"Tied on New Media Theory, this study came up with three objectives. First, to explore how the Catholic Archdiocese of Nyeri utilized digital media to reach its congregants during the COVID-19 pandemic. Secondly, to examine the views of congregants of the Catholic Archdiocese of Nyeri regarding the
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adoption and utilization of digital media for evangelization during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thirdly, establish challenges experienced by congregants and the Catholic Archdiocese of Nyeri regarding the use of digital media for evangelization during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study employed the explanatory sequential mixed methods design using the questionnaire and interviews. A purposive sampling was applied based on the following criteria, first having participated in the online evangelization in the Catholic Archdiocese of Nyeri during the COVID-19 pandemic, and secondly based on their online evangelization experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. A sample size of 370 was randomly analyzed. The quantitative data collected was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 27) software mainly through descriptive statistics with the results being presented with the aid of tables, whereas quantitative data which is in the form of audio was transcribed to text and coded to make it easier to analyze. The study established that the Catholic Archdiocese of Nyeri can do better to improve its use of digital media for evangelization during situations of pandemics such as COVID-19, respondents called for better technical support to ensure uninterrupted communication (no downtimes) while other respondents called for more interactive digital content for them to feel more involved and for more varied content formats. A notable gap in the Archdiocese's digital media strategy is the absence of comprehensive policies and resource toolkits specifically designed for digital media evangelization. The study recommends that there should be clear governing policies and guidelines in radio, print, social media, and other communication channels." (Abstract)
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"The contributions of this special issue are grouped in three sections: context, theoretical framework and empirical research. The first articles set up two important dimensions of the context we are living in that have to be definitely improved if we want to take advantage of the positive sides of
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Covid-19’s effects to bring about real social relations and a good communication of science [...] The following articles deal with three important core components needed to set up a theoretical framework, from which this issue intends to start a serious scholarly conversation around the lessons learned from the Covid’s impact on social communication: (1) how a person knows and shapes his/her judgment in practical affairs when s/he is critically involved in them, (2) why and how science has surrendered to technology in the last decades, (3) and how practical knowledge is socially shared [...] The context and theoretical framework having been set up, the issue enters into the empirical part of our research: several papers examine the news coverage of the Church dealing with the pandemic in a good sample of newspapers around the world, one paper looks at how social media have engaged in the response to the pandemic by the Catholic Church, and another at how local churches have managed the challenges of the pandemic [...] The analysis of worldwide media coverage aims to find out how the mainstream press has portrayed the role of Christian churches and other religious bodies in dealing with the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic. All researchers have broadly shared a common qualitative methodology: looking for the frames and inducing the topoi (common places) underlying the resulting frames of the examination of news and editorial items." (Pages 2-4)
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"Während im Jahr 2015 rund zwei Drittel der (Erz-)Bistümer und die Hälfte der Landeskirchen im Social Web präsent waren, sind es in 2020 mit einzelnen Ausnahmen alle. In den letzten fünf Jahren ist die Zahl der Abonnenten und Follower auf den einzelnen Kanälen gestiegen. Auch wenn Abonnentenza
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hlen und Engagement bei allen (Erz-)Bistümern und Landeskirchen insgesamt gestiegen sind, gibt es regional große Unterschiede, wie stark dieser Anstieg ausgefallen ist. Es ist deutlich zu sehen, dass die Etablierung eines Social-Media-Kanals und der Aufbau einer Community Zeit benötigen: Die (Erz-)Bistümer und Landeskirchen, die bereits 2014/15 aktiv waren und hohe Abonnentenzahlen erzielten, verfügen auch 2020 im Vergleich über höhere Abonnentenzahlen." (Seite 3)
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"Ce travail se propose un double objectif d’étudier la communication dans les organisations en réseau et identifier un modèle structurel et stratégique applicable à la pastorale communicationnelle au Burundi. Il s’agit de tenter de proposer des aspects pastoraux réticulaires sur base d’u
