The National Director of Communications at CSN said that for the church to package the message of Christ properly, especially in this era of digital media, much attention needs to be given to the medium used in disseminating the message.
He said in reference to the message and medium, “Seminarians must be trained on how to appreciate the media, how to use the media, and also must be trained on the art of public speaking.”
Fr. Umoh explained, “Everybody talks, but not everybody talks effectively because talking is natural; authentic communication is a skill and it has to be learnt.”
He went on to reflect on the importance of communication in the church and said that the two cannot be separated because they depend on each other. He said that without communication, the church ceases to exist.
“We need to ask ourselves, what is the relationship between the church and communication? The first mistake we make is to think that we can separate them. At times you will hear some church people say, ‘What's my business with communication, my own is to pray to God, this is spiritual not about communication,’” he said.
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Fr. Umoh cautioned the faithful against disregarding communication, saying, “All of us must get out of this error because without communication the church is dead.”
He explained, “Talking of church without communications is like talking of fire without heat or sun without light. The church is necessarily communication; the church cannot exist without communicating.”
The Nigerian Catholic Priest posed, “Why is it so, what is the essence of the church, what's the mission of the church, is it not to make disciples of all nations? When you go out, you go to preach, and communication is necessary.”
The life of the church depends on communication and without communication, then the message of God will not reach out to people, Fr. Umoh emphasized during his May 25 lecture, adding that the church that “does not communicate love is dead or is a liar.”
Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.