By Odiwuor Opiyo
ADDIS ABABA, MAY 24, 2022 (CISA) – The Coordinator of the National Synod for the Ethiopian Catholic Church, the Honorable Aba Gebremeskel Shikur at a workshop organised by the Ethiopian Catholic Pope’s Social and Public Relations Directorate in collaboration with Synod National Preparation Committee for Catholic Digital Media Professionals Synodism, addressed the emerging issues on the Synod; its identity and processes.
The workshop that brought together 29 participants aimed at raising awareness and inspiring the youth working on digital media to enable them to use digital media and innovations to deliver targeted information focused on the synod.
The meeting was also a platform to establish relationships between Catholic Media Practitioners and the National Social and Public Relations Bureau.
Also present for the program was Addis Ababa’s Archdiocesan Preaching Synod Coordinator, His Excellency Aba Israel Goitom, who explained the objectives of the Synod as Mr Habtamu Aberdew, the National Social and Public Relations Advisor brought to light the Synod’s international website.
Mr Aberdew highlighted the contents of the Synod digital media toolkit and the website and encouraged participants to register on the online platform to follow the events around the world and share with Ethiopians.
Consequently, the participants agreed to create platforms where they can contribute at a group and individual level and exchange experiences. An idea Mr Aberdew said will help in disseminating different information on Synod.
According to a report by the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA), “The digital platforms practitioners formed a team and decided to meet regularly to acquire more information and knowledge as the Deputy Secretary-General, Pastoral Ministry Coordinator and National Contact Person of the Synod Fr. Gabriel Woldehanna said that more is expected from the youth to reach out to their colleagues using the digital world.”
In a Facebook post by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Ethiopia (CBCE), Fr Woldehanna underscored the role of the youth in the Synodal process, saying: “the youth play a major role in using the digital world and that they are expected to work more about Synod and Synodality in the digital media.”
