By Chikezie Ogbonna
Holy Ghost Cathedral Enugu, was aglow with a united call for responsible communication on Sunday, June 1st, as the Catholic Diocese of Enugu joined the global Church to mark the 59th World Day of Social Communication. The annual event, established by Pope Paul VI in 1967, celebrates the role of communication in evangelization and social transformation.
This year’s celebration, themed “Share with gentleness the hope that is in your heart” (1 Peter 3:15–16), resonated deeply within the hearts of journalists, students, clergy, and media professionals who converged at the Cathedral for Holy Mass, a reception, and a thought-provoking keynote session.
Presiding over the Eucharistic celebration was the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Most Rev. Callistus Onaga, who, in his homily, emphasized that communication is a gift deeply rooted in creation, both verbal and non-verbal. The Bishop charged media practitioners to become channels of hope and truth in a world often gripped by fear, violence, and misinformation.
“Let us not use the media to incite panic or provoke hatred,” Bishop Onaga urged. “Rather, let us communicate truth with compassion and build a world where hope thrives over despair.”
He reminded communicators of their sacred responsibility to uphold factual journalism, reject sensationalism, and commit to narratives that inspire unity and healing.
In a welcome address, the Director of Social Communications, Rev. Fr. Anthony Aneke, called for a media culture that fosters peace and compassion.
“Our tools must not be used as weapons of division but as instruments to multiply hope and kindness,” he said. “Let our words lift rather than wound, mend rather than break.”
In a keynote address during the reception that followed the Mass , delivered by Dr. Collins Ogbu, Senior Special Assistant on Strategic Communications to the Executive Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah. He drew inspiration from the Papal message and echoed the Gospel’s transformative power. “Communication,” he said, “is not just the exchange of words, but a sacred ministry—an outpouring of hope from hearts touched by divine love.”
Referencing 1 Peter 3:15, he explained that gentleness does not imply weakness but is “a strength guided by compassion.” He celebrated Governor Mbah’s initiatives such as the 260 smart green schools and 260 Type-2 Primary Healthcare Centres as modern-day parables of hope—small acts of great love that are quietly transforming communities.
He reflected on Christ’s post-resurrection greeting of peace to his disciples behind locked doors (John 20:19), noting that “no barrier can resist the gentle power of the Spirit expressed through compassionate communication.”
Ogbu further stressed that in a world increasingly polarized by harsh rhetoric, “the art of dialogue, the art of casting a friendly gaze,” as urged by Pope Francis, is the only way to build bridges and heal divisions.
Drawing from his experience in public service, Dr. Ogbu underscored how narratives shaped by empathy, rather than vilification, foster civic trust and encourage collective progress.
“In a place like Nigeria, where social tensions simmer, gentleness in speech and action can renew solidarity,” he said. “Every conversation—from classrooms to market stalls—can become a vessel of light.”
He emphasized that Catholic media institutions must continue to serve as storytellers of the Gospel, bringing testimonies of hope, reconciliation, and service to the public sphere.
“Let us disarm words,” he concluded, quoting Pope Francis, “so we may disarm the world.”
The event was not without colour. Representatives from media houses across Enugu State and students from tertiary institutions staged a match pass before the Bishop. Standing alongside him were the Diocesan Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Wilfred Agubuchie and of course the Director of Communications, Fr. Anthony Aneke, as they received salutes with warm smiles and quiet pride, an emblem of Church and media united in mission.
The celebration concluded with a collective prayer and renewed commitment to the communication mission. In the spirit of this Jubilee Year of Hope, the words of Pope Francis echoed one final time: “Let us be witnesses and promoters of a non-aggressive communication… helping to spread a culture of care and break down the barriers of the present time.”
As participants departed, one thing was clear: In Enugu Diocese and beyond, the call to communicate with gentleness is not merely a theme, it is a vocation.
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