The Catholic Church in Malawi, as elsewhere, is ready to invest heavily in evangelization and communication. This can be done through different means but much more through those working to communicate the message of Christ. From that background the Diocese of Mangochi held a three day training workshop from 1st March to 3rd March at Mlangeni Holiday Resort in Mangochi to equip agents of communication with skills to use modern means of communication as tools for advanced evangelization. The trainees came from almost all parishes in the diocese and media institutions. The training was made possible with funding from Signis.
In his inaugural speech, as the guest of honor at the event, His Lordship Bishop Montfort Stima of the Catholic Diocese of Mangochi urged participants to look at technology as a God given gift to aid in reaching out to masses with the gospel. Bishop Stima reminded the correspondents to look up to Jesus as a better communicator and the motivation to be a better journalist citing that Journalism without Jesus it’s nothing.
“Jesus as God is the first, prime, best, and excellent journalist. The gospels approve this. He effectively proclaimed the message of peace and love hence we ought to borrow a leaf from him so as to excel in our own modern journalism” Said the Bishop.
Bishop Stima mentioned that the training was necessary because there are lots of pertinent issues on spiritual and social progress in the parishes and institutions within the diocese which go uncovered and unreported.
“My dear friends, your presence to this training is a clearer testimony of your response to Jesus’ call for you to witness the gospel being evangelized by use of technology as God’s given gift. Courtesy of this training, am so optimistic that you will become causes of difference in evangelization,” said Stima.
Mangochi Diocese Communication Coordinator, Rev. Fr. Harry Mang’anda expressed some delight because of the overwhelming patronage to the training. Further, he urged all participants to make use of the knowledge and skills attained in the training proactively and to enrich the mission in the diocese and at large.
“Having attended this session, you have the art to let communication be used for evangelization. The ball is now in your court. Make good use of the knowledge acquired by feeding the diocesan website and other available outlets such as media houses and social media with respect to the social teaching of the church and media ethics,” He advised.
Fr. Mang’anda further urged the Correspondents to always consult, inform and report to their pastors and superiors all to maintain some order and discipline in what is reported.
The Diocesan Pastoral Coordinator, Fr. Steven Kamanga and deputy editor of Nation on Sunday, Mr. Michael Mmeya of Nation Publications facilitated on Media Ethics and Church and Basics Skills in Journalism respectively.
Almost 24 correspondents from all parishes, diocesan administration representatives, communication team members and members of selected educational institutions and representatives of Catholic Media Organizations in the Diocese of Mangochi such as Radio Maria, Luntha TV and Montfort Media attended the training.
