By: Newswatchgh.com Editorial Team
Catholic Communicators worldwide, including journalists, have been tasked to inspire hope and solidarity in their lines of duty as the world continues to battle the Coronavirus pandemic.
The communicators were asked to see themselves as frontline workers encouraging the rest of the people of the world including health workers not to relent in their efforts in fighting the virus.
The group was charged in an Easter message delivered by Helen Osman, President of SIGNIS, the world body of Catholic journalists and communicators.
Taking inspiration from a message by Pope Francis, she said though the situation is devasting, there is hope in the resurrection of Christ and faith of individuals charging the communicators to go forth and practice solidarity and hope capable of giving strength and support to all.
”Our faith calls us to celebrate the love of the Cross, the hope of the Resurrection. As the Holy Father said on March 27, as he reflected on the Gospel story of Jesus and the disciples in a boat in the midst of a storm, “the Lord asks us and, in the midst of our tempest, invites us to reawaken and put into practice that solidarity and hope capable of giving strength, support and meaning to these hours when everything seems to be floundering. The Lord awakens so as to reawaken and revive our Easter faith,” she said
She continued by saying that, ”As Catholic communicators, we are finding ourselves on the front lines, so to speak, of communicating solidarity and Christian hope to a frightened and exhausted world. We are truth-tellers, helping our public health officials and government leaders in communicating what the public can do to slow down the coronavirus’ spread. We dispel rumors and provide calm.”
The SIGNIS President added: ”We encourage the helpers, those who are taking care of the sick, educating children, growing and selling food, getting rid of the garbage and making sure essential services – including the internet – are running well. Their witness of hope and their heroism amidst pain must be amplified. We are the voice for the voiceless, the poor, the homeless, the marginalized, who are impacted more severely by any crisis.”
Helen Osman expressed appreciation for the extra effort being invested by media professionals in the face of online Masses and Services.
She described the moment we find ourselves in now as an extraordinary time in which great flexibility, openness and missionary creativity is needed.
”Now is an extraordinary time in which great flexibility, openness and missionary creativity is needed so the Church can be in the homes of her sons and daughters. I am continually encouraged by the work you do, as Catholic communicators, to help our parishes, the people of God, rise together to carry humanity through darkness into the light,” she noted.
”Along with the SIGNIS executive officers and Board of Directors, I am grateful for the many lay media professionals who are risking their personal safety, as journalists, videographers, technicians, interpreters and others, so people do not feel so isolated and may have access to facts and the truth,” she opined.
