The Social Communication Commission under the Uganda Episcopal Conference (UEC) is carrying out an Annual Communications Week in Gulu Ecclesiastical Province and hosted by Arua Catholic Diocese with over 30 participants. The Communications Week that runs from 1st- 6th May is themed “Project Planning and Management” and will be culminated with National Celebrations of the Communications Day in anticipation on Sunday May 5, 2024 at St. Mary’s Ediofe Cathedral, Arua Diocese.
This Communication Week is attended by representatives from all the 19 Dioceses of Uganda, particularly from the Office of Social Communications and the Catholic Media Houses. This annual event brings all these categories of communicators together to share knowledge about handling the Communications department, they also share challenges they meet in running their different offices within their respective dioceses and how possible they could be mitigated. The participants were trained on how to be good planners and managers of projects assigned to them up to now execution.
Rt. Rev. Sabino Ocan Odoki, the Bishop of Arua Diocese appreciated the Social Communications Commission of the Uganda Episcopal Conference for arranging this annual event to equip the Communicators with new tips and knowledge so that they can communicate better. He said during the Vatican Council II which sat from 1962 to 1965, Communication was given prominence in that the resolutions made about it were the first ones to be published on December 4, 1962 under the title ‘inter mirifica” to show how important Communication was in the life of the Church. He also implored communicators to read the document and implement as he noted that silence in most cases means consent.
While reflecting on the Papal message on 58th World Day of Social Communications, Rt. Rev. Joseph Franzelli, Bishop Emeritus of Lira Diocese and Bishop Chairman of Social Communications Commission said artificial intelligence has radically affected the world of information and Communication. While quoting Pope Francis, Bishop Franzelli said artificial intelligence has reduced and almost wiped out interpersonal communication, yet man should remain at the centre of communication. This year’s world day of social Communications is celebrated on Ascension Sunday (May 12, 2024), under the theme “Artificial Intelligence and the Wisdom of the Heart: Towards a Fully Human Communication.”