Evangelii Nuntiandi is emphatic that evangelization is not a mere event for the Church, but the most important task entrusted to the Church by the commandment of the Lord for the salvation of mankind. The fulfilment of this task is essential for the life of the Church. “… The task of evangelizing all people constitutes the essential mission of the Church. Evangelizing is in fact the grace and vocation proper to the Church, her deepest identity. She exists in order to evangelize, that is to say, in order to preach and teach, to be the channel of the gift of grace, to reconcile sinners with God, and to perpetuate Christ’s sacrifice in the Mass, which is the memorial of His death and glorious resurrection” (EN 14). The Syro-Malabar Church is striving to absorb this core and deepest ecclesial identity.
The media has tremendous power to influence the world by informing, educating, entertaining and enriching. The message of Christ should be communicated to all people in the world. Evangelii Nuntiandi states, “The Church would feel guilty before the Lord, if she did not utilize this powerful means that human skill is daily rendering more perfect” (EN 45). The real potential of the instruments of social communication are to be explored and used by the Church for her mission. In adopting the mass media for the apostolate, we are utilizing the fruits of science and technology at the service of Christ and his Church.
Media education for the personnel of the Church is a must. With the rise of technology, platforms like social media, websites, podcasts, and apps have become powerful tools for spreading the Gospel. Efficient Use of the Cyber World can include designing and maintaining the website with mission themes; creating reels, videos, films, serials and the like; creating a feasible mission friendly mobile app to share the activities and needs of our mission areas and the experiences of missionaries. Many Catholic leaders, organizations, and laypersons share Scripture, reflections, and teachings online, reaching audiences across the globe.
Digital evangelization can be extended in this pluralistic world, where the Church emphasizes respectful dialogue and collaboration with people of different faiths. Redemptoris Missio mentions, “it is not enough to use the media simply to spread the Christian message and the Church’s authentic teaching. It is also necessary to integrate that message into the new culture created by modern communications with new languages, new techniques and new psychology” (n. 37).
The Syro-Malabar Church should focus on the Media Evangelization, pulling the persons and resources spread all over the world and make an effective effort in the field of evangelization with unified and intensive efforts.
Rev. Dr. Francis Eluvathingal
