1. CONSIDERATIONS IN PREACHING IN A DIGITAL LANDSCAPE
Borgjie B. Distura
At the outset, let us look at the landscape of the world as regards communications which I
limited only to the three factors namely the internet, television and cell phone.
INTERNET
ITU World Telecommunication estimated that “The world is home to 7 billion people,
one third of which are using the Internet. Forty five percent (45%) of the world’s Internet users
are below the age of 25. Over the last five years, developing countries have increased their share
of the world’s total number of Internet users from 44% in 2006, to 62% in 2011.1” The survey
also added that younger people tend to be more online than older people in both developed and
developing countries. In developing countries, 30% of those under the age of 25 use the Internet,
compared to 23% of those 25 years and older.
In another internet use survey by world region distribution, Asia has the biggest
percentage of internet users averaging in 44% while Europe ranks second only with the average
of 22.7% internet users.2
There are about 1.8 billion households worldwide and one-third of these households have
internet access compared to only one-fifth five years ago. And 25% of homes in developing
countries possess a computer and of the 25%, 20% have internet access.3
TELEVISION
In another survey held by A.C. Nielsen Co. as regards TV statistics in the U.S., observes
that the average American watches more than 4 hours of TV each day or 28 hours/week, or 2
1
http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/facts/2011/index.html
2
http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats.htm
3
http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/facts/2011/index.html
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2. months of non-stop TV-watching per year. Almost all households possess at least one TV set and
Americans spend an average of 250 billion hours annually in watching TV.4
CELL PHONES
Another form of digital communication is the mobile phone or cell phone. ITU World
Telecommunication5 reports that there are almost 6 billion mobile-cellular subscriptions. With
5.9 billion mobile-cellular subscriptions, global penetration reached 87% and 79% in the
developing world. And according to the same survey, active broadband subscriptions reached
almost 1.2 billion and a total of 159 economies worldwide have launched 3G services
commercially and the number of active mobile-broadband subscriptions has increased. Mobile-
broadband is often the only access method available to people in developing countries, the report
adds.
THE DIGITAL AGE: What’s not to like?
Since the appearance of advanced electrical/electronic signals in the late 1920’s the world
underwent a rapid change in the way people behave, think and the way people communicate.
From a simple visual signal of fire and smoke, from simple audio signals like trumpets and
drums, we now have very advanced and complex forms of visual and audio signals. We are now
in the digital world of communication. What is not to like in this digital age of communication?
It takes only seconds to connect with friends. It is now very easy to research for an assignment.
With a click or two, you can enter into a vast source of available materials in the web. Having
trouble locating your long lost relative? Or classmates? Or colleagues? Not a problem anymore,
thanks to social networks. Here you can even see information about their status, their occupation,
address and what they are up to.
Did you miss your favorite noontime show or your favorite drama series? It’s not a
problem anymore as long as you are connected to the web, because you can always download
4
http://www.csun.edu/science/health/docs/tv&health.html
5
http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/facts/2011/index.html
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3. them. Gone were the days of beeper, pay phones and radio handsets. We now have cell phones in
all sizes, shapes and colors with all those installed applications of your choice. They come even
with camera and radio and even TV and a whole lot more. No previous generation has been
blessed with the means of communication like ours. And still new vistas in communications are
constantly opening up today and in the future.
PROCLAIM THE WORD: Employing the New Media of Social Communications
These advanced forms of communications also affect the way we communicate and
proclaim the word of God to the world. The modern media of social communication are cultural
factors that play a role. As the Second Vatican Council remarks, “although we must be careful to
distinguish earthly progress clearly from the increase of the kingdom of Christ”, nevertheless
“such progress is of vital concern to the kingdom of God, insofar as it can contribute to the better
ordering of human society”.6 Considering the media of social communication in this light, we see
that they “contribute greatly to the enlargement and enrichment of men's minds and to the
propagation and consolidation of the kingdom of God”.7 Pope Benedict XVI in his message8 for
the Catholic Church's 2010 World Day for Social Communications, called on the ministry to use
the latest technologies, such as Web sites and blogs, to preach the gospel and encourage a
dialogue with their practitioners. In his message, Pope Benedict told the people that church
communities have traditionally relied on modern media to open the lines of communication. And
as the culture changes, the church needs to use the latest technologies, especially if it wants to
reach younger people.
