Aboard the papal plane, 19 August, 2025 / 11:00 PM
An official of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) has lauded members of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) for embracing innovation and demonstrating how integrating digitality and faith can effectively support the Church’s mission of evangelization.
In a solidarity message addressed to the AMECEA Secretary General, Fr. Anthony Makunde, the SECAM Communication Officer, Charles Ayetan, congratulated the Bishops in the Eastern Africa region for ushering in “a new chapter of connection, creativity, and pastoral outreach” with the launch of their new communication policy and digital radio application (digital App).
“This milestone is not just about technology,” Mr. Ayetan said in his message read out during the Monday, August 18 launch held at Allamano Centre, Westlands, in Kenya’s Archdiocese of Nairobi (ADN).
The launch that aims to network Church activities in the AMECEA region, he went on to say, depicts a focus on leveraging technology to foster deeper unity, promoting stronger cooperation, and advancing the Church’s mission of evangelization in today’s digital era.
“By embracing innovation, AMECEA continues to provide a prophetic witness, showing how faith and technology can work hand in hand to connect communities, amplify voices, and serve God’s people more effectively,” said the Communications Officer of SECAM.
He expressed hope that the newly launched AMECEA communication policy 2025-2035 and the digital App would bear abundant fruits for the Church and society across member and affiliate countries.
According to AMECEA, the 10-year policy document “sets a forward-looking comprehensive strategy” aimed at improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the Church’s communication systems in the member countries, namely, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia as well as affiliate members, comprising Djibouti and Somalia.
The leadership of the Kenya-headquartered Bishops’ association has noted that the policy recognizes communication apostolates as inclusive, envisioning collaboration among the Clergy, women and men Religious, and Laity, each actively contributing to communication apostolate.
“Through this strategic vision, the policy seeks to address the Church's growing communication needs over the next decade,” the 66-page document reads in part.
The policy is structured to tackle current challenges while seizing future opportunities, positioning AMECEA as a leader in harnessing innovation to strengthen its communication infrastructure, the document further indicates.
Meanwhile, in his presentation during the August 18 launch, the Coordinator of the AMECEA Department of Social Communications, Fr. Andrew Kaufa, encouraged Bishop’s Conferences in the AMECEA region to utilize the newly launched policy document as a blueprint to develop localized communication strategies that reflect their unique pastoral, cultural contexts.
“Guided by the national office of communication in your conference, adopt these digital evangelization principles to reach your local communities, especially the youths who are attached to the networks, ensuring that no one is left behind in our connected world, embodying the synodal commitment, inclusion, and participation,” said Fr. Kaufa.
The Nairobi-based Malawian member of the Montfort Missionaries (SMM) also urged media professionals serving in Catholic media organizations to embrace the AMECEA communication policy document.
He said, "To my brothers and sisters in the Catholic media fraternity, let us embrace this guideline to strengthen our role as an authentic voice for the Church, combating misinformation professionally while promoting truth and fostering genuine encounter in the digital spaces, reflecting the synodal vision of transparency and accountability.”
“The Church in the AMECEA region appreciates that Africa is not left behind when it comes to digital technological advancements. We, too, are witnesses to this fact that personal solidarity obliges us to journey together and ensure that no Conference is left behind,” noted Fr. Kaufa at the launch event, where a new mobile application featuring streams of Catholic radio stations from member countries was also unveiled.
It is the expectation of AMECEA members that the digital App will have all Catholic media channels in the region in a single platform accessible on mobile phones, tablets and computers.
In his address during the launch, the AMECEA Secretary General, Fr. Anthony Makunde, revealed that the digital App currently available to android phone users is targeting to connect some 66 Catholic radios.
“May this initiative help us to use every available tool for the proclamation of Christ, the service of our communities and the building of a church that truly communicates hope,” said Fr. Anthony on August 18.
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The Nairobi-based member of Tanzania’s Mbeya Catholic Archdiocese expressed the hope that both the AMECEA communication policy document and the digital App would inspire the region “to grow in a sense of unity, solidarity, and belonging.”
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