by the Universal Church as World Communication Sunday, while also asking God to provide Catholic communicators the ability to teach, inform, edify, and strengthen the faith found in the Church’s teachings and the scriptures through the use of the different channels of communication.
In case you are unfamiliar, allow me to briefly recap the history of World Communication Day before discussing how, in light of Pope Francis’ address, we could communicate God’s love in the digital era.
Historical Context of World Communication Day.
There have been only 21 ecumenical councils in the history of the Catholic Church, the first Council being Nicaea I (year 325) and the most recent being Vatican II( 21st ecumenical council, 1962-1965). The 21st Ecumenical Council (Vatican II) was announced by Pope John XXIII on Jan. 25, 1959, as a means of spiritual renewal for the church and as an occasion for Christians separated from Rome to join, in search for reunion.
Pope John XXIII sadly passed away after the first session of the Council and was succeeded by the Archbishop of Milan, Giovanni Battista Montini who went to become Pope Paul VI. He continued the Council in the same spirit as his predecessor Pope John XXIII and brought Vatican II to its successful conclusion.
Why and Who Established World Communication Day?
This 21st Ecumenical Council (Vatican II) realised it must engage fully with the modern world, and this was expressed in the opening statement of the Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et spes (literary to mean Joy and Hope) on “The Church in the Modern World”.
World Communications Day was established by Pope Paul VI in 1967 as an annual celebration that encourages us to reflect on the opportunities and challenges of modern means of social communication (the press, motion pictures, radio, television, and the internet) and to afford the Church to communicate the gospel message.
Till date, the church has commemorated social media as God’s gift to humanity, with immense potential for evangelization, and every Sunday prior to Pentecost is celebrated as World Communication Sunday. This year, on May 12, 2024, the Universal Church will celebrate the 59th World Communication Day.
Every world communication day has a guided theme and this year it is Artificial Intelligence and the Wisdom of the Heart: Towards a Fully Human Communication.
Digital Age–How Do We Become Communicators of God’s love?
There are both advantages and difficulties associated with the digital age. It is challenging and, to be honest, not easy for the Church to use media technologies for the spread of goodness and the proclamation of the gospel while also teaching her children to be critical thinkers through compelling media messages. So where should we begin? I’d like to look back at Pope Francis’ World Communication Day 2023 message because it offers a lot of food for thought.
Purify one’s Heart and Speaking with the Heart.
If we have a pure heart that is filled with joy, compassion, love, gratitude, and forgiveness, then those very qualities will overflow into our lives and communications with one another.
Pope Francis, in his World Communication Day 2023 message, talks about “speaking with the heart” and relates (Mt 15:19) “For from the heart come wicked thoughts, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, and blasphemy,” and he says, quoting (Luke 6:44, “The good man out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil man out of his evil treasure produces evil; for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks” (v. 45). The Holy Father went on to add:
This is why, in order to communicate truth with charity, it is necessary to purify one’s heart. Only by listening and speaking with a pure heart can we see beyond appearances and overcome the vague din which, also in the field of information, does not help us discern in the complicated world in which we live. The call to speak with the heart radically challenges the times in which we are living, which are so inclined towards indifference and indignation, at times even on the basis of disinformation which falsifies and exploits the truth.
Communicating Cordially.
In an age of “fake news” and historical period marked by polarization and contrasts which has hit the ecclesial community of the Church as well, communication in a cordial manner is particularly challenging.
Pope Francis in the same message refers to the risen Jesus who speaks to the distraught disciples on the road to Emmaus (Lk 24:13-35). The Holy Father’ said :
“Jesus speaks to them from his heart, respects their suffering and does not impose himself on them. What he does is lovingly open their minds to the profound meaning of what has happened. Jesus’ cordial communication made it possible for their hearts to burn within them.”
Being Authentic, Culture of Peace, Encounter and Not busy for Fame and Recognition.
Communication in the Church must be characterised by the principles of participation, sharing, and authentic witness with an ear to listening, fostering a culture of peace rather than being busy to be noticed and heard for the wrong reasons of fame, polarising, and getting attention and recognition.
The Holy Father went on to add:
“We have a pressing need in the church for communication that kindles hearts, which is balm on wounds and that shines light on the journey of our brothers and sisters.”
Pope Francis calls on all people to grow in a way of communication that speaks the truth from the heart, “which is essential to foster a culture of peace.” Only when we speak from the heart can the “miracle of encounter,” as the pope calls it, take place.
Prayer to Love Well, Communicate Well and for Catholic Communicators.
The Holy Father closes his World Communication message with a prayer that we can offer for ourselves and our world:
“May the Lord Jesus, the pure Word poured out from the heart of the Father, help us to make our communication clear, open, and heartfelt. May the Lord Jesus, the Word made flesh, help us to listen to the beating of hearts, to rediscover ourselves as brothers and sisters, and to disarm the hostility that divides. May the Lord Jesus, the Word of truth and love, help us to speak the truth in charity, so that we may feel like protectors of one another.”
Lavoisier Fernandes, born and raised in Goa, is currently based in West London. His faith is “work in progress”- and a lifelong journey.He has always been fascinated by the Catholic faith thanks to his Salesian schooling and his passion is podcasting, theology, the papacy, volunteering.
He has hosted the ‘Talking Faith’ series for Heavens Road FM Catholic Radio, connecting with ordinary men and women within the Catholic faith, other faiths and examining issues affecting both Church and society and has also hosted the ‘Heart Talk’ series for Shalom World Catholic TV. In 2018 one of his podcast -Mental Health and the role of the Catholic Church was shortlisted for the Jerusalem awards in UK. Presently contributes for the Goa Diocesan magazine – Renovação, Mumbai Diocesan magazine – The Examiner, the only digital Indian Catholic portal – Indian Catholic Matters and the Faith Companion Magazine in England.
Unfortunately in the Catholic Church communication is a monologue from top to down. There is no genuine dialogue or two way traffic. No matter how many “Days” we have we are unable to emerge from the long night of clerical domination