The Coronavirus pandemic has come at a time that the Catholic Church is known to be less enthused in using the new media – all social media handles-Facebook, twitter, Instagram, telegram as well as the traditional television and radio.
With the directives from the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference for the suspension of Masses for four weeks due to COVID-19 and asking that “where possible, live streaming of Masses should be encouraged to enable the faithful receive spiritual Communion,” many parishes are struggling to use these modern means of communications to reach their faithful.
The Church not too long ago marked the Year of the New Evangelization with several lectures and talks with emphasis on the need to use modern means of communications to reach out to its faithful but unfortunately, the Church is struggling to have a national Radio and TV stations to champion the new Evangelisation.
Even the mushroom churches and other orthodox Churches like the Church of Pentecost, Anglican and Methodist Church currently have TV and Radio stations. The Church of Pentecost has the Pent TV, the Methodist Church has the Wesleyan Television and the Anglican Church has Adwoa TV. Due to coronavirus, Churches have been suspended and some Catholic Churches are struggling, an indication that there is the need for a drastic turnaround.
Many Churches in Ghana have ventured into the use of new media long ago and the Catholic Church is now making the efforts. Instead of having a very coordinated national agenda, Dioceses are working individually with online radio and TV stations.
It is time the Catholic Church in Ghana emulates the Church of Pentecost, the Methodist Church of Ghana, and Assemblies of God among others for a coordinated Facebook and YouTube streaming as well as having TV and Radio Stations.
In my view, the Catholic Church cannot continue this way and it is time the hierarchy- clergy and lay find ways of owning a media house at least a Radio and Television station to telecast live Masses and other activities.
Finances should not be a barrier because there is no other Church in the history of Ghana that has embarked on capital intensive projects more than the Catholic Church with its numerous schools, hospitals, and social service interventions.
The laity of the Church- MPs, Ministers, CEOs and all who have what it takes, have a big role to play in achieving this vision but most of them only look at projects that can make them awarded Papal honours.
Source: Serwaa Akoto
Accra – Ghana
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