HINDRANCES: Disadvantages of the New Media of Social Communications
There are hindrances also. There disadvantages as regards these new media of social
communication. Although referring to communication of and in the family, these hindrances can
also affect the bigger picture of the society and hence the proclamation of the Word of God too.
According to Anthony G. Roman in his article Building Digital Bridges, some factors hindering
6
Vatican Council II, Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World Gaudium etSpes, 39.
7
Vatican Council II, Decree on the Media of Social Communications Inter Mirifica, 2.
8
Message of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI for the 44th World Communications Day "The Priest and
Pastoral Ministry in a Digital World: New Media at the Service of the Word"
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4. authentic communication of and in the family are television, Internet, cellular phones.9Roman
adds, “Many other facts can be added to this; facts about how families and communities are
robbed of opportunities for authentic communication, dialogue and sharing.”10 This advantages
and disadvantages as regards the new media of social communications bring us into a dilemma, a
crisis. But since the Chinese term for crisis consist of two characters namely danger and
opportunity, we can therefore still have the possibility of turning this crisis into an opportunity.
OPPORTUNITY: The Positive side of the Possibilities of Crisis
The media is not an all-evil phenomenon, nor a hot bed of vice as some people might
think.11 The Pastoral Instruction Communio et Progressio, magna carta of communications, says
modern media have the capacity to carry the message of salvation. “Modern media offer new
ways of confronting people with the message of the Gospel… are invaluable helps for Christian
education… offer marvelous opportunities to all for considering the implications of their
religious convictions through the discussion of events and problems of the day…” and make
more interesting the “teaching of Christianity.”12
These new forms of social communications offer a place for those who seek religious and
faith materials. Many faithful are turning to the Web. 13 In Apr 11, 2004, a newspaper reported
that millions of online faithful use Internet for religious info and e-mail.14
The Vatican has already made its own ventures into cyberspace. It has its own web
site,www.vatican.va. And here are some of the sites related to the Vatican:15
Congregations
9
Building Digital Bridges: Considerations for the ministry in the Emerging Communication Landscape,
Anthony G. Roman. Available at http://www.fabc.org/offices/osc/docs/pdf/
10
Building Digital Bridge, p 3.
11
Building Digital Bridge, p 5.
12
Pastoral Instruction CommunioetProgressio 126-131.
13
San Jose Mercury NewsApril 8, 2004.
14
Chicago Sun-TimesApril 11, 2004.
15
http://www.vatican.va/siti_va/index_va_en.htm
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5. Pontifical Mission Societies (Congregation for the
Evangelization of Peoples): www.ppoomm.va
Museum of Propaganda Fide (Congregation for the
Evangelization of Peoples): www.museopropagandafide.va
Historical Archive "de Propaganda Fide" (Congregation for the
Evangelization of Peoples): www.archiviostoricopropaganda.va
Tribunals
Apostolic Penitentiary: www.penitenzieria.va
Pontifical Councils
Pontifical Council for the Laity: www.laici.va
Pontifical Council for the Family: www.familia.va
Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace: www.justpax.va
Pontifical Council for Social Communications: www.pccs.va
Other Institutions
Pontifical Musical Chorus of the Sistine Chapel:
www.cappellamusicalepontificia.va
Other Commissions and Committees
Pontifical Swiss Guard: www.guardiasvizzera.va
Institutions Connected with the Holy See
Vatican Secret Archives: asv.vatican.va
Vatican Library: www.vaticanlibrary.va
L'Osservatore Romano: www.osservatoreromano.va
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6. Vatican Radio: www.radiovaticana.va
Photografic Service of L'Osservatore Romano: www.photo.va
Holy See’s Agency for the Evaluation and Promotion of Quality
in Ecclesiastical Universities and Faculties (AVEPRO):
www.avepro.va
Labour Office of the Apostolic See
ULSA: www.ulsa.va
Vatican City State
Vatican City State: www.vaticanstate.va
Vatican Museums: mv.vatican.va
Online Ticket Office of the Vatican
Museums:biglietteriamusei.vatican.va
Pontifical Academies
Pontifical Academy of Sciences: www.casinapioiv.va
Institutes of Studies
Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music: www.musicasacra.va
Sections of the official site
Abuse of minors. The Church's response: www.resources.va
A Tribute to John Paul II: www.ioannespaulusii.va
Pontifical Council Cor Unum: www.corunum.va
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7. Foundations
The Joseph Ratzinger (Benedict XVI) Vatican Foundation:
www.fondazioneratzinger.va
Other
Pontifical Parish of St Anne in the Vatican: www.santanna.va
The Vatican also launched last year the Pope to You site, in which practitioners can
access a papal Facebook application, see the Vatican on YouTube, and even download the
church's iPhone app.