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ne flexibilité organisationnelle et une fluidité communicationnelle. En vue d’arriver à la proposition d’une pastorale de la communication en réseau au Burundi, nous entreprenons de: 1) Étudier l’organisation en réseau; 2) Développer la communication dans les organisations en réseau; 3) Produire une étude de la communication pastorale de l’Église du Burundi en vue de relever ses forces et ses faibles des structures en considération, les opportunités et les menaces inhérentes à l’environnement pour une éventuelle structuration en réseau; 4) Proposer des éléments structurels et stratégiques pour une pastorale de la communication en réseau au Burundi." (Objectifs, page 9-10)
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"Les résultats obtenus nous amènent à affirmer que la radio Ste Thérèse [une radio confessionnelle dans le diocèse de Sokodé dans la région centrale du Togo] a une influence sur ses auditeurs. Cette influence se situe sur les plans spirituels, humains et intellectuels. En effet, 92,8 % des e
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nquêtés sont d’avis que la radio Ste Thérèse contribue à l’épanouissement de leur foi. 90,8% des enquêtés sont d’accord que la radio Ste Thérèse participe à leur formation humaine et intellectuelle." (Conclusion génerale, page 67)
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"The purpose of this study was to conduct a communication audit of the Catholic Diocese of Kabgayi with a view to establishing the effectiveness of communication strategies used by Kabgayi Diocese in resource mobilization. The objectives of this study were: firstly, to establish communication strate
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gies utilized by Kabgayi Diocese for local resource mobilization; Secondly, to assess how well the current communications flow is working in supporting the local resource mobilization; and thirdly, to establish the laity's perception regarding the communication strategies used by Kabgayi Diocese for local resource mobilization. The study revealed that the clergy of Kabgayi Diocese mobilize local resources in collaboration with some church's leaders from the laity. It has been recommended that the clergy and laity leaders should mobilize local resources frequently. The study further established that face-to-face group communication, the bishop's pastoral letter, the letters to individuals or families were the most used communication approaches currently in local resource mobilization and should, as a recommendation, be combined with other new communication approaches, such as, radio, television, newsletter, event fundraising, notice boards, and social media, especially WhatsApp. The study found out that there was lack of a resource mobilization strategic plan and a communication plan to support it at the parish and diocesan level. Therefore, the formulation of these two kinds of strategic plans has been perceived as a matter of urgency for Kabgayi Diocese. The study revealed that the amount of information currently received by the laity on local resource mobilization and related themes was not adequate. The study established that the information flow about local resource mobilization was predominantly one-way, downward communication. As a recommendation, upward and horizontal communication flows should be also encouraged by Kabgayi Diocese in resource mobilization. The study established that the laity was little involved in decision-making regarding the church's activities aiming at mobilizing domestic resources. To increase the laity's commitment and their sense of ownership, the Kabgayi Dioecese has been recommended to involve the laity more in decision-making regarding resource mobilization." (Abstract)
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"First chapter explained the concept of CR and those three key aspects such as: non-profit, community ownership and management, and community participation [...] Second chapter spoke entirely about the situation of CR in India. It has emphasised the history and growth of CR in India through six phas
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es begin from 1995 up to 2017 [...] Third Chapter began with explaining the approach, influence and assistance of the Government of India towards CR and its establishing process. The process of getting licence is briefed in 12 steps [...] Fourth chapter brought out a description about the context of the Diocese of Neyyattinkara and the CR project in specific. It makes clear that CR is not about doing something for the community rather the community doing something for itself [...] Fifth chapter spoke about those features Nids CR wants to promote based on the Church documents such as: Mirada Prorsus, Inter Mirifica, Communio et Progressio, Redemptoris Missio and Aetatis Novae; and the Radio Manifesto of World Radio Forum [...] Sixth chapter is a proposal based on conceptual analyses about the administrative structure, role of definite members, importance of volunteers, probable expenditure and fund raising options ..." (General conclusion, page 143 ff.)
