Jacob BABALOLA (Staff writer)

As part of its activities for the 2025 ComWeek, the Directorate of Social Communications, Ibadan Archdiocese organized a workshop/training for Parish Media teams (Lectors, Announcers, PROs etc) on “Digital Discipleship: Using Social Media to share the Gospel Message” on Saturday 31st May, 2025 at John Paul II Hall, Our Lady Seat of Wisdom, University of Ibadan.

The Guest Lecturers at the event were Rev. Fr. Lawrence Oke from Oyo Diocese and Sir Felix Fapohunda, KSJI; who did justice to how Parish Media teams can use Social Media to achieve the theme for 2025 World Communications Day, “Share with gentleness the Hope that is in Your Hearts” (cf. Peter 3:15-16).

Sir Felix Fapohunda in his submission described discipleship as not superficial, but as a life of devotion to teaching and the ideas of one’s master or concept. He enjoined the Media Teams to always connect to Christ, the source of the Word by praying before anything else.

The Speaker added that Social Media is no longer a no-go-area in the proclamation of the Gospel and advised on the social indices to watch out for in determining the Church’s effective use of Social Media. Such indices include views, likes and shares.

Sir Fapohunda listed somethings that the Church needs to do as follow:

• Institutionalize digital discipleship.
• Train and engage professionals.
• Develop Social Media strategy at the Diocese level and cascade same to Parishes.
• Encourage Content Creation, which must be light and rich.
• Synergize for effectiveness.
• Be intentional in driving up the number.

The Speaker admonished that Catholic faithful too, develop content, rather than subscribing to other Churches’ content.

Rev. Fr. Lawrence Oke commenced his own lecture by asking, What is the fastest technology? He answered this by saying “Emmanuel” that is, God. He added that technology has not gotten to the stage of God, hence, God could create without using tools, but by words. “God is the Word, you’re to communicate the Word, but if you do not have God, there is nothing to communicate.”

Going further, Fr. Oke noted that silence is a powerful tool of communication that human beings are not using very well today, for it is in silence that we can think deeper and bring out something meaningful.

On the Social Media, the priest said various applications have been developed for parishes in the Catholic Diocese of Oyo. Two experts, Messers Abayomi and Peter were brought to the venue of the workshop to educate Parish Media teams on different applications that could be engaged to make advanced communication possible at both parish and diocesan levels. The experts explained that with such applications, getting abreast of what goes on in the parish and booking of Masses etc are possible, even without physical presence in the Church.

In addition to the two Guest Lecturers, the parish Media Teams were also educated on public presentations (MC) and announcements; photography and videoing; news gathering and reporting as well as content creation and Social Media Management by Dr. Paul Emokhare; Mr Sam and Amb. Edith of CAEAN; Comrade Cosmos Oni and the Director of Social Communications in the Archdiocese of Ibadan, Rev. Fr. Anthony Ogunyale respectively.

Fr. Ogunyale made it known to the participants that they could be ungentle, dramatic and chaotic in sharing the word. He however, challenged them by saying many things sell today, if applications on social Media are effectively used. He appealed to them to be very active in their parishes, be committed and able to project.

The Director of Social Communications also presented certificate of participation to all the participants, who were not less than 90 persons.

Comrade Cosmos Oni gave a vote of thanks at the end of the workshop, while Fr. Ogunyale gave the closing prayer and the blessing.