SILENCE AND THE WORD: Some Considerations
With all these opportunities that open new avenues for proclaiming the word of God in
this new communication landscape and all the many dangers that lurk around these means of
social communications two things are to be taken into consideration according to the Holy
Father, Pope Benedict XVI, namely, silence and the word.
In his message for the 46th World Communications Day issued last January 24, 2012, the
Holy Father points out that the relationship of silence and word, which is an important aspect of
the human process of communication, is often overlooked.16
[Silence and the word must] be kept in balance, to alternate and
to be integrated with one another if authentic dialogue and deep
closeness between people are to be achieved. When word and
silence become mutually exclusive, communication breaks
down, either because it gives rise to confusion or because, on the
contrary, it creates an atmosphere of coldness; when they
complement one another, however, communication acquires
value and meaning.17
16
Message of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI for the 46th World Communications Day. Available at:
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/communications/documents.
17
Ibid.
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8. Silence is very important as we communicate God’s word and as we communicate to the
Word. Silence allows us to listen and understand clearly ourselves and the words we want to say.
Silence allows us to understand not only ourselves but others as well and thus creating a deeper
mutual understanding.
Not only that, the Holy Father also adds that silence gives way for deeper reflection
which is important in determining what is essentially relevant from what is insignificant.
Contemporary man continues to ask ultimate questions of human existence but he is
bombarded with enormous amount of ideas, unfamiliar questions and answers he has never
asked. Search engines and social networks offer these unfamiliar ideas, questions and answers. In
the face of these overwhelming upsurges of data, silence offers a path for him to discern
properly.
Silence is an important state that can help man to rediscover himself and that Truth which
gives meaning to all things. God is a God of silence and speaks by the mystery of his silence as
seen in the cross of Jesus Christ which echoes the eloquence of God’s love.
SILENCE: Effective Way to Preach
If God speaks to us even in silence, we in turn discover in
silence the possibility of speaking with God and about God. In
speaking of God’s grandeur, our language will always prove
inadequate and must make space for silent contemplation. Out
of such contemplation springs forth, with all its inner power, the
urgent sense of mission, the compelling obligation “to
communicate that which we have seen and heard” so that all
may be in communion with God (1 Jn 1:3). Silent contemplation
immerses us in the source of that Love who directs us towards
our neighbors so that we may feel their suffering and offer them
the light of Christ, his message of life and his saving gift of the
fullness of love.18
Through silent contemplation, the Word of God, Jesus Christ is being incarnated, being
born, being made present anew. The Word that which is not outdated but ever present and up-to-
date, is Jesus our very own contemporary who continues to make us aware share in the plan of
18
Ibid.
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9. salvation that God is accomplishing by word and deed. And as sharers of this work of God we
too preach salvation in our humble way “as heralds of hope and salvation, witnesses of that love
which promotes human dignity and builds justice and peace.”19
The Holy Father concludes his message affirming the importance of silence and word in
proclaiming Christ in this contemporary period, he favorably said: both silence and word are
essential elements, integral to the Church’s work of communication for the sake of a renewed
proclamation of Christ in today’s world.
19
Ibid.
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