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"The scope of this paper is to present an innovative internal communication strategy applied to non-profit organisations, such as religious institutions. Strategic communicational principles led to the design of a Vocational Pastoral Teams Kit, implemented in the north of Portugal, to reinforce the
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consciousness of a Christian vocation in the local community. The Vocational Kit was implemented by the Diocesan Secretariat for Vocation - an active entity, part of the Portuguese Catholic Church, an organisation dedicated to promote awareness of the vocational meaning of life. This Kit is part of a communication plan conceived to motivate the priests in their mission, to reinforce their interaction with local members of the community connected to the local churches. The priest is the main promoter, his task is to advise catechists; animators (youth groups, preparation for Confirmation, Acolytes); parish community (pastoral family, charitable pastoral) and Christian religion teachers. In order to promote a better understanding of this case study, a theoretical framework will be developed based on Organisational Communication and Strategic Communication theories that highlight insights about the internal dimension and the local contexts. Operational concepts such as communication plans and the key factors for their implementation were also discussed. The results of the strategic communication plan will be shared along with the main conclusions that stress the value of an inside out vision on strategic communication for non-profit organisations." (Page 169)
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"Every day, countless conversations take place online about the Catholic faith on social media, and the Diocese of Dallas encourages Church and School personnel to join these conversations to proclaim the Gospel. The Diocese of Dallas also respects the rights of Church and School personnel to use so
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cial media as a form of self-expression. It is important that we make every effort to ensure the safety of producers and consumers of social media, while at the same time ensuring the integrity of the message we proclaim. This requires responsible, focused, and intentional use of new and yet-to-be-developed technologies. These guidelines apply to all Church and School personnel (employees, clergy and all volunteers), and to their use of social networking sites, blogs, or any other kind of social media. Other websites are usually not considered social media, but this policy also applies to the creation, content and use of parish, school, and ministry websites, as well as to online discussion by any Church and School personnel of matters pertaining to ministry." (Page 2)
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"This study aims to examine the pastoral situations of Wenzhou Diocese, to evaluate the formation for laity in Wenzhou Diocese under pastoral communication perspective, to find its positive and critical signs, as well as to analyze the pastoral needs, which leads to integrate pastoral communication
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in lay formation. The survey result shows that “Xue Xi Ban” (Basic Ecclesial Community in Wenzhou context) helps laity in Wenzhou to know Catholic faith, to live as Christian, to have sense of belonging, and to exercise their vocation and mission. The lack of Catechists, the study content, need for community building, and missing structural support, are the critical signs of “Xue Xi Ban”, which indicates the pastoral needs for lay formation. These needs are categorized as the need of strengthening pastoral communication in ministry (Preaching, Catechesis, Liturgy, Biblical Apostolate, and Service), the need of formation for catechists, and the need of means of social communication. This study also finds out seven challenges for lay formation: the Atheistic approach, the political pressure, the threat of Materialism, the impact of migration, the family problem, the division among the Catholic Church, and lack witness of life. The pastoral needs and challenges demand an emphasis on pastoral communication. By using the “Wenzhou Model of development”, the research explores the possibilities of integrating pastoral communication in lay formation, which includes to make a five-year pastoral plan, to promote Basic Ecclesial Community, to use possible agents for lay formation, and to create possible programs for lay formation." (Abstract)
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"[...] This book is not necessarily an effort at a highly theoretical exploration but a deeply practical application of the power of communication for updating and renewal of the universal church, more particularly that of India. The phenomenon of Church becoming irrelevant and abandon
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ed in the modern world is the backdrop of the whole study as Srampickal has chosen. So in the first part he makes a self-reflection and critical observation of the present day Church ministry styles and explores more into the background of mental attitudes and value systems sustainedby the church leadership and zealous missionary workers. The defective strategy and style of Church’s communication is found as the root reason for this. The challenge and chances of developing a Communication Theology is the first part of his positive exposition. When the Church becomes a real communicating community the envisioned spiritual ideologies of Christ, will be accepted and appreciated by the global society. He observes that the Church has produced excellent documents regarding communications in the world. Only problem he identifies is that they are practiced neither in the higher official levels nor in the ordinary practical levels. How can this be corrected through the smart and balanced utilization of modern media technology is elaborated in the second part. His thesis that ‘Communications Can Renew the Church’ is convincingly proved with ease and excellence in this book. For him communication is all about more participation of all in managing the church which can surely create a sense of belonging and intimate relations within the church." (Book review by John Edappilly, in: Asian Horizons, vol 4, nr 2, pages 379-380)
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"The authors present a broad corpus of data and suggest some potential theoretical patterns for their interpretation. Through this they invite the readers to look with a critical eye at their research and draw their own conclusions as to the potential implications these forms of usage have for the C
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hurch and for the larger study of religion online. The book also offers other researchers of religion and the internet access interesting material on Catholic use of the internet for their own analysis. Thus the book present a rich resource for future studies exploring how a distinctive religious community engages with the internet, and may aid in the identification of common patterns of internet appropriation or networking strategies used within different religious organizations." (Preface, page 10)
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