Catholic Journalists Have a Role in Shaping “the message of our time”: Media Council of Kenya CEO

The late Pope Francis, he said, “reminds us that communication should be heart to heart. He encourages us to be artisans of peace – people who speak and write in ways that bring healing, build understanding, and reflect God's mercy.”

Mr. Omwoyo, who was the national Executive Secretary of the Communications Commission of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) before moving on to MCK encouraged Catholic media practitioners in the East African nation to strive to communicate hope in what he described as “speaking the truth with love.”

He cautioned against the sharing of fake news or divisive messages, be it in families, workplaces, or online, and instead focus on “telling the stories of faith in our parishes and villages-stories of young people choosing virtue, families staying strong, and communities coming together in service.”

Mr. Omwoyo encouraged media practitioners to communicate hope through listening particularly to those “who feel forgotten, our youth, the poor, the sick, and the elderly.”

He urged Catholic journalists to reflect Christ in their tone, their intentions, and in their witness “so that people encounter not just our words, but His love through us.”

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“As Kenyans, we are a people of resilience, song, and strong community. Let us use our voices both in speech and online, not to tear down, but to build up the Body of Christ,” the MCK official said.

He added, “May our words bring light where there is darkness, joy where there is sorrow, and hope where there is doubt.”

“Let us go forth and communicate, not just with our mouths, but with our hearts, our actions, and our faith,” the MCK CEO said during the June 1 event.

Pope Paul VI established the WCD in 1967 as an annual celebration to reflect on the opportunities and challenges that modern means of social communication accord the Church to communicate the gospel message to all the ends of the earth.

Since then, the Church observes WCD, also known as the World Day of Social Communications, on the Sunday before Pentecost Sunday. Marked this year on June 1, coinciding with the Solemnity of the Ascension of Jesus Christ, the 59th WCD has been realized under the theme, “Share with gentleness the hope that is in your hearts.”