World Communications Day
The communications world: first Areopagus of the modern age
Pope John Paul II (1990) in his encyclical Redemptories mission 37 said: “The world of communications is the first Areopagus of the modern age, unifying humanity and turning it into what is known as a ‘global village’. The communications media have acquired such importance as to be for many the chief means of information and education, of guidance and inspiration for many people in their personal, family and social behavior. In particular, the younger generation is growing up in a world conditioned by the mass media.”
Increasingly aware of the world as a global village and the power of the media as a free market place for philosophies and values, the Church has sought to be in there with its message and to use the media to proclaim the values it sees are beneficial for human development and for the eternal welfare of people.
Analysis and action
Two important documents of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications – Communion et Progression (1971) and Aetat is Novae (1992) have presented an analysis of the world of the communications media and made recommendations for the Church’s action. The Vatican itself has set a headline in updating its use of the full range of the communications media. On a recent visit to Vatican Radio, Pope Benedict was presented with an iPod of the music of Mozart in which he has a particular interest.
The Internet
In 2002, The Pontifical Council for Social Communications produced two documents on the Internet. The first is an analysis of the opportunities and challenges the Internet presents for evangelization and is entitled
The Church and Internet. The other sets out an ethical code which should guide its use and is entitled
Ethics in Internet.
Pope Benedict XVI’s Message for World Communications Day this year focuses on children and the media. He urges parents to form their children to be discerning in their use of the media. And those working in the media he urges always to promote human dignity. He askes them to refrain from producing materials that lower moral standards, such as those which promote violence or the trivialization of sexuality
CatholicIreland.net
Since 2002 j2.catholicireland.net has provided an internet portal website which gathers all the best of Irish Catholic activity with international links. It provides resources online for prayer, reflection and action with sections that include Spirituality, Faith and Justice, Youth Focus and Culture and the Arts. It also provides a daily news service on www.cinews.ie and builds websites for parishes, dioceses and religious groups through www.getonline.ie
New possibilities and initiatives
Speaking at a recent conference, Bishop Dona Murray of Limerick drew attention to the possibilities the new forms of communication open up for the Church not only to “meet the thirst to belong and to believe”, but also for communication within the Church itself by “building a religious identity… through the interactivity the internet offers”.
With the increase of broadband availability, CatholicIreland.net hopes to continue to reach the traditional Catholics who use its services and find new ways to reach the younger audience that may no longer be attending Church or taking part in traditional home or school prayer, extending its services through pod casts, video clips of “good news” stories and initiatives, and live television streaming.
Live television streaming
According to CEO Tony Bolger, a year-long experiment in live broadcasting of services has just been completed with the Redemptorists of the Cloward Monastery, Belfast on another sister site, www.churchservices.tv.
In June with the canonization of Blessed Charles of Mount Argus, it will launch a second HD broadcast service from the Passionist Monastery of Mount Argus in Dublin.
The live streaming service will then be offered to all cathedrals and churches who wish to join the network.
International Conference on Communications and Media Studies
1st Edition COMMS | 23-24 Jan 2023 | Delhi, India
World Communications Day
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