Over 30 Catholic Communicators in Uganda gathered at the Diocese of Fort Portal in the Western region of Uganda on Sunday May 10, to mark the 49thWorld Communications Day
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The national celebration, which was organized by the Social Communications Department of the Uganda Episcopal Conference (UEC) in collaboration with the Diocese of Fort Portal, began with a procession of bishops and people who head various social communications departments and commissions in the country.
World Communications Day is celebrated by the Catholic Church annually on the Sunday before Pentecost, which falls on May 17 this year. However, the local Church can adjust the date according to its needs. This year’s theme as released by Pope Francis was‘Communicating the Family: A Privileged Place of Encounter with the Gift of Love.’ in commemoration of the annual World Communications Day.
The Bishop of Fort Portal Diocese, Rt. Rev Robert Muhiirwa Akiiki presided at the Thanksgiving Mass that was concelebrated with the Bishop Chairman of Social Communications Commission, Rt. Rev Joseph Franzelli, Bishop of Lira Diocese and several priests.
In his homily, Bishop Muhiirwa urged the communicators to embrace the spirit of love and forgiveness in their families to enhance effective communication in the society and place of work. He further highlighted the Pope’s message which emphasized the family is a model of all communications.
“Families should be seen as a resource rather than as a problem for the society. At their best they actively communicate by their witness the beauty and richness of the relationship between man and woman and between parents and children. By growing daily in our awareness of the vital importance of encountering others, we will employ technology wisely,” read the Pope’s message.
Bishop Franzelli called on the Catholic communicators to help ensure that the upcoming 2016 General Elections in Uganda is held in a transparent, free and fair manner through unbiased reporting.
The Executive Secretary of the UEC Social Communications Department, Fr Philip Odii, highlighted the role that communicators are playing in evangelization and appealed to them to continue supporting the communication work of the Church.
“The World Communications Day is a day when as a church we remind ourselves of our duties in the communication apostolate, pray for its success and make financial contribution to support it. On this day we also appreciate all the men and women who are committed to serving our society through the media,” said Fr.Odii.
The Thanksgiving Mass ended with a second collection to raise funds for the communications apostolate. The Catholic Church in Uganda has a total of eight Catholic radios, and several other media institutions.
Source: Jacinta W. Odongo, Media Officer, Uganda Catholic Secretariat