The Director of Religious Education in Ibadan Archdiocese, Rev. Fr. Clement Emerue has called on all catechists and religious teachers of faith to take advantage of the growth in information technology as a veritable tool for effective evangelization and catechesis.

He made this known at the workshop that was organized for catechists and religious instructors on the 5th October, 2024 at CKC, Odo-Ona, Ibadan. The workshop was with the theme: Information Technology at the Service of Catechesis: Towards An Effective Evangelization In Nigeria (MATT. 9:17)

Fr. Clement reflected on the keynote address of Archbishop Lucius Ugorji delivered to the National Directors of Religious Education in January, 2004 at Sacred Heart Pastoral Center Orlu, Imo State. 

He noted that innovations in information and communication technology in recent years have opened up new vistas and unimaginable potentials in the areas of human relationships and interactions. A catechesis that is tech-based will require the use of electronic or digital tools, media and resources to enhance and deliver religious teachings.

The catechist will manage and coordinate instructional aids to facilitate effective learning and understanding of religious truths.

Selecting the information technology tool based on catechetical learning needs remains a challenge at the heart where information technology and catechesis meet. This is because the application of information technology in catechesis has become an indispensable part. 

This presentation will focus partially on how we can fuse information technology into an open and instruction-led catechesis.

The Vatican II Council far back as in 1963 before the innovative explosion in the areas of mass media and information technology is interested in those inventions which directly touch man’s spirit and which have opened up new avenues of easy communications of all kinds of news, of ideas and orientations.

The Church extols how the use of modern means of communication can influence not only the single individual, but also the society at large. It believes that more than ever before the way men live and think is profoundly affected by means of communication and information technology.

Information technology is a handy tool for catechesis. As a sharp tool for catechesis, it hugely contributes to the effectiveness of evangelization. Evangelization is the end point of catechesis. 

Romans 10:14 “But how can they call on the one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one in whom they have not heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim?”. 

Faith comes through hearing. Catechesis is this tool for spreading the good news, for keeping and spreading the faith – evangelization.

 

Emerging Information Technologies

Information technology is moving at a great speed. Radio, television, cinemas, print technology are almost overthrown with unimaginable gadgets while they have also greatly improved within a short period.

The Vatican II Fathers were prophetic in their deliberations and articulations on the Decree on the use of social communications (inter Mirifica). They spoke in anticipation of the great innovations hitherto unseen.

However, information technology evolved in the 1970s. it came as a post-World War II alliance between the military and industries and it was about the advancement and technological progress in communication.

These innovations were required in the developments of electronics, computers and information theory.

Emerging information technologies are those developments in this area of technology that are likely to shape the future communication; such as nano technology, robotics, biotechnology, artificial intelligence and cognitive sciences. However, these are not within our scope for today.

Before now, only a few use computers, unlike what we have today, the internet can be assessed/connected via a tiny gadget in your hand – mobile phones. Many people work from different locations using mobile phones and laptops, some offices work virtually, during COVID, we were able to organize a virtual workshop which was very productive, business transactions and service go on 24/7. These amazing technologies have brought improvement and better communication among peoples.

The emergence and development of various tools which make all these possible has pushed information technology beyond imaginable boundaries.

The Bluetooth technology gives the capability for sending data/information wirelessly between devices. Handsets wirelessly connects to earpiece, mobile phones are now multi-function devices capable of full range of functions ranging from voice calls, text messages, email, web browsing, camera, video, music, GPS, zoom or webinar through a technology which was developed some years ago before the Corona Virus Epidemic exploded in terms of its usage during the pandemic. Zoom meetings etc. were made possible. WhatsApp and Facebook can be used more effectively to create chat room for catechetical issues/topics.

For instance, I have created platform with my youths for this year’s catechetical week. Our concern in this workshop is not to translate and adapt these tools as catechetical tools and pedagogical resources in Nigeria in the light of today’s technology.

 

Information Technological-Pedagogical tool for Catechesis.

The challenge for modern day Catechists is how to adapt to these tools for teaching the faith. For this to happen, the Catechist or Catechizer must know how to make adequate use of information technology tools. Apps must be developed that allows teachers to integrate their explanations in digital formats made accessible to users.

The truth of the faith could be formatted into byte sizes and made downloadable on laptops and mobile phones platforms.

Attention should be paid however to the psychology of the end users. The span of attentiveness is growing shorter especially among young people. The byte sizes must therefore be short, sharp and sweet. This some say is the new communication strategy (This also accounts to why our catechism classes should not exceed 30mins-45mins).

For the above to succeed, there must be the cultivation of information technology capabilities on the part of the Catechists, they must be able to understand the tools. They must be trained and educated to a certain level of competence. (this is why the qualification of would be catechists should be reviewed constantly). 

Unfortunately, the lack of information technology hardware facilities could be a big obstacle and challenge to popularize and apply information technology-based catechesis that could enhance effective evangelization.

In the application of those tools the spiritual and the human dimensions must be taken into consideration, so that the focus will not be on the technology but on the content which is delivered with the technology. It is easy to get distracted by the intuitiveness of technology and their lose touch with the message of the gospel which is intended.

 

Creative and responsible use of these tools is the pathway.

In conclusion, He stated that we live in a global village; information moves at the speed of light. Integrating the use of information technology tools and the Church is able to make the message of gospel relevant for every generation.

The Nigerian Church must be able to invest in information technology. This must be a top priority. Building massive Church is a good idea, but information technology infrastructures is now the new project - the new building. Times are changing, while we encourage that, we may not be expecting a full Church all the time. We must move to “put out the net and make the catch”. We need to reach out to the young generation in their space using these communication tools.

Now more than ever before, aided by the instrument of information technology, the Church carries the responsibility of reading the signs of the times and interpreting them in the light of the gospel, if it is to carry out its work.

 

REFERENCES:

VATICAN II *Decree on the means of social communication

  * Decree on the church’s missionary activity.

  * Doyle’s (2009) Essential ICT …. London: folen publishers

  * Curled from keynote address presented by Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, Archbishop of Owerri.