BY CISA
VATICAN, JULY 10, 2020 (CISA)-Vatican Radio English Service Africa in collaboration with the World Catholic Association for Communication(SIGNIS) Africa has organized a July 17 webinar for Catholic communicators in Africa to celebrate 70 years of Radio Vatican broadcasts to Africa.
“The voice of the Pope continues to be heard in the homes of many African families through Vatican Radio and Vatican News giving encouragement and hope and inviting all human beings to build an interconnected world,” SIGNIS said in a July 7 invite noting that theirs is “a legacy that needs to be celebrated.”
In that regard, SIGNIS Africa will host a webinar under the theme “Story-telling as a tool to manage racial and social tribulations in Africa” using insights from Pope Francis’ message for the 54th World Communications Day to stimulate the minds of Catholic communicators and help build a vibrant continent that promotes wellbeing and social inclusiveness.
“The year 1950 marked a milestone in the life of Vatican Radio as the station began broadcasts in English towards the African continent. It is a significant milestone worth introspection because the fifties because the fifties were also years of agitation against colonial rule, the right to vote and a self-determination by many African countries,” it adds.
According to SIGNIS, today our world is plagued with similar anxieties especially with the coronavirus pandemic and the Black Lives Matter protests.
“As Catholic communicators we have the duty of not only reporting social events but also of helping society to chart the pathway for a better future. This webinar is our little effort to contribute towards providing a roadmap to this future for Africa in particular and the world in general,” they noted.
Speakers at the webinar will include Paolo Ruffini, Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication, Bishop Emmanuel A. Badejo, President of CEPACS-SECAM, and Rev. Fr. Federico Lombardi S.J., former Director of Vatican Radio and the Vatican Press Office, Sheila Pires, correspondent for Vatican Radio Africa Service, Rev. Mother Mary Claude Oguh IHM, President of the Nigerian Conference of Women Religious, Father Paul Samasumo, Vice President of SIGNIS Africa and Father Walter Ihejirika, President of SIGNIS Africa.
The webinar will take place through WebEx and YouTube, at 2-4 pm South Africa, 3-5 pm Kenya, 1 -3pm Nigeria, and 12 -2pm Ghana.
Registration in on going by sending your name, country and telephone number to savreas2020@gmail.